What is Dentist?
A dentist is expected to diagnose and treat a patient’s oral condition, patients must be regularly examined and checked for any sign of symptoms, cranial, or other health related issues. Dentists also perform numerous number of medical procedures that involve oral such as teeth, jaw, and gum.
All dentists need to learn the basics and complete the additional schooling from dental school before proceeding to specialization. Each specialization targets a different area where they are excelling in performing tasks in that particular area. The fields of specialization for dentists are listed below.
What skills do you need to be a Dentist?
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Performing surgery is difficult as you will need the determination and problem-solving skills to make decisions in quick succession. You will often have to deal with complex issues and in some cases, unexpected situations will emerge while performing the surgery. Having the knowledge and experience to deal with it is vital as a dentist.
Manual Dexterity Skills
Being a dentist, manual dexterity is crucial to operate a safe, productive and profitable practice. The individual must have good hand-eye coordination to perform dental surgery as it will be extremely difficult without it. You must be able to perform surgery with high precision and accuracy in a small and limited area, and patient safety is of the utmost concern.
Diligence in Research
In the field of dentistry, diligence in research is an essential skill for the dentist to carry out research that is very time-consuming and difficult. Random situations will generally pop up in the practice, you will need to do further research in order to better understand the issues and generate solutions for it.
Fields of Specialization
| Fields | Descriptions |
| Paediatric Dentistry | Relates to oral healthcare of infants, children and adolescents |
| Dental Public Health | Relates to oral healthcare for the community |
| Orthodontics | Cure the irregularities of the jaws, teeth and bite |
| Restorative Dentistry | Ensures healthy and pain-free teeth development, especially for patients with complex problems |
| Periodontology | Treat supporting structure of the teeth |
| Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology | Examine oral diseases through lab experiments to study the cause and effects |
| Oral Surgery | Perform reconstructive operation and implant surgeries for facial injuries |
Subjects for Dental Surgery
- Oral Biology
- Dental Materials & Equipment
- Dental Radiology
- Oral Pathology & Oral Medicine
- Prosthetic Dentistry
- Paediatric Dentistry
- Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
- Orthodontics
General Qualifications
In order to enter into Dental Surgery courses, you will generally need:
| Programmes | Requirements |
| Diploma (3-Years) |
|
| Bachelor’s Degree (5-Years) |
|
Note: The information displayed above may vary between universities, colleges, and institutions.
Career Options for Dental Surgery
- Dental Public Health Professional
- Orthodontists
- Oral Surgery Professionals
- Pediatric Dentists
- Oral Medicine Professionals
- Oral Pathologists
- Forensic Odontologists
- Endodontics and Special Needs Dentists
1. Segi University
Campus: Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
General Intake: September
Indicative fee of 5-years (Full-time) (2019): RM351,100
2. Mahsa University
Campus: Bandar Saujana Putra, Selangor
Diploma in Dental Technology
General Intake: January
Indicative fee of 3-years (Full-time) (2019): RM56,100
Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS)
General Intake: September
Indicative fee of 5-years (Full-time) (2019): RM381,600
International Student enquiries:
Phone: +60182414802
Email: [email protected]
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About Post Author
Nicky Yap
I am a freelance commercial content writer and student of SEGI College studying Bachelor of Business with a major in Marketing. I love to travel and enjoy ‘Me’ time with a cup of coffee in a quiet cafe.