Origin And Facts Concerning Dentists

By Marci Nielsen


Dentistry refers to a field of medicine that involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of all conditions and diseases that affect the oral cavity. Specialists in this field are called dentists or dental surgeons. In Coppel, TX, these professionals do not work individually. They are surrounded by a support staff of professionals with lower or equal qualifications who help with various procedures. Usually, every professional on the team is specialized in a different area of study.

The first human beings to perform dentistry did it in the Middle Age. Barbers in both China and France were the first human groups to carry out dental health practices. Barbers were divided into guild and lay. Guild barbers had more knowledge that allowed them to perform surgical procedures. Lay barbers were later banned by the government of France from carrying out surgical dentistry because of their limited education and training in the field as compared to guild barbers.

Besides dentistry of the Middle Ages, there is a new field of modern dentistry. In the modern age, France is considered as the origin of modern dentistry with Pierre Fauchard being hailed as the its father. The first academic institution for dentistry was opened in the US in the 1840s, which led to formation of professional organization. The field saw a lot of growth around that time as first academic degrees started being offered at the dental academic institutions.

Becoming a dentist is a long process that involves a lot of academic work. Preparation should start straight from high school where aspirants should take courses that are related to the field. Examples of such courses include general biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics. After high school, one should complete another four years to earn a bachelor degree. Students who have shown exceptional academic performance may be accepted into dental schools after three years of college only, but that happens rarely.

One does not need to confine their choice of a bachelor degree so that it is related to dentistry. However, it is an added advantage if it is related to medicine. The advantage comes from the fact that first years of college cover a lot of medicine courses. One can send applications to dental schools after they earn the bachelor degree.

Another four years of study awaits those that qualify to get into dental school. The field has two kinds of degrees. The school decides which kind to award to its students. All states demand students to be licensed before practicing. Students who have interest in more knowledge can pursue further studies.

A dentist may be privately or publicly employed. One usually reserves the choice of whether to get employed or to start their own practice. Typical work activities involve educating patients on oral healthcare, examining patients, and assessing treatment options. A dentist owes their patients the legal responsibility of providing all available treatment options available.

When patients are served, these professionals must maintain a dental record of the services rendered. Dental surgeons also manage, train, and recruit staff members when they are in charge of a facility. They lay also keep stocks of equipment and tools and deal with issues related to budgets.




About the Author:



Popular Posts