Education for Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry education programs are a specialized training program designed for graduates of dentistry school, and provide students the advanced skills and knowledge they need to work with children and adolescents. Pediatric dentistry education requirements vary by state, but students must complete a rigorous residency program that includes clinical training, classroom training or a fellowship in order to graduate from their respective school.
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Education Requirements
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Pediatric dentists must successfully complete a general dentistry program at an accredited college or university before they can enroll in a pediatric dentistry program.
Dentistry programs are typically four years in length and include both classroom training and clinical training. Students must pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and maintain an above-average academic record in order to be admitted to dental school. Students can only proceed to fulfill the education requirements to become a pediatric dentist after they they have been awarded either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree.
Pediatric Dentists must also complete continuing education requirements through the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in order to maintain licensure and ensure that they are skilled and knowledgeable in the latest techniques, protocols and procedures.
Schools
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The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry lists all of the pediatric dentistry residency programs available around the United States, in Canada, and in South America. Students can enroll in these programs immediately after graduation from dental school, and are typically two years in length.
Some of the schools that offer pediatric dentistry residency programs include the: Albert Einstein/Montefiore Medical Center in New York, the University of California San Francisco, The Children's Hospital in Colorado, the Medical College of Georgia, the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Kentucky, and the Medical University of South Carolina.
Some schools offer fellowship or internship opportunities for students as part of their residency training program.
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Training Programs
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Pediatric dentistry programs are residency programs that give students the opportunity to learn advanced skills and techniques in the fields of surgical procedures, child psychology, child-related pharmacology, craniofacial anomalies in children, pediatric orthodontics, child development, care for children with special needs, anesthesia protocol for children, oral pathology, oral disease prevention plans for children, and clinical management.
Considerations
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Most states require a pediatric dentist to be licensed in order to practice, and a license is awarded to those who pass both written and practical examinations as given by the State board. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that some states allow students to forgo the written portion of the state exam if they have successfully passed the National Board Dental Examination. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that as of 2006, seventeen states require dentists to complete two to four years of postgraduate education in order to practice in a specialty area.
Career Outlook
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Students that successfully complete an accredited pediatric dentistry program can pursue a career as a pediatric dentist at a health care facility or dental office, or open up their own clinics where they offer pediatric dental services. Pediatric dentists can be licensed to perform both general and advanced dentistry procedures, depending on the state they are practicing in.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide separate career information for pediatric dentists and dentists, but lists the average median salary of dentists as $130,000, as of 2006. Pediatric dentists may make more or less depending on the market that they provide services in, years of experience, and any advanced training that they have received.
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