Define Dentist
A dentist, as defined by dictionaryreference.com, is a licensed professional who possesses skills in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases, injuries, and inconsistencies of teeth, jaws, and mouths. Becoming a dentist requires numerous years of schooling and many job related responsibilities.
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History
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The history of dentists stems back to ancient times. According to Ada.org, the website of the American Dental Association, the first dentist was Hesy-Re, an Egyptian scribe. Hesy-Re's tomb read "the greatest of those who deal with teeth, and of physicians" upon his death in 2600 BC. Monks, being the most educated people in Europe from 500 AD to 1000 AD, practiced dentistry. In 1760, according to Ada.org, John Baker moved to America from England and is today known as the first medically-trained dentist. According to Ada.org, in 1840 Horace Hayden and Chapin Harris founded the first dental school, and started the Doctor of Dental Surgery, or DDS, degree. In 1859 the American Dental Association was founded. In 1867, the Harvard University Dental School was founded, which eventually created the degree that is now called Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae, or DMD.
Schooling
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According to Ada.org, most dental schools require eight hours of all of the following classes: biology with lab, physics, English, general chemistry with lab, and organic chemistry with lab. In order to become a dentist, one must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and complete four years in an approved dental school. Specializing in other areas of dentistry requires more schooling.
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Degrees
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There are two types of dental degrees, according to Ada.org. These degrees include the Doctor of Dental Surgery, or DDS, and the Doctor of Dental Medicine, or DMD. The degrees are seen as equivalent and allow the practice of the same dental procedures. The type of degree is entirely dependent on which dental school a person has graduated from.
Duties
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According to Careerplanner.com, dentists have numerous job responsibilities. These responsibilities include diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and teeth and gum problems. Other responsibilities include examining patients, cleaning, filling, and extracting teeth, and using preventative measures to ensure good oral health.
Specialties
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According to the American Dental Association, there are nine recognized dental specialties. These include dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, and surgery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. These specialties and practices are not included in the general dentistry degrees.
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