What Is Needed to Become a Pediatric Dentist?
Pediatric dentists specialize in providing oral care for children. Becoming a dentist requires extensive education and training, but becoming a pediatric dentist requires additional training beyond dental school. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dentists who specialized in pediatric dentistry made a median salary of $153,290 in 2009.
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Education
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Pediatric dentists need to meet general dentistry education requirements before they can obtain the specialized training to work exclusively with children. Dental students should obtain a bachelor's degree, although the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that some students can get into dental school with only two or three years of college education. A degree in a field like child psychology or development can be helpful, but the pre-dental student should, above all else, have a strong background in the basic sciences. Dental school takes about four years to and, much like medical school, requires about two years of foundational studies followed by two years of hands-on clinical education.
Residency
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Beyond dental school, the aspiring pediatric dentist needs to complete a residency in pediatric dentistry. A residency is a period of hands-on training in which the dental student focuses specifically on pediatric dentistry. Students can seek admission to a program sponsored by the American Association of Pediatric Dentists and can generally obtain their pediatric dentistry training under the direction of a qualified pediatric dentist in about two to three years.
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Licensing
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Upon completion of dental school and a residency, the would-be pediatric dentist must obtain state licensing. Licensing requirements can vary by state, but most states require both a written and practical exam. The written exam is typically the National Board Dental Examination. The practical examinations are usually determined by the state or another regional testing organization.
Board Certification
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Pediatric dentists can seek board certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. The board requires that pediatric dentists pass a qualifying exam before being allowed to sit for its oral clinical exam. Applicants who complete the qualifying exam have up to five years to complete the remaining portion of the exam to be board certified.
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