85% of Americans believe oral care is extremely important—and they’re right—so dentists play a vital role in today’s society. Not only do they keep the mouth clean, but they can also prevent other diseases from occurring as a result of poor oral health.
A dentist’s office has to run smoothly for all of this to happen, and that’s not just down to the dentist. Other jobs are necessary to keep everything ticking over. Consider these dental careers if you’ve always wanted to work in a dentist’s office, but a general dentist hasn’t seemed quite right! One may be the perfect fit.
1. Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist is responsible for keeping the mouth clean. While dentists perform procedures, the hygienist can do routine cleanings, freeing up their time for more intense repairs.
Hygienists can also advise oral health and help people gain the knowledge necessary to maintain their oral health at a high standard. With just a few conversations, hygienists can change people’s lives! Not everyone is knowledgeable about the best ways to brush and floss.
2. Dental Receptionist
If you’re more people-oriented but don’t fancy getting in and around others’ mouths, consider becoming a receptionist in a dentist’s office. You’ll take appointments, greet people at the door, and keep track of what’s going on.
You may also have to soothe the anxiety of upset children or even anxious adults, so this suits anyone who’s compassionate!
3. Lab Technician
Maybe you’re the opposite. Perhaps you aren’t people-oriented at all.
Lab technicians work entirely behind the scenes. They create crowns and other things that dentists will use in their procedures, and those procedures couldn’t happen without them.
Although they’re one of the lesser-known jobs in dentistry, they’re one of the most necessary.
4. Dental Assistant
An assistant is also necessary in dentistry. Assistants help the dentist in many ways, including preparing equipment and having it ready for them when they need it to go smoothly.
A dental assistant gets to see everything up close but isn’t the primary one responsible for what’s happening.
5. A Specialist
If you don’t want to be a general dentist, consider becoming a specialist! They receive additional training and are one of the more difficult but rewarding dentist occupations.
They include:
- Endodontists, root canal specialists
- Orthodontists, for teeth alignment
- Oral surgeons
- Periodontists, gum specialists
- Pediatric dentists for children
They’re all very different and rewarding in their ways, though they require a lot of work.
These Dental Careers Are All Great — Choose the Right One for You
These dental careers are all necessary to keep things running in the dentist’s office. Choosing which one to pursue is about considering your personality and interests to determine which you’d be most suited for and how much work you can put into the training and job. For more career and education tips, check out the rest of our site!
