What's it like to be a dentist?
General dentists make up the majority of the 140,000 dentists practicing in the United States. Most of them own their own practice. General practitioners care for their patients' overall oral health, which the Surgeon General recently stated is crucial to a person's total health. General practitioners also coordinate care with dentists in other specialties when a patient needs a specialized procedure. (We'll talk about other dental specialties below.)

Sometimes dentists become partners or associates with other dentists in a group practice. But most general practitioners own their practice, so they face the demands-and reap the rewards-of running a small business as well as being a doctor. In return, dentists are their own bosses, and they set their own hours. Dentists enjoy prestige in their community and strong earning potential. Other dentists work in government health services, research programs, higher education, corporations and even the military.

To become a dentist, you need a bachelor's degree with a strong science foundation: biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics are crucial. Admission to dental school, which lasts four years, requires high grades in college and a competitive score on the Dental Admission Test. After graduating from dental school, you'll have to take licensure examinations required by the state in which you wish to practice. Specialization requires another two years of school or a clinical residency program.

All that education is a good investment. As start-up businesses most likely to succeed, dental practices rank third. And the demand for dental care is growing as public awareness of the importance of maintaining good oral health increases.

Specialized dental fields include the following:

• General dentists, the primary dental care provider for all patients, are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patients' oral health needs.
• Orthodontists improve patients' smiles by straightening crooked teeth and misaligned jaws with the use of braces and other appliances.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons care for patients who experience problems with jaws and facial structures. This includes the extraction of teeth, removing tumors and cysts, treating facial injuries and trauma, correcting improper jaw alignment and reconstructive treatment.
• Periodontists care for patients' gums and other tissues that support the teeth.
• Pediatric dentists treat the overall oral health needs of children.
• Oral pathologists examine and diagnose tumors and lesions of the mouth.
• Endodontists treat inner tooth structures and perform root canals.
• Public health dentists work mostly with government agencies to address the complex issues of treating and educating groups that do not enjoy regular access to a dentist, such as people with special needs, the indigent and rural Americans.
• Prosthodontists specialize in the restoration and replacement of teeth.
• Oral and maxillofacial radiologists produce and interpret images and data to diagnose and manage diseases, disorders and conditions though the taking of traditional x-rays, digital radiography, CT scans (computed tomagraphy), MRIs (Magnetic resonance imaging), etc.