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What kind of skills are important to have in order to become a dentist

I would like to know what kind of skills I would need that way if Im not good at that I can be working on it. #dentist

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Wael’s Answer

Check the link below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3vm9dbq3M0
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Marci’s Answer

First and foremost, compassion. You have to be a "people person." You have to be able to show compassion for people, even when they have neglected their own health, when they are terrified to go to the dentist, when they don't understand treatment and you have to be patient and thorough in educating them about their oral health and the needed treatment. I'd say that actually doing the dentistry is the easy part. However, managing patients (their expectations, fears, behavior, emotions)...now that's a skill!


Because you use your hands in dentistry, you have to be good with your hands. It also helps to creative, artistic in a way. In dentistry, we recreate smiles, improve on esthetics, and have to reproduce natural anatomy. While one is taught in dental school how to use instruments and do the dentistry, that doesn't necessarily mean that one becomes good with their hands.


Another skill which is important is problem solving. You have to have the ability to solve major oral health and functional dental problems. It's not just a "drill and fill" job. Why is a patient's oral health compromised? What can you do to improve their health? What lifestyle modifications does your patient need to make? What are their dental restorative options? Is one option better than the other?

Marci recommends the following next steps:

Find a dentist in your local area to either shadow, work or intern with in order to acquire some experience.
Check out the ADA website to find more helpful info. One link is https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/be-a-dentist.
Get in the practice of volunteering now. I grew up always volunteering, and I continue to do so as a dentist with over 15 years of experience. It helps to foster compassion and is just an overall great way to not only contribute to society, but to make a positive impact on individuals.
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