Briefs Continuing Ed. Then a career in dentistry could be for you. Dentistry offers new and exciting challenges through a lifetime of learning. Each day in the dental office presents new patients with unique wants and needs. Dentists work with a variety of people spanning different ages, personalities and races.
Dentists provide an important public health-care service and are respected within their community.
They often work closely with community leaders to provide volunteer services to schools, the elderly, handicapped and under-privileged citizens. Today, there are more than 150,000 active dentists in the United States. Since people are maintaining their natural teeth for a longer period of time and realizing the importance of frequent dental visits, dentistry has a bright future. Becoming a dentist requires a good understanding of the natural sciences, but interpersonal skills and business sense are essential to being successful. Many students and parents question the expense of such an education, but recent studies indicate that dental school is a good investment for the future.