Thus, restorative dentistry is becoming increasingly important and is being targeted for individuals well beyond their teenage years, the traditional time when such work is done. The role of dentistry in primary health care is significant. Untreated dental diseases cause pain, disfigurement, malnutrition and even death. Oral cancer is more common than leukemia, melanoma of the skin, and Hodgkin's disease, and it kills more people every year than cervical cancer. Income levels of dentists are projected to increase dramatically over the next 15 years and are more secure than in the past.
Dentists are among the top five percent of wage earners in the United States.
The American Dental Education Association and the American Dental Association provide information about careers in dentistry. Specialization requires an additional two or more years of training. Admission to dental school characteristically requires completion of an undergraduate predental program as offered at Oglethorpe University. Please contact me if you have any questions.