It’s Not Easy to Become a Dentist–And That’s a Good Thing
Your health is so important. Patients need to know that their dental practitioner is qualified. That’s why dentists are required to earn and maintain a license to practice dentistry in the United States.
In order to become a dentist, you need to complete four years of college and four years of dental school. This is a very rigorous process. It’s not easy to become a dentist, and that’s a good thing:
The level of education and clinical training required to earn a dental degree, and the high academic standards of dental schools, are on par with those of medical schools and are essential to preparing dentists for the safe and effective practice of modern oral health care.
After graduating from dental school, you need to pass the demanding National Board Dental Examinations before you can apply for your dental license with your local state licensing agency.
Continuing Education is Mandatory
But even after you become a practicing dentist, you will still need to complete continuing education throughout your career in order to maintain your license. That’s because in all fifty states, “regulations require dentists to meet certain continuing education requirements” which “help ensure that only the most competent professionals maintain their practice.”
All dentist must renew their licenses with their state licensing agency regularly. For example, dentists here in New Jersey have to renew their license every two years. Part of the requirement for renewal is the completion of at least 40 units of continuing education (CE) courses. These continuing education courses are offered “at colleges and university campuses, at dental association meetings or on the web.”
What Dentists are Learning in CE Courses
Dentist learn all sorts of valuable information in CE classes which will help them better serve their patients. For example, dentistry is a rapidly evolving field and it’s important for dentists to stay up to date with numerous technological innovations. Continuing education is essential because “dentist will find it difficult to keep abreast with the latest developments in the industry without an effective dental continuing education hands-on course, class or even lectures.”
In addition to keeping dentists up to date with technological advances, CE classes cover a wide range of issues that are important for dentists to know about. Common subjects for dental CE courses include:
- Infection control
- Chemical dependency
- HIV/AIDS
- CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures
- Ethics
- Professional responsibility
- Pain management
- Jurisprudence and New Laws
Your Implant Dentist in Cherry Hill
Dr. Donn is constantly taking CE classes to stay current in the field and provide our patients with the best possible care. He really enjoys this process and he seeks out the most interesting and informative classes he can find.
We offer a full array of cosmetic dental services in Cherry Hill to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Call today to see what our dental implants and other services can do for your smile.