Career as a Dentist


 

About Dentist

A dentist is a person who treats and prevents all the problems related to teeth, gums, oral cavity and other health problems affecting the mouth. The job of the dentists involves prevention and repair of the infected tooth, removing decays, filling cavities and making models for dental appliances. The specialists in the Dentist profession include Oral Surgeons, Orthodontists, Periodontists, Endodontists, Endodontists and Prosthodontists. What is interesting about the career as a dentist is that areas of care include not only their patients' teeth and gums but also the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, the tongue, salivary glands, the nervous system of the head and neck and other areas. During a comprehensive exam, dentists examine the teeth and gums, but they also look for lumps, swellings, abnormality.

Also, 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.

 

Eligibility to become Dentist

To become a dentist candidate must have passed class 12th or equivalent examination with science stream in PCB - Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Candidates must have also appeared for a national-level medical entrance exam like NEET-UG for admission to dental courses. NEET UG is a national level entrance test which is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).

  • Candidates must have passed class 12th or equivalent examination with a minimum of 50% aggregate of reserved category and 40% for reserved category from a recognised board.
  • Must have a valid NEET UG score.
  • Candidates should be at least of 17 years of age to appear in the NEET UG exam and the upper age limit for the same is 25 years.

Types of Job Roles Dentist

After completing the required academic qualification in dentists, there are an ample number of dentists job profiles. Some of the popular dentist job profiles are listed below:

Orthodontists: Their job role is to study dental records, examine medical histories, design teeth model and to make patient's treatment plan. They correct the irregularities in the patient's teeth by putting devices or other dental appliances.

Oral Surgeons: They are responsible to correct facial deformities, perform complicated extractions, treating tumours and other abnormal growth in the gums and jaws and perform surgeries related to the mouth.

Periodontists: They are the specialised dentists who are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal diseases such as gums and tissues which support teeth. They are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Endodontists: Their job role is to study the tooth pulp and to treat the root canals. They specialise in root canals and treat the diseases of the dental pulp which includes blood vessels and nerves.

Pedodontists: They specialise in children’s dental treatment and care.

Prosthodontists: They construct oral prostheses to replace the missing teeth to repair the structures, correct acquired and natural deformation of jaws and mouth and to maintain a healthy oral function which include such as chewing and speaking.

 

Employment Opportunities for Dentists

Dentists can find a wide variety of employment opportunities in different types of workplaces. Listed below are the top picks:

  • Dental Departments
  • Nursing Homes
  • Dental Clinics
  • Health Departments
  • Dental Institutes
  • Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Private Hospitals
  • Government Dental Departments
  • Dental Colleges
  • Public Sector Undertaking Dental Facilities
    Note:- Many dentists even do private practice or set up their own dental clinics.

Top Recruiting Companies/Hospitals for Dentists:

Some of the leading super speciality hospitals that hire dentists are as follows:

  • Aspen Dental
  • Practo
  • Clovia Dental Clinic
  • FMS Dental Hospitals
  • Max Hospital
  • Fortis
  • Artemis

Pay Scale/Salary of Dentist

The career as a dentist has a lot of perks when it comes to financial gains this profession offers one along with job security. It is also considered as a very respectable job. The average pay for a dentist at the beginning of his career is roughly around Rs.7,00,000 After a few years of practice and experience, their salary can range between Rs.10,00,000 to RS. 15,00,000 per year.

Books & Study Material to Become Dentist

If you are aiming for a top dental college in the country, it is very important to choose the best books and study material as they are the most essential part of the preparation. Listed below are the medical books and study material that will help the candidates in the preparation of the entrance exam :

  • Modern Dental Assisting,11th Edition
  • Karl Koerner on Oral Surgery
  • Netter's Head and Neck Anatomy for Dentistry (Netter Basic Science)
  • Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques 5th Edition

 

Pros of becoming a Dentist

  • One of the biggest advantages of becoming a dentist is that you will have a substantially high paying job. Dentistry is one of the highest paid careers in the medical field.
  • As compared to other doctors or other jobs in the medical field, dentists have flexible timings and can give appointments to patients according to their own convenience. They also get enough time for family and vacations.
  • Dentist as a profession is not like a regular 9 to 5 job. You get to face different challenges and situations with every patient which will not make your work monotonous and will keep your mind active.
  • One of the major pros of the dentistry profession is that dentists always have good job prospects. The demand for dentists continues to grow and because of the growing importance of oral hygiene, more and more people are seeking out the dental care.

Cons of becoming a Dentist

  • Dentists have a very long study duration. It takes 5 years to complete a BDS degree and an MDS degree can take up to 8 years.
  • Another disadvantage of becoming a dentist is that you will be working for long hours when you first start your career. An average dentist typically works 35 to 40 hours a week, but a dentist that is just starting out may have to work anywhere from 40 to over 60 hours a week to establish his or her new practice.
  • Dental colleges and institutes are very expensive and they charge a lot of fees.
  • The job of a dentist comes with high responsibility and along with it comes a lot of stress as you are responsible for someone’s health.
  • It is a customer service industry and it is very important to keep customers happy. Dentists face a lot of pressure to do their best job in a limited time frame and to keep the customers happy.

 

Career as a Ayurvedic Doctor

About Ayurvedic Doctor

A career as an Ayurvedic Doctor: Ayurveda or the Science of Life is a medicinal practice of natural healthcare system that originated in India. It is being practiced for the past two millennia. Candidates who study this form of medicine and are licenced to practice it professionally are called Ayurvedic Doctors.
On this page, we will discuss about how to become an Ayurvedic doctors, there responsibilities, key skills, salary package, employment opportunities, pros and cons of the profession.

 

Eligibility to become Ayurvedic Doctor

Candidates who are wondering ‘How to become an Ayurvedic Doctor?’ must check out the eligibility criteria mentioned below.

Here two different paths that candidates can follow to achieve the desired goal.

Path I

Class X (with Sanskrit) Pre Ayurvedic Certificate Course BAMS Entrance Exam (NEET-UG) BAMS Programme Ayurvedic Doctor

Path II

Class XII (with Biology) BAMS Entrance Exam (NEET-UG) BAMS Course PG in Ayurvedic Medicine (personal preference) Ayurvedic Doctor

Key Skills Required to Become an Ayurvedic Doctor

There are a certain set of skills that one must possess or be able to develop to become a successful Ayurvedic Doctor. The skills are mentioned below.

  • Thinking skills
  • Empathy
  • Interest in Indigenous Forms of Medicine
  • Patience
  • Interpretation and Assimilation
  • Observation
  • Interest in Curative Property of Herbs
  • Knowledge of the relevant field

Employment Sector/Industry for Ayurvedic Doctor

For those wondering ‘What does an Ayurvedic Doctor do?’, here are the tasks and responsibilities that one deals with during her/ his professional life.

  • To diagnose ailments and prescribe medication to patients
  • Examining individuals with any health problem by feeling pulse rate, interrogation and checking physical condition.
  • To prescribe medication for general health improvement and disease prevention.
  • Specialising in treating disorders and diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes, mental or nervous disorders, diseases that are peculiar to children, women or men.
  • Evaluating and monitoring implications of treatments.
  • Preparing and selling patents, tonics and indigenous medicines like bhasms, etc.

Employment Opportunities for an Ayurvedic Doctor

Ayurvedic Doctors can find career or employment opportunities in the following areas:

  • State Research Centre
  • Dispensaries
  • Government Hospitals
  • General Hospitals with Indigenous Medicine Department
  • Centre Research Centres i.e., CCRAS
  • Ayurveda Pharmaceuticals
  • Ayurveda hospitals
  • Ayurveda Colleges or Universities
  • Ayurveda Health Centres
  • Pancha Karma Centres
  • Resorts
  • Spas

They can also explore career options in:

  • Union Public Service Commission (UPSC),
  • Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), etc

Top Recruiters

Some of the top companies that hire Ayurveda doctors include:

  • Patanjali
  • Dabur
  • Herbals
  • Himalaya
  • Baidyanath

Pay Scale/Salary of Ayurvedic Doctor

The salary package of an Ayurvedic Doctor incrases with experience.

Job Profles

Initial Salary

Average Salary

Highest Salary

Ayurvedic Doctor

INR 4.98 LPA

INR 13.70 LPA

INR 20 LPA

Books & Study Material to Become Ayurvedic Doctor

  • Practical Prescriber for Ayurvedic Pysicians - by DR. Abrar Multani
  • Hand Book of Ayurvedic Medicines with Formulations (a Complete Hand Book of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines) - Publisher: Engineers India Research In
  • A Guide to Ayurvedic Clinical Practice - by Vaidya Vasant Patil
  • Clinical Diagnosis in Ayurveda (A Practical book of Ayurvedic Diagnosis in the Light of Modern Medial Science) - by M. Srinivasulu
  • Practice of Ayurvedic Medicine (KAYACHIKITSA) - by Arun Kumari Tripathi

Pros of becoming a Ayurvedic Doctor

  • Job Security: This is one of the few professions where a professional would always be in demand irrespective of the economic situation of a country as there will always be the demand for doctors.
  • Remuneration: The income of Ayurvedic doctors is really high and it increases with more experience.
  • Getting Opportunity to Help Others: The profession of a doctor is considered very highly due to the service they provide. Doctors offer a meaningful service through which they get to help others.
  • Prestige: It goes without saying that an Ayurvedic doctor gains a lot of respect in community.

Cons of becoming a Ayurvedic Doctor

  • Long Training Route: It takes at least 7 years of higher education in the specialised area for one to become an Ayurvedic doctor. The entire process is very long and may make one to lose interest.
  • Longer Establishing Period: Since Ayurveda is not as widely known as the other kind of medicine, it is growing slowly. The demand for it in the market is increasing at a slow pace.
  • High Fees: The BAMS degree takes 5 years to complete. After that candidates are required to also pursue a postgraduate degree. This may cost some students studying in private institutions fortune.
  • Long Working Hours: The job of a doctor is demanding and working hours may extend without any prior notice. This may cause physical and mental fatique to professionals at work.