The minimum requirement to become a dentist is to complete four years of high school, four years of a university, and four years of dental school with a recommendation from a dentist. Dental school usually lasts 4 academic years. Studies begin with classroom instruction and laboratory work in basic sciences, including anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and physiology. Beginning courses in clinical sciences, including laboratory techniques, also are provided at this time. During the last 2 years, students treat patients, usually in dental clinics, under the supervision of licensed dentists. Dentistry requires diagnostic ability and manual skills. Dentists should have good visual memory, excellent judgment of space and shape, a high degree of manual dexterity, and scientific ability. Good business sense, self-discipline, and communication skills are helpful for success in private practice. In high school, someone interested in dentistry should enroll in the following courses: college preparation classes, including English composition, speech, sciences, chemistry, anatomy, advanced mathematics, biology, physics, social studies, and health.
The science connection into dentistry is that the chemical nature of anesthetic and the other drugs that dentists are allowed to prescribe within the medical context of their profession is used to help patients. Dentists also use x-rays to examine a patient's teeth. The reason why dentists examine their patient's teeth with x-rays is because they want to check their patient's teeth for cavities and other problems located in the teeth. Another example how science is integrated into dentistry is the fillings that dentists use in order to prevent further decaying. Fillings are made of amalgam, which consists of the alloy of mercury and other metals. Dentists use the alloy of mercury and other metals in a patient's teeth so that it could prevent the cavity, of the patient, from getting worse.