how many years does it take to become a cosmetic dentist?

Question

including college, dental school, and specialty training

Answer 1

There is no such thing as a cosmetic dentist.

The American Dental Association recognizes specialties based on public need, direct benefit from patient care, and distinctiveness from the services of general dentists. To date, the ADA has recognized nine specialties, as follows:

Prosthodontics - restoration and replacement of teeth
Periodontics - diagnosis and treatment of gum disease
Orthodontics - correction of misaligned teeth and jaws
Pediatrics - care for infants and children through adolescence
Oral Surgery - Dealing with problem wisdom teeth, facial pain and misaligned jaws
Endodontics - Saving teeth through root canal treatment
Oral Pathology - Treating diseases affecting oral and facial regions
Public Health - caring for special population groups within communities and institutions
Oral Radiology - diagnostic assessment of diseases of the head and neck

Dentists with additional training in these specialty areas can call themselves specialists. All other dentists are 'general dentists'.

So to answer your question, it takes four years of college and four years of dental school to become a general dentist. When one becomes a general dentist, they can begin to offer cosmetically-oriented treatments such as whitening, bonding, veneers and implants.

There is an organization known as the American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry. This organization has developed a test of skills it deems necessary for 'Accreditation in Cosmetic Dentistry'. If a general dentist can pass both the written and the 'Board of Examiners' test, and meets the other membership requirements, that dentist can become 'Accredited' by the AACD.

However, one does not need to become accredited to offer whitening, veneers and the other services usually attributed to cosmetic dentistry. And if you wish to promote the cosmetic aspect of a dental practice, that's fine, but you cannot imply that you are a 'cosmetic dentist' or have some superiority over a 'general dentist' when there is no such recognized specialty.

You can claim that you are an AACD Accredited member, if you pass the accreditation tests, but the public by and large does not understand the difference. Most could not tell you the difference between an AACD General Member, Sustaining Member, Accredited Member and Fellow.....but to be a general member, you do not need to have any demonstrated proficiency beyond being a general dentist.

Answer 2

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Cosmetic Dentistry is general dentistry with the additional requirement of paying very close attention to the appearance and functionality of the dental work produced. Advancements in technology over the years have made it so that beautiful dental work can and should be available to each and every patient. This has many benefits which most notably includes the enhancement of a patient’s self-esteem. If you have an eye for detail and are interested in becoming a Cosmetic Dentist, the following guide will help set you on your way.

Answer 3

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a cosmetic dentist is responsible for improving the overall dental health of his or her patient through creating and maintaining aesthetic balance and function of teeth (www.aacd.com). Dentists care for and treat problems in the mouth, including the teeth and the gums, by providing advice on mouth care and performing corrective surgeries. While most dentists work as general practitioners, some specialize, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Cosmetic dentists specialize in elective, aesthetic dentistry, including bleaching, bonding, placing porcelain laminates and replacing fillings. A general practitioner may perform certain aspects of cosmetic dentistry, as well.

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Answer 4

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RE:
how many years does it take to become a cosmetic dentist?
including college, dental school, and specialty training

Answer 5

I don't know either, but I would like to say that I too am interested in becoming a cosmetic dentist. it is encouraging to know that other people want this too. it just seems like the best job possible to me, since I want to be a doctor or some type. Think about it, you get the title doctor but you don't have the possibility of killing your patients, and the grossest thing you will do is a root canal or something. WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB!!!!!

good luck on your query!

Answer 6

You first need to get your 4 year bachelors degree and make sure that you get all the prerequisite courses for Dental School. Assuming that you are admitted to dental school in your fourth year (remember that you need to score competitively on the standardized test as part of your admissions application), you need another 3-4 years of dental school (varies program to program) to get your general dental degree (DDS). After that, you need to do an internship in cosmetic dentistry which can take 2-3 years (depending on which program you can get into). All in all, you need about 9-11 years to go from high-school to cosmetic dentistry.

Answer 7

Dentists are licensed healthcare professionals who work on patients' teeth. In order to prepare for this career, aspiring dentists must complete an undergraduate and doctoral degree program. Combined, these programs typically take eight years complete; however, students may choose to speed up the process through accelerated programs or extend their education with postgraduate programs.

Answer 8

There is a load of information about cosmetic dentistry at www.bacd.com witch is the web site for the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Answer 9

It takes 4 years to get your bachelor's degree and 4 years to go to dental school.

Answer 10

i don't know my advice yahoo search it and im sure the answer will be right there!