Are you considering a Dentistry degree but wondering what’s next? Education should never stop, especially when you are in the medical line. We encourage Dentistry students to pursue higher education after graduation.
Here we look at specialisations in the dentistry world that graduates should consider!
Oral Surgeon/Maxillofacial Surgeon
You can train to be an oral surgeon after obtaining your bachelor degree. As an oral surgeon, you will be responsible for diagnosing and conducting adjunctive treatment of diseases, defects and injuries with respect to the human jaw and associated structures. You will be treating diseases and defects in not only the jaw but also head, neck and face. You will fix dental, facial and oral fractures and also perform corrective surgery for cleft lip or palate. Oral Surgeons are in high demand in Malaysia. According to Salary Expert, the average salary of Oral Surgeons in Malaysia is RM400,000 per year.
Orthodontist
Another recommended specialisation is orthodontics. You will be examining, diagnosing and treating dental and oral cavity anomalies. You will be designing braces that will help your patient gain more confidence. You will also be treating irregularities in teeth. Orthodontists are paid well. Salary Expert reports that the average salary of Orthodontists in Malaysia is around RM407,000 per year.
Prosthodontist
A highly sought dental specialisation is Prosthodontist, a profile where you will be handling removable and fixed dental appliances. You will fix removable appliances such as dentures and fixed appliances such as crowns, bridges and natural teeth implants on patients. You will help solve problems faced by people such as chewing and speaking.
Endodontist
You can also choose to become an Endodontist and perform treatments such as root canal surgery on patients. Endodontics is a specialised branch of dental science which deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the roots of the teeth. You will be able to diagnose and treat diseases that include nerves, blood vessels and other compartments of the root of the tooth. With tooth decay and dental caries becoming a common phenomenon, root canal treatment is an every day activity and hence Endodontists are of high demand across the world. According to Salary Expert, the average salary of Endodontists in Malaysia is around RM302,300 per year.
Restorative Dentist/Cosmetic Dentist
One of the most lucrative dentistry specialisations is Cosmetic Dentistry. You will be working hard to ensure your patients have good looking teeth when you specialise in this field. You will restore decayed teeth and adjust unsightly teeth. But that’s not all! From teeth whitening to dental bonding, dental veneers and dental implants, you will be conducting a series of functions to ensure your patients have a smile to die for. Since most of the above involve complicated procedures and significant expertise, cosmetic dentists can earn more than their counterparts. This is an evolving profession with enormous opportunities. As more and more people become conscious of their looks, this profession paints a bright picture of the future.
Paediatric Dentist
Handling the teeth of children requires a kind of expertise and a skill set completely different from adults. Paediatric dentists take care of the oral health of children from infancy till the teen years. They take care of children’s teeth, gums and mouth throughout the stages of childhood. Since children are exposed to various kinds of sugar from an early age, the incidents of dental problems in children have been on the rise worldwide. Estimates reveal that around 42% of children between the age of 2 to 11 suffer from dental caries. Hence, paediatric dentistry has been gaining in importance over the years. Salary Expert reveals that Paediatric Dentists earn an average salary of RM230,000 per year in Malaysia.
Public Health/Preventive Dentistry
If you don’t want to be a practising dentist, this is a profile for you. As a public health dentist, you will be providing leadership and expertise to the world of dentistry, be involved in policy development, be a part of oral health surveillance, community-based disease prevention and promote better dental health hygiene among the common people. While monetarily, this may not be highly lucrative, it is indeed a rewarding profession where you will work for the betterment of the general public.
Dentistry is a century-old profession which is extremely fulfilling. As a dentist, you will be helping people with their dental issues, assist them to talk properly and of course enable them to smile brightly. Begin your journey into the Dentistry world with a degree in Dental Surgery. Learn More Here.