Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

A Closer Look At Dentists & The Profession For Curious Patients

21 March 2019 by Charlotte Beck

You probably go to a dentist several times a year, and you may even know one on a more personal level. However, if you are like the average dental patient, you likely have some questions about the profession in general. Oftentimes not viewed as actual doctors, dentists do actually have to get a doctorate degree to practice, and there is a lot to know about these professionals. Take a look at some of the common questions people have about being a dentist as a profession. 

How long does a dentist go to school?

Dentists usually have about eight years of higher education under their belt when they start practicing in the field. A bachelor's degree is required before entering dental school, and both a bachelor's degree and a doctorate degree from a dental school take roughly four years for most students to complete. However, there are some dentists who work on their bachelor's degree and their doctorate degree concurrently, and some are accepted into dental school before they have finished their bachelor's degree. Therefore, eight years of education may not always be a requirement. 

Can a dentist write prescriptions?

Dentists can write prescriptions for medications that their patients need. However, there is a limit to what kind of prescriptions a dentist is legally allowed to write. They can only provide prescription medications that are typically used to treat dental patients. For example, if you have an infected tooth, your dentist could write you antibiotics and possible pain medication for that condition. What is not allowed is writing prescriptions for things that have nothing to do with a patient's dental care. Your dentist would not be able to write a prescription for something like blood pressure medication, for instance. 

How many patients do most dentists see on a daily basis?

When you go to a dentist office, it is not uncommon for there to be several patients lined up and waiting in exam rooms to be treated by the same dentist, so it is common to question just how many patients a dentist sees on a daily basis. The ideal number of patients for a single dentist to see every day is 8 to 12 patients per day. However, it is not uncommon for many practices to see more, and some practices will see far less. It all depends on what type of treatments are being performed and the capabilities of the dentist. 

Share

Search