COURSES OFFERED BY VISHNU DENTAL COLLEGE
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) - Click here for more details
- Oral Pathology & Microbiology
- Paedodontics & Preventive Dentistry
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Prosthodontics including Crown & Bridge
- Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics
- Periodontics
- Community & Preventive Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Oral Medicine & Radiology
DENTISTRY AS A CAREER: DESIGNING SMILES
Oral and dental health is a very important part of general health. The ability to smile, eat and talk without pain, discomfort or embarrassment contributes greatly to a sense of well being. Dentistry is a branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to the treatment, maintenance and prevention of diseases related to the teeth, gums, and other related structures of the mouth. Dentists treat people, not just teeth and their mouths.
Why Dentistry?
The first dental school in India was started in 1924. Today, there are about 200 dental schools with nearly 15,000 students graduating each year. More than 60 dental colleges have postgraduate courses in various specialities of dentistry.
- Service to people: Dentists help people maintain and improve their oral health, quality of life and appearance.
- They remove decay, fill cavities, examine radiographs, place protective plastic sealants on children’s teeth, straighten teeth, and repair fractured teeth.
- They also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases.
- Dentists extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth.
- They provide instruction on diet, brushing, flossing, the use of fluorides, and other aspects of dental care.
- Dentists are also instrumental in the early detection and treatment of oral cancer and systemic infections.
- They often provide services to school and community health programs, and understand the importance of providing care to disadvantaged populations,
- Balanced Lifestyle: Dentistry is a unique and personally rewarding career with many of these skilled professionals finding the perfect balance in their personal and professional lives.
- Self-employment: Dentistry affords the opportunity to be one's own boss and own a dental practice. As independent entrepreneurs, dentists set and maintain their own regular hours. Many opportunities in dentistry allow you to be your own boss.
- Earning Potential: There exists a highly energetic community of 80,000 dentists, offering world-class standards while serving an astonishing one billion population. The dentist population ratio is 1:20,000 today, demonstrating the vitality of the profession. Like anywhere else in the world, urban bias exists in India. Government hospitals and establishments treat 25% to 30% of the population for their dental ailments; while the remainder seek treatment thorough private clinics. Career opportunities for women in dentistry are especially favorable. More girls are now entering dental colleges than ever before. They represent more than 60% of students enrolled in dental colleges in Andhra Pradesh
- Status and Prestige: Dentists are skilled, conscientious, civic-minded individuals who work with community leaders and other health professionals to promote oral health care.
- Creativity: Dentists are artists as well as scientists. To brighten one tooth or realign an entire jaw, dentists must have an artist's aesthetic sense and the manual dexterity required to help their patients look their best. They improve a patient appearance by using a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures. Computer applications complement scientific knowledge and technical skills.
- Variety: Dentistry is changing rapidly, creating many opportunities and challenges. Dentists treat a diverse group of patients in a variety of settings using a variety of techniques and procedures.
- Detection of Diseases: Dentists are often the first health care providers to recognize and identify a number of illnesses- including cancer and cardiovascular problems. Research suggests an increasing number of links between oral diseases and other health concerns.
- Diagnosis and Treatment: Dentists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the teeth, tongue, gums, lips and jaws. Exciting technologies, such as digital radiography and laser systems, along with enhanced new materials and techniques, can be used to correct dental problems.
- Surgical Restoration: Dentists perform trauma surgery, place implants, graft tissue to repair, restore and maintain the teeth, gums, and oral structures that have been lost or damaged by accidents or disease.
- Cosmetic Improvement: Dentists improve their patient's appearance by using a wide variety of modern dental materials and equipment to help patients feel better about their smiles.
- Prevention/Education: Dentists educate patients and the general public on how to maintain oral health and prevent disease. Dental professionals play a leadership role in implementing community-based preventive programs, such as community water fluoridation, sealant programs or oral cancer screening.
- Research: Dentists are involved as scientists to further the knowledge of oral diseases, treatment techniques and materials used to correct dental problems.
Dental Specialities
Most dentists are general practitioners, handling a variety of dental needs. Other dentists practice in any of the nine specialty areas.
- Orthodontists align teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with braces or retainers.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons operate on the mouth and jaws and perform various types of surgical corrections.
- Pediatric dentists focus on dentistry for children.
- Periodontists treat conditions related to gums and bone supporting the teeth.
- Prosthodontists replace missing teeth with permanent fixtures, such as crowns and bridges, or with removable fixtures such as dentures.
- Endodontistsperform root canal therapy.
- Community dentists promote good dental health and preventing dental diseases within the community.
- Oral pathologists diagnose oral diseases through microscopic evaluation of biopsy specimens of patients.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiologists diagnose diseases in the head and neck through the use of imaging technologies.
Working conditions
Most dentists are solo practitioners (meaning that they own their own clinics and work alone or with a small staff) and work 5 to 6 days a week. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients’ needs. Initially, dentists may work more hours to establish their practice. Experienced dentists often work fewer hours. Many continue in part-time practice well beyond the usual retirement age. Some dentists have partners, and a few work for other dentists as associate dentists.
BDS - Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Indicates the degree awarded upon graduation from a dental college to become a general dentist. Generally, four years plus one year of internship at a dental college is required to graduate and become a general dentist.
Practice
Dentistry offers stimulating career options. After qualification there are a variety of areas in which you can choose to practice.
- Private Practice: Many dentists work either in solo private practice or in partnerships with other dentists. The majority of private practice dentists own their own practices.
- Academic Dentistry: An academic dentistry career combines teaching, research, community service and patient care. Faculty members work in an intellectually stimulating and exciting academic environment.
- Public Health Dentistry: This career focuses on community settings rather than private practice. Promoting dental health, developing health policy and preventing disease are the major roles of a public health dentist.
- Research: Research careers offer opportunities to generate new knowledge and be on the cutting edge of scientific discoveries that ultimately impact patient care. Some of the latest research improving patient care includes lasers in surgery, implants to replace damaged bone and computerized x-rays. A career in research requires an advanced degree or additional training beyond the dental degree.
- Hospital dentistry: Hospital dentists treat patients with medical conditions and disabilities alongside physician colleagues, often in operating rooms and emergency departments. Hospital dentists usually have a strong interest in medicine and collaborative care and have spent a year or more training in a hospital-based setting after dental school.
- A Career as a Dental Specialist: Most dentists today are general practitioners. The others are dental specialists who limit their practices to one of the nine dental specialties: Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics and Dental Public Health. In addition to five years of dental college, three additional years of dental specialty education are required.
Future Opportunities
Demand for dental care continues to grow due to the increasing number of older adults keeping their teeth longer, increased awareness of oral health care and the need for additional dental services. Advancements in technology like lasers and computer-assisted diagnosis allow dentists to provide more effective treatments.
