The
field of dentistry offers many opportunities for rewarding careers
in North Carolina*.
Professional oral health care requires a team effort to ensure success.
The core of the oral health care team
is comprised of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and
dental laboratory technicians. These team members provide the services
necessary for total oral health care. These services include oral
health education, disease prevention, disease detection, diagnosis
and treatment, aesthetic improvement, and surgical restoration.
Dentists can be considered both general practitioners and specialists.
The American Dental Association recognizes nine professional
dental specialties.
Dental
professionals treat people, not just teeth, gums and mouths. Good
oral health is an essential component of the total health of a person.
Dental professionals interact with people of all ages and personalities
from a wide range of cultures. Their skills in working with people,
as well as their dentistry and teaching skills, can have a lifelong
positive impact on the total health of the people who use their services.
Many other
career paths, other than traditional private dental practice, are
open to trained dental professionals. These include careers in community
health departments and other public health agencies, hospitals, military,
dental research, and in industry, such as dental product development
and sales.
There
are training opportunities in North Carolina for all specialties in
the oral health profession. North Carolina
colleges throughout the state provide training for dentists, dental
assistants, dental hygienists, and dental laboratory technicians.
An excellent
resource for dental health career information in North Carolina is
the North Carolina Health
Careers Manual, published by the North
Carolina Area Health Education (AHEC) Program. Additional information
on North Carolina health careers can be found at the North
Carolina Health Careers Access Program.
