How to become a dentist?

How do I become a dentist in Quebec? First, it is good to know that you need more than a university degree. Dentistry is not a restricted field, but it is still a health profession.

It is also worth noting that the field of oral health is vast. You may begin your studies in dentistry only to find that you prefer to specialize in dental surgery. There are many jobs in the dental sector.

Our dental health specialists have put together this handy guide to help you. Discover now the educational background of the dentist in Quebec as well as important information about this profession.

What is a dentist?

The dentist is a physicist specialized in oral medicine. It is therefore the dental health professional who take care of everything related to your mouth, your teeth and your tissues. They are there to diagnose, treat and prevent.

Moreover, the dentist rarely works alone. At his side are the dental hygienist or dental assistant, as well as a plethora of other employees who support or facilitate his work.

He is often required to collaborate with professionals who specialize in certain dental disciplines such as denturists, dental surgeons and orthodontists.

What is the role of the dentist?

In order to fully understand how to become a dentist, it is crucial to know the role of a dentist.

The dentist is the specialist who:

• Performs routine examinations
• Extract teeth, sometimes supported by a dental surgeon
• Restores damaged teeth
• Implement customized treatment plans for infections, diseases or oral anomalies, sometimes supported by a denturist
• Takes dental X-rays
• Offers cosmetic dentistry treatments such as teeth whitening
• Performs dental implants or crowns

The role of the dentist is also to inform you about the best brushing methods and good lifestyle habits to maintain your dental health. He is also the professional to consult for any oral pain.

How to become a dentist: jobs in dentistry

Some people believe that the profession of dentistry also includes denturology. Although it is a related field, the training for a dentist is different from that of a denturologist.

So it's a good idea to determine if you want to specialize before you start dental school. Do you want to work with people, or would you rather create appliances that will improve the quality of their mouths and teeth? Only dentists practice the dentistry and offers treatments.

In dentistry, there are also specialized studies, as the dental surgery. Your choice will therefore necessarily influence your academic career.

How to become a dentist: the skills needed to practice this profession

Physical abilities

• Manual dexterity and coordination
• Resistance
• Good concentration
• Good observation skills

Social skills

• Confidence in himself and his team members
• Ability to make decisions
• Sociable, as they are constantly working with the public and other dental health professionals
• Communication and ability to explain medical jargon
• Patience
• Respect

How to become a dentist: the educational path

Becoming a dentist requires a very specific path, here is what you need to know.

How to become a dentist: university education

If you are wondering how many years of study to become a dentist, the answer is several. Indeed, dentistry is part of the hospital environment. It is therefore 4 to 5 years of dental training and internship. This in-depth training is currently offered in 3 universities in Quebec: Université de Montréal, McGill and Laval.

To become a dentist, you must also obtain a valid permit issued by the ODQ. After the studies, the candidate must pass the exam of the Quebec Order of Dentists to receive this permit.

Specializations in Dentistry

To go into an oral surgery specialty and become a doctor of dental surgery, the training program is much longer. It requires, for example, a doctorate in medicine and a undergraduate doctorate in dentistry.

This is a very popular job, so it is easy to find a job as a dentist or to open a dental practice.

Carrière Dentaire: your resource for finding information relevant to the dental sector in Quebec

Carrière Dentaire specializes in finding candidates and jobs in the dental sector. We also regularly publish information relevant to the dental field in Quebec in our blog.

We are pleased to share information on how to become a dentist in Quebec in order toencourage the next generation of dental health.