Five Signs You Should Pursue a Career in Dentistry

If you're wondering what to study in college or you're ready for a career change after years of working in the same industry, you might be interested in dentistry. The question is, how do you know if working in a dental office is right for you?

Here are five signs that you'll find yourself right at home working in a dental office.

You Like Working With Your Hands

When you think of industries that allow you to work with your hands, dentistry probably doesn't come to mind. However, if you like working with your hands, you might want to skip carpentry, hair styling, and cooking and instead consider becoming a dentist, a dental assistant, or an orthodontist.

When you work directly with patients in a dental office, you'll find yourself using a variety of rotary instruments and other dental tools. Learning how to use them properly is very important, since you will be using them in tight spaces inside patients' mouths. It can be very rewarding to use these tools on a daily basis if you enjoy doing things with your hands.

You Enjoy Meeting and Talking to New People

It may also surprise you to learn that working in a dental office is great for those who like to talk to people. Although, when you consider how many people go in and out of a dental office on a regular basis, it isn't quite as surprising as it may have initially seemed.

It doesn't really matter what job in the dental field you choose either. Whether you make a smooth transition from your existing job into the office where you're answering phone calls, making appointments, and checking in patients, or you decide to go to college to be a dentist, you will be meeting new people every single day.

In addition, dental assistants spend a lot of time with patients, and they spend time with patients in their personal space, so it's important to enjoy talking to others and making them feel at ease if you want to work in a dental office.

You Want to Work in a Fast-Paced Environment

Working in a fast-paced environment isn't for everyone. However, if you like having plenty of things to do, and you enjoy feeling like your workday just zoomed by, working in a dental office might be a great choice for you.

Everyone in the office works with patients, but there are a lot of other things that have to get done in the office on a daily basis. You might find yourself doing tasks like:

• Scheduling appointments

• Checking patients in

• Sterilizing dental instruments

• Treatment planning

• General cleaning and organization

• Billing

• Taking and reviewing X-rays

You may also be asked to do other types of tasks, depending on the dentist's needs, while dentists may be responsible for organizing staff meetings and providing feedback.

You Want to Work Predictable Hours

Flexible schedules can be great, but a little too much flexibility can create a lot of hardships for your family. Unpredictable work schedules can make it nearly impossible for you to spend time with friends and family, it can make finding child care nearly impossible, and it can leave you feeling tired and worn down.

There is no place with more predictable hours than a dental office. Most offices are only open Monday through Friday, so you'll never have to worry about working weekends, and they are generally open during regular business hours, which means you'll be home for dinner every single night. Some offices even work four-day workweeks or take off early on Fridays, which can be very appealing if work-life balance is important to you.

You've Got a Thing for Teeth

It also helps if you have a thing for teeth before you start working for a dental office! If you have used teeth whitening products to keep your smile looking bright, if you're always looking at your smile in photographs, and if someone's smile is the first thing you notice about them, you will definitely find yourself right at home in a dental office.

It also helps if you aren't squeamish and you aren't easily made uncomfortable, as working in someone else's mouth is a unique experience.

A dental office can be a great place to work, but that doesn't mean it's right for everybody. Before you go back to school, declare a major, or send in your resume, consider the signs on this list to determine whether a dental office is the right place for you.