My Three Potential Jobs:Dentist, Dental

Therapist, and Nursing

Yolanda Abernathy9/27/07

1B

is aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of numerous dental problems and diseases of the

teeth, gums and mouth. This includes the correction

of missing and faulty teeth.

Salary if a Dentist

Requirements• An applicant shall be entitled to take the examination required in this section

to practice dentistry in Florida if he/she:

• Is 18 years of age or older;

• Is a graduate of a dental school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Dental Association or its successor agency, if any, or any other nationally recognized accrediting agency; or is a dental student in the final year of a program at such an accredited school who has completed all the coursework necessary to prepare the student to perform the clinical and diagnostic procedures required to pass the examinations. With respect to a dental student in the final year of a program at a dental school, a passing score on the examinations is valid for 180 days after the date the examinations were completed. A dental school student who takes the licensure examinations during the student’s final year of an approved dental school must have graduated before being certified for licensure pursuant to s. 466.011, F.S.;

• Has successfully completed the American Dental Association National Board of Dental Examiners dental examination, Parts I and II, within 10 years of the date of application.  If scores are older than ten years, must retake clinical examination (Part II).

Additional Requirements

• If an applicant is a graduate of a dental college or school not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of American Dental Association or of a dental college or school not approved by the board, he shall not be entitled to take the examination required in this section to practice dentistry until he/she:

• Completes a program of study, as defined by the board by rule, at an accredited American dental school and demonstrates receipt of a D.D.S. or D.M.D. from said school; or

• Completes a 2-year supplemental dental education program at an accredited dental school and receives a dental diploma, degree, or certificate as evidence of program completion.

• Once qualified, an applicant must successfully complete the following to be licensed as a dentist in this state:

• A written examination on the laws an rules of the state regulating the practice of dentistry;

• A practical or clinical examination, which shall be administered and graded by dentists licensed in this state and employed by the department for just such purpose.

Last of Requirements• The practical examination shall include:

• Two restorations, and the board by rule shall determine the class of such restorations and whether they shall be performed on mannequins, live patients. or both. At least one restoration shall be on a live patient;

• A demonstration of periodontal skills on a live patient.

• A demonstration of prosthetics and restorative skills in complete and partial dentures and crowns and bridges and the utilization of practical methods of evaluation, specifically including the evaluation by the candidate of completed laboratory products such as, but not limited to, crowns and inlays filled to prepared model teeth.

• A demonstration of restorative skills on a mannequin which requires the candidate to complete procedures performed in preparation for a cast restoration; and

• A demonstration of endodontic skills.

• If the applicant fails to pass the clinical examination in three attempts, he/she shall not be eligible for reexamination unless he/she completes additional educational requirements established by the board.

• The board may by rule provide for additional procedures which are to be tested, provided such procedures shall be common to the practice of general dentistry. The board by rule shall determine the passing grade for each procedure and the acceptable variation for examiners.

Dental therapy as an occupation was introduced in the seventies to cater for the growing number of people who rely on the public health service for their dental care. The dental therapist offers a basic dental service and is mainly

concerned with preventative dentistry.

Salaries for Dental Therapist

• Salaries vary, but dental therapists usually earn between $25,000 and $47,000 per year, depending on experience and the region they work in. Salary may also depend on whether dental therapists are working school holidays, and managers may earn more than this.

Requirements

• There are currently two ways to qualify as a dental therapist

• 27 month course – Diploma in dental therapy and a Diploma in dental hygiene

• 3 Year BSc course – Degree course in Oral Health Science or a Degree in Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene

• All training is based on the curricula determined by the General Dental Council and applicants are recommended to contact their school of choice for a prospectus and application form.

• Qualifications

• You must be 18 years of age with at least five GCSE’s at grade A-C or five Scottish Standard grades at grade 3 or above. These should include English and Biology, or other sciences.

• In addition two A levels (some establishments insist that these include biology) or three Scottish Higher grades are required. It is desirable that candidates can demonstrate that they have experience of working in a dental environment although exceptions may be made in some cases.

• Some schools may require that you hold a nationally recognised qualification in dental nursing, with two years experience. Additional nursing qualifications, such as dental radiography or the certificate in oral health education may also help with your application.

• These are just guidelines as each school may have different requirements. Check with your preferred school to see of they will accept any other qualifications that you may have in addition, or as an alternative to the above.

• For an up to date list of schools and contact details please click on the career pathway heading and select dental schools.

• Many schools run an open day and it is advisable to attend these days. It gives you the opportunity to meet the staff and students and see the facilities available to you.

Registered nurses are practitioners in their own right, specialists in their own field, and capable of

providing everything from basic to the most specialized health care. As members of multi-professional teams, nurses help to ensure the

health of individuals and the community at large.

Salaries for Nursing

• RN Median Hourly Rate by State (2006)*• California: $31.88 • Florida: $23.26 • Georgia: $23.83 • Illinois: $25.00 • Pennsylvania: $25.00 • Tennessee: $22.25 • Texas: $25.00 • Additionally, according to 2004 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses

earned an average of $52,330 per year. The middle 50 percent averaged between $43,370 and $63,360. The bottom 10 percent earned under $37,300, while the top 10 percent made more than $74,760.

• According to the US Census Bureau's 2006 national salary survey, Registered Nurses (RN) can earn approximately $15,000 more per year than Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). If you are an LPN with 15 years until retirement, this translates to an additional $225,000 if you simply invest 12 months to complete an online LPN to RN program.

• Find Registered Nursing Programs• RN Median Annual Salaries• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salaries in the industries

employing the highest number of registered nurses as of May 2004 are:• Employment services: $63,170 • General medical and surgical hospitals : $53,450 • Home health care services: $48,990 • Offices of physicians: $48,250 • Nursing care facilities: 48,220