Dentistry, or dental medicine, is a medical discipline focusing on oral health, the teeth, and the mouth. Dental care is important to keep smiles in a healthy way as well as maintain overall health. Accordingly, becoming a dentist is an in-demand profession across societies. In this article, we will help you dig out the importance of dentists worldwide and provide some insight on how to become a dentist in Malaysia.
What is a dentist, and what does a dentist do?
Dentists are healthcare professionals who look after the teeth and the mouth. They help patients have healthy mouths and maintain their overall well-being. Dentists mainly treat oral diseases and prevent dental problems. They may also perform dental surgeries to heal injuries that are harmful to dental health.
Licensed dentists have various responsibilities, such as offering dental hygiene to patients, which is super important to avoid possible complications during dental procedures like infections or regional numbness. Thus, they always need to use gloves, glasses, and masks during diagnosis and dental surgeries. Some of the other tasks of a dentist are:
- X-rays and diagnostics,
- giving an aesthesia before dental procedures,
- routine check-ups for teeth and jawbones,
- diagnoses of damaged teeth and deciding the appropriate treatment (repairing or removing),
- and fillings & sealants.
Dentists use various medical devices to diagnose problems and offer treatment to patients. They use equipment like X-ray machines, dental drills, special brushes, lasers, scalpels, spoon excavators, and dental probes during procedures. Dentists often work with dental assistants and technicians in dental hospitals or dental offices.
Must-have skills for students to become a dentist
A Prospective medical student wishing to become a dentist must have the listed abilities:
Hand-control
The oral cavity is one of the sensitive parts of the human body. In addition, to mend tiny things like teeth, dentists use microscopic tools and equipment. Therefore as a dentist, you need to stay concentrated and calm during the dental procedure of fixing, repairing, or filling the tooth; otherwise, uncontrolled hand movements may cause clefts and bleeding from the oral cavity of your patient. For this reason, as a dentist, having steady hands, even under heavy pressure, is important for the operation’s success and the patient’s well-being.
Ability to interact with people from various generations
Dental health is important for people of all ages; thus, dentists will have patients from various generations. Letting your clients trust you is vital to building a trustworthy relationship. Accordingly, knowledge of every interaction with patients from various generations would benefit dental professionals.
Besides, powerful interactions are also required to build up your client portfolio. As a dental professional, you need to feel comfortable engaging in different networking opportunities, and you must be aware that the key to networking is having a good understanding of your target audience.
Organizational skills
Organizational skills are required at each stage of your professional life and dental career. If you manage to set the steps to be followed during dental surgeries, you will be less stressed and have the opportunity to improve the quality. Organizational skills are also useful for managing patients’ appointments for dental professionals with their businesses.
Becoming a dentist in Malaysia
Do you want to help people, and do you think you will be fascinated by a great smile with healthy teeth? Becoming a dentist would be the perfect choice for your professional life. To become a dental professional in Malaysia, medical students must take a comprehensive dental education, followed by compulsory service and a professional exam by the government. Below is a detailed explanation of how to practice dentistry in Malaysia.
What would your educational path be like?
Students who wish to practice dentistry in Malaysia must initially meet the application requirements set by the Malaysian Dental Council (MDC) for the SPM level before taking dental school. It’s different from the Dental Admissions Test in the US. SPM, also recognized as the Malaysian Certificate of Education, is a national exam in the country and is equal to the IGSCE or O levels. To enter dental school, students need to get a minimum of 5 Bs in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and one other subject at SPM.
Additionally, dental school students must have a compulsory service in the government after BDS and must also take credit in Bahasa Melayu.
Pre-university programs
Students must study a pre-university program or take a foundation course in science just before dental school. There are several main requisites to take a pre-university or foundation program, such as:
- BBB, ABC, or AAC levels in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics
- STPM, which includes BBB, ABC, or AAC in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics,
- 80% average in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics,
- Or foundation in science, which needs a 3 CGPA in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics, additionally 5 Bs in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and one equivalent subject in SPM.
Medical students completing the requirements can start enrolling in dental school to take Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery (BDS).
Five years of dental degree: BDS
To become a healthcare professional in dental practice, students need to undergo a dental school BDS degree which would last five years. It is highly recommended that students pursue a dental degree from a dental school recognised by the Malaysian Dental Council.
A few of the public dental schools approved by the MDC are:
- University of Malaya,
- The University of Sains Malaysia,
- The University of Kebangsaan Malaysia,
- University of Teknologi MARA,
- University of Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia,
- University of Sains Islam Malaysia.
Some of the private dental schools are:
- AIMST University,
- Penang International Dental College,
- MAHSA University,
- International Medical University,
- Manipal University College Malaysia,
- SEGI Univesity,
- Lincoln University College.
The five years of dental education are separated into two parts such as pre-clinical and clinical training. The first part, pre-clinical dental school training, lasts two years and aims to teach dental students about the basis of theoretical sciences. Afterwards, during the clinical dental school training, students would take hands-on courses to gain professional experience in dental practice. The clinical dental school training also has a length of 2 years. Students would get close to diagnosis and dental treatment methods.
Dental school graduates must complete one year of compulsory training, later getting their dental school BDS degrees.
1-year compulsory service
To work in medicine, physicians must complete housemanship in Malaysia. However, dental education is way different according to the must-take steps. You must undergo one year of compulsory service to finalise dental school. Through compulsory service, students will learn how to use the all-out knowledge of skills and methods in the working area and acquire substantial experiences in examining and treating patients.
Within a few years, dental school graduates must complete their compulsory services in the public sector. Since the Dental Act 2018, prospective dentists have been able to choose whether they would like to undergo their compulsory services in public or private institutions. As previously mentioned, dental school students who will also have a compulsory service in the government also need credit in Bahasa Melayu.
Professional Qualifying Examination
After compulsory service, dental school students must take an examination to register as licensed dentists legally. The exam, which is called the Professional Qualifying Examination, has three parts, including theory, pre-clinical and clinical assessments. The professional qualifying examination targets to see if dental school students are ready to practice dental medicine as professionals.
If dental school students pass the examination, they can register with the Malaysian Dental Council and start working as licensed dentists in a dental office. After full registration, dentists can choose to work either in the government or private sector.
So, how long does it take to become a dentist in Malaysia?
After the pre-university dental school program, it would take at least six years to become a dentist in the country. The process may take longer for dental school students who fail the professional qualifying examination.
What if I want to become a dental specialist?
To become a dental specialist, such as an orthodontist, a pediatric dentist, an oral surgeon, or an endodontist, you need to take more years of specialised dental school training.
Having a minimum of two years of working experience as a dentist, you need to take four years of postgraduate training in the area you want to specialize in. The postgraduate program comprises 1-year prerequisite coursework and three years of specialized training. By completing a postgraduate program, dentists can register themselves as dental specialists.
There are various job opportunities for dental specialists in Malaysia. Check out Doctor Jobs Today to find out some current career openings for dental specialists.
What are the working areas in dental medicine?
Dentistry is one of the most demanding professions worldwide because it gives us perfect smiles. Dentistry is important to preserving the well-being of smiles along with overall health. So, there remain numerous job opportunities for medical professionals working in dental practice. Below you can find a few of the widespread job vacancies for dentists, you can also check out more dental job vacancies here.
General dentists
A general dentist can provide a large variety of services for the sustained oral health of patients. A general dentist focuses on avoiding oral diseases through regular check-ups. General dentists diagnose and treat patients and offer clients advanced treatments like bridgework, fitting for dentures, cavity fillings, and root canals. A general dentist can also make recommendations to dental specialists, for example when it requires a dental surgery.
Dental assistants
Dental assistants assist dentists with dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, and extractions. Besides, they help patients prepare before the operation and manage the check-up dates after the procedures. Dental assistants must have a collaborative personality to have a good dynamic with the dentist and the patients.
Dental hygienists
A dental hygienist’s responsibilities include offering dental cleanups, examining patients for symptoms of oral ailments, and providing preventative dental care under the guidance of a dental professional. Also, dental hygienists steer patients to gain useful habits for better dental health.
Dental laboratory technician
Dental technicians produce dental prosthetics such as bridges, crowns, and dentures. They are called both dental technicians and dental laboratory technicians. They can specialise in orthodontic appliances or ceramics.
Dental specialists
Dentists having more years of training and experience in dental medicine are called dental specialists. These professionals determine how dental operations may contribute to genetics-related health problems from parentage. Their concerns would vary from tooth extractions to canal treatments depending on their chosen field. The respective fields of dental specialist
Orthodontists
Common duties of an orthodontist are jaw orientation and teeth positioning. Orthodontists use dental tools and strategic techniques to flatten or realign teeth. Orthodontists generally work with younger patients as their teeth can be easily formed. In addition to dental offices, an orthodontist can also operate in hospitals to consult patients dealing with traumatic jaw damage.
Dental students wishing to become orthodontists must complete a postdoctoral training program.
Pediatric dentists
Pediatric dentists are dental specialists who provide specialized oral care for children and teenagers below 16. Childhood is the phase where humans develop and grow faster, so pediatric dentists must diagnose and treat children considering their improvements. A couple of the main duties of a pediatric dentist are:
- routine dental check-ups,
- endodontic treatments (root canal or infected pulp),
- and dental surgeries.
Pediatric dentists often work in the private sector, rarely in government-based hospitals.
Endodontists
Endodontists, or root canal dentists, are dental specialists caring for complex dental problems. They mainly provide healthcare for oral ailments affecting the tooth pulp, nerves, and blood vessels. Endodontists generally offer tooth extractions, endodontic surgeries, and cleaning or fillings for the root canals. People also go to endodontic dental specialists to fix their cracked teeth issues.
Periodontists
Periodontists are dental specialists focusing on preventing and diagnosing dental diseases and treating ailments harming oral structures. For example, periodontic dental professionals commonly address gum diseases that mainly occur because of infections in the tissue around the teeth. To treat gum diseases, periodontists may perform a gingivectomy to extract parts of the gum or a flap surgery to clean the roots and the around area. Flap surgery will also heal damaged bones. Minor periodontist duties except for gums are dental implants, scaling, and root planing to remove tartar.
Prosthodontists
Prosthodontists specialised in replacing broken, missing, or traumatic teeth using dental implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures. Also, to develop the teeth’ aesthetic appearance, prosthodontists apply tiny pieces of porcelain cemented on the tooth surface.
Is being a dentist a good career choice for you?
Dentistry is a demanding profession with almost all its aspects. Nevertheless, as with each specific career, being a dentist also has various difficulties. Below states a brief description of the pros and cons of becoming a dentist in Malaysia.
Pros of becoming a dentist
Profession permanence
The dental industry is a demanding career with minimal unemployment rates worldwide. Healthy and fascinating teeth gained popularity by the changing perception of beauty markets, accordingly, the need for dental professionals increased steadily and the dozens of career openings in the country are just proof of the demand. Thus, as a dentist, you will always have an income coming into your pocket. The average yearly salary of a dentist working in Malaysia is considered RM 60288, according to payscale.
Higher satisfaction levels
Being a dentist is a patient-oriented career like all medical professions. Throughout their career, dentists have worked to help patients with their dental problems and let them smile confidently. As a dentist, you will prevent super-important problems by providing preventative dental care to give your patients better oral health. The significant changes you make in people’s lives will fulfill you with career satisfaction.
Flexibility
All over the world, medical professionals have busy working periods. Most doctors must be ready to serve 24/7, which may cause no time for social activity. On the other hand, dentists are more likely to catch a perfect balance between work and social life. Despite immediate dental surgeries, dentists generally have regular working hours. Thus they can have a flexible social lifestyle. Furthermore, as a dentist with a couple of years of experience in dentistry, you can own your dental office. Having your own business, you may schedule your working days and hours according to your daily routines.
Cons of becoming a dentist
Challenging conditions
The main purpose of dentistry is to let people have a healthy dental condition and a perfect, confident smile. Nonetheless, the initial condition where you begin to diagnose may not be so encouraging. Because of the inflammation, the patient might have bad breath. If not, the patient can have a difficult personality which may challenge your patience. Various scenarios would turn your profession into a difficult version. To become a dentist, you must have a tolerant temper.
Higher costs of education
Dentistry is a bit more expensive than other medical residencies in the country, with an annual fee of RM 119600 for Malaysian students and RM 130800 for non-Malaysian students. Considering the duration of the BDS degree is five years, your dental degree will cost you between RM 600000 and 654000. Moreover, if you wish to become a dental specialist, the educational cost would go higher for you as you need to take a master’s program in the area you want to specialise in.
Conclusion
To conclude, to become a dentist in Malaysia, complete a pre-university program, followed by a five-year BDS degree, and 1-year compulsory service. After passing the Professional Qualifying Examination and registering with MDC, dentists can work in the country. Specialists like orthodontists must take a master’s course. Dental residency requires effort and stability. A satisfying career requires careful consideration of future goals.
Are you a Dentist looking for a new role in the healthcare industry? Here at Doctor Jobs Today, we provide the most reliable and well-curated vacancies from the best medical institutions in Malaysia. You can also access various recommendations and guidelines to help you stay on track. Get your CV ready and find your future career in Doctor Jobs Today, now!
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