Advancement Dentists can enter advanced education programs in any of the dental specialties listed above. Licensure/Certification To practice in Florida, graduates from accredited dental schools in the U.S. must pass the examinations from the National Board of Dental Examiners and the Florida Board of Dentistry. They must also complete four hours of HIV/AIDS training and one hour of domestic violence training. Continuing education hours and basic life support (CPR) certification are required every two years for license renewall. Salary The average salary of a general dentist in Florida ranged from $136,600 to $186,368 in 2006. Educational Programs Doctor of Medical Dentistry Nova Southeastern University University of Florida Professional Associations American Dental Association Florida Dental Association

Dentists examine, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of teeth, gums, and adjacent tissues and structures of the mouth. They are titled as either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).

Most dentists are general practitioners, although there are many specialty areas. Dentists supervise the work of dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians. They have the final responsibility for all dental services in the work settings. Dentists' work involves highly personal contact with patients, which demands maturity, integrity, intellectual honesty, ethics, and a sense of responsibility. Good hand and eye coordination, visual memory, and judgment of space and shape are also important.

Areas of Specialization
The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties. They are: orthodontics, prevention and correction of poorly positioned teeth; oral and maxillofacial, surgery on the mouth and jaws; endodontics, root canal therapy; oral pathology, diseases of the mouth; pediatric dentistry, for children; periodontics, treatment of the gums and bones of the mouth; prosthodontics, artificial teeth and dentures; public health dentistry, community dental health; oral and maxillofacial radiology, x-ray and computerized tomographic location of oral diseases; and orthodontics / dentofacial orthopedics, diagnosis and treatment of malocclusion.

Work Environment
Most dentists work alone or in small group practices with a small staff of dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians, and clerical assistants. Many work about 40 hours a week; however, some may work more to accommodate their patients' needs and schedules. Dentists may also practice in hospitals, dental clinics and laboratories, public health agencies, or companies that provide dental services to their employees. Instead of or in addition to treating patients, some dentists may choose to teach and/or do research.

Job Outlook
The number of General Dentists employed in Florida in 2006 was 7,599. It is projected that in 2014 there will be 8,345, an annual average growth rate of 1.2 percent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national growth rate for new employment in dentistry is expected to be 4.1% between 2004-2012. The need for dental care is increasing as the population increases and because people are retaining their original teeth for much longer.

Length of Training/Requirements
Students planning careers in dentistry should have a pre-dental education equivalent to a bachelor's degree with required core courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics or molecular biology, and developmental psychology. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in anatomy, physiology, immunology and neurosciences. Courses in analytic geometry and calculus are recommended. Some schools offer a combined BS/DMD degree (see academic advisor). The applicant must also take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), preferably in the summer of the year before the applicant plans to enter dental school. The first-year dental curriculum includes basic sciences (anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and physiology), and preclinical dental sciences. The basic science courses are completed by the end of the second year. The remaining two years are devoted to clinical practice with patients under the supervision of licensed dentists. An additional one to six years of training are required for dental specialties. Nova Southeastern University and the University of Florida also offer special advanced placement programs leading to a DMD degree to graduates of foreign non-accredited dental colleges.