Dental Careers

The scope and complexity of contemporary dental care require intensive training incorporating a spectrum of biological sciences, clinical competence, community sensitivity, and sound, responsible judgment. As the clinican responsible for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, dentists must know the cause and nature of oral diseases, and be able to make comprehensive diagnoses, restore broken or diseased teeth, replace missing teeth, remove unrestorable teeth and perform surgery, treat periodontal and other oral soft tissue diseases, and provide dental health education to patients. Increasingly, dentists collaborate with other health professionals in the investigation of causes of oral-related systemic diseases and in the development of preventive and therapeutic procedures.

Today, the men and women who enroll in this dental school represent diversity of California's population. All that is certain to be common to contemporary dental students is the desire to enter a dynamic and growing profession and the ability to meet the rigorous requirements for successful completion of the dental curriculum. While most graduates will pursue a private general practice, many will choose advanced specialty training to establish a practice in one of the dental specialties or go on in graduate programs. Others will choose careers in teaching or research.

Graduates of the UCSF School of Dentistry have a variety of career opportunities available to them. On average, about half of the graduating dental class enters into a private group or solo practice of general dentistry. The other half go into a specialty or advanced general practice training program, a community-, military-, or other government-based practice, or into graduate studies that will lead to academic careers.

Dental Hygiene Careers

Dental Hygiene is a multifaceted profession that offers career options in teaching, research, administration, public health, and clinical practice. The dental hygienist is a co-therapist with the dentist in the recognition, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases. In addition to performing a variety of preventive and therapeutic functions, the dental hygienist also has a major role in counseling and educating patients, community groups, and other health professionals.