The majority of dental applicants apply for postgraduate entry into the Doctor of Dental Medicine (4-year degree) following the completion of an eligible university bachelor's degree.
It is extremely hard to become a dentist.
The difficulty is due to the years of schooling required, the financial cost of education, and setting up or joining a dental practice. There is also a very competitive dental school application process. On average, it takes between six and eight years to become a dentist.
In Australia the dentistry degree is generally 4 years when you are entering as a university graduate. Following on from an undergraduate degree that is at least 3 years, this pathway takes at least 7 years.
In addition, dentists have a good career opportunity in Australia. The Bureau of Labour reports that the employment sector with the most growth potential over the next five years is health care and social assistance. This means that there are many opportunities for dentists to grow their careers in Australia.
How much does a Dentist make in Australia? The average dentist salary in Australia is $144,130 per year or $73.91 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $112,145 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $194,749 per year.
Their Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) program is a 5-year, full time program requiring an ATAR of 99 (OP 1) and features: Dedicated specialist teachers. Pre-clinical placements in your first year. Opportunities for in-clinic work with patients in your second year.
Also, be aware that dental schools in Australia are competitive and their admission criteria rely much on your scores in important subjects for your studies like chemistry and biology. That in mind, make sure to have high grades in these subjects to gain an advantage to other candidates.
To study the 4 year Doctor of Dental Medicine, you'll need a minimum GPA of 5.5 and a minimum overall GAMSAT score of 50 and no section score less than 50 for domestic applicants.
You must obtain at least a Bachelor's degree in dentistry to practice dentistry in Australia legally. Undergraduate dentistry in Australia courses requires five to seven years of full-time study, including clinical experience as part of the curriculum.
It may not seem like math plays a critical role in dentistry, but as with most everything, math is incredibly important to both the health of patients in the practice & ensuring dentists have the best tools to use.
Which is more difficult? When it comes to how hard both subjects are to study, there isn't a massive amount of difference. In the pre-clinical years at least, there is a lot of overlap between content. Dentists have to know anatomy, physiology and pharmacology etc.
Whether a career in dentistry is worth it is ultimately up to you. However, being a dentist is both a high-paying and growing career — two factors many job seekers heavily consider. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that employment of dentists is expected to rise 8% between 2020 and 2030.
Becoming a doctor or dentist requires a serious time commitment: between 7-12 years for doctors and 4-12 years for dentists. This commitment begins after the completion of secondary school, as a Bachelor's degree is required for prospective medical students to continue to medical school.
Last week the National Skills Commission released the 2022 Skills Priority List, in which dental professionals and the wider health sector featured quite prominently. The report shows: Overall, 286 occupations were listed as having national shortages, up from 153 in 2021.
As for dentistry, the lowest minimum ATAR required by an Australian program is an ATAR of 90 (Charles Sturt University), an adjusted ATAR of 90 (University of Adelaide), or an adjusted ATAR of 70 for the University of Adelaide's Bachelor of Oral Health.
What can I earn as a Dentist? The average annual salary for Dentist jobs in Australia ranges from $165,000 to $185,000.
Many dental students take on part-time jobs, either during term time, vacations or even all year round. The amount of free time available may vary depending upon which year the student is in and at which dental school they study.
Chemistry, biology and either maths or physics (or both) will keep all dentistry courses open to you. If you don't take maths or physics but do take chemistry and biology, most courses will accept you. If you only take one from chemistry or biology, fewer dentistry courses will accept you.
The decision to study Dentistry is an amazing choice however, it can be difficult with low grades or qualifications. Due to the highly competitive nature of applying to dental school, low grades may result in not gaining an offer. This may be due to low GCSE / A Level grades or even low scores in the UCAT exam.
Working long hours as a dentist can be extremely stressful and demanding, which requires great time management. Every patient needs the dentist's undivided attention, but as time passes and one grows weary, it can be challenging to offer the greatest care.