How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Kentucky

The ‘Bluegrass State’ is home to some of the country’s best dental schools, which have a reputation for innovation in dental education. These institutes prepare students to become competent and skilled, which helps them shine in their profession. If you want to kick-start a career in this growing field, then do give this article a read. This guide will help you understand how to become a dentist in Kentucky.

If you want to help people improve their oral health and self-esteem, then you should think about becoming a dentist.

The data given in the table below has been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It gives a snapshot of the training, skill-set and education requirements that aspiring dentists have to fulfill.

Since an increase in the baby-boomer population has led to an increased demand for dental services, we will see a positive job growth in the field of dentistry in the future. It is predicted that the employment opportunities in this field will shoot up by 7% from 2018 to 2028.

The stages involved in becoming a dentist in Kentucky are highlighted below:

1. 1. Get a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step is to get admitted to a bachelor’s program. Pre-dental students can pick any major at the undergraduate level as long as they are able to satisfy the pre-requisite course requirements of the dental school they are applying to. The dental school pre-requisites usually include the following courses: Introductory Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, Microbiology and English. Studying these courses also helps candidates prepare for the Dental Admission Test (DAT).

 

2. 2. Get a Professional Doctoral Degree

The next step involves applying to an accredited dental school. Most schools admit students who have a high CGPA and DAT score, along with stellar references. Once individuals have secured admission to a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) program, they can expect to study a wide variety of modules related to Oral Pathology, Orofacial Pain and Periodontics.

 

3. 3. Apply for a License

The last stage of this lengthy process involves submitting a completed licensure application to the Kentucky Board of Dentistry. In order to get licensed, candidates have to clear the National Board Dental Examination, a regional exam and a jurisprudence exam.

If you are thinking about pursuing a career in dentistry in Kentucky, then be prepared to invest a minimum of eight years, because you will have to meet a strict criteria to enter this field. Before you can enroll in a dental school, you will have to earn a 4-year long undergraduate degree. After getting this degree, you will be required to obtain a doctoral degree, which might take another four years to finish. Lastly, you will have to pass the prescribed exams.

To be eligible to get a license in Kentucky, candidates must meet the following requirements:

They should have:

 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that Dentists (General) in Kentucky earned a yearly mean pay of $129,310 in 2019. The state average for 2019 was considerably lower than the national average of $178,260.