Nowadays, kids get quite extensive career information, and from a very early age.
And some make quite startling career choices, so that in any give class, you are sure to find a kid aspiring to be a musician, another one aspiring to be an athlete - and a whole range of other 'non traditional' choices.
This is very unlike the situation just a few decades ago, when everyone wanted to be a doctor, pilot or engineer.
Of course, as the years go on, the choices become more refined, and we have kids who just wanted to be a doctor working out exactly what type of doctor they wish to be, by the time they are through with their junior high school education.
At this stage, cosmetic dentist is one choice you may hear, especially from a kid who has seen the literally 'clear difference' a cosmetic dentist can make.
And at this stage, a question you are likely to hear quite commonly, among the kids aspiring to cosmetic dentistry, is as to just how to make it there.
Now in order to be in a position to understand what the journey towards being a cosmetic dentist involves, it would help to appreciate the fact that the cosmetic dentist is an ordinary dentist - who goes on to specialize in cosmetic dentistry.
It is the very same way that a dermatologist is a doctor who studies general medicine, but then goes on to specialize in dermatology.
Or the same way a psychiatrist is a person who first studies the general studies required to become a medical doctor, and then proceeds to specialize in psychiatry.
Therefore the first step towards becoming a cosmetic dentist would be to find your way into the dental school, from where you can then choose to specialize in cosmetic dentistry.
There is no way you can bypass the general dentistry training: you first have to become a dental practitioner, capable of, among other things, extracting teeth, filling teeth and all that; before you can then study further and become a specialist known as a cosmetic dentist.
To get into the dental school, in the first place, you will need a strong background in the sciences, especially in the biological sciences.
Your biology and chemistry grades will surely be scrutinized, before a decision can be made on whether to admit you into dental school.
If you flopped in the sciences, this is going to prove hard, if not impossible.
Indeed, depending on which countries of the world you are in, you could find yourself being forced to first study for a general science degree, say in zoology, chemistry or something of that sort, before you can pursue dentistry as a postgraduate course.
Upon graduating from dental school as a general practitioner, the transition into cosmetic dentistry typically won't be automatic.
In most schools, your performance in the just completed general dentistry studies will be checked - in order for the faculty to make up their minds whether you can 'benefit' from postgraduate training.
So when all is said and done, the journey towards becoming a cosmetic dentist is a long one, paved with lots of hard work.
And some make quite startling career choices, so that in any give class, you are sure to find a kid aspiring to be a musician, another one aspiring to be an athlete - and a whole range of other 'non traditional' choices.
This is very unlike the situation just a few decades ago, when everyone wanted to be a doctor, pilot or engineer.
Of course, as the years go on, the choices become more refined, and we have kids who just wanted to be a doctor working out exactly what type of doctor they wish to be, by the time they are through with their junior high school education.
At this stage, cosmetic dentist is one choice you may hear, especially from a kid who has seen the literally 'clear difference' a cosmetic dentist can make.
And at this stage, a question you are likely to hear quite commonly, among the kids aspiring to cosmetic dentistry, is as to just how to make it there.
Now in order to be in a position to understand what the journey towards being a cosmetic dentist involves, it would help to appreciate the fact that the cosmetic dentist is an ordinary dentist - who goes on to specialize in cosmetic dentistry.
It is the very same way that a dermatologist is a doctor who studies general medicine, but then goes on to specialize in dermatology.
Or the same way a psychiatrist is a person who first studies the general studies required to become a medical doctor, and then proceeds to specialize in psychiatry.
Therefore the first step towards becoming a cosmetic dentist would be to find your way into the dental school, from where you can then choose to specialize in cosmetic dentistry.
There is no way you can bypass the general dentistry training: you first have to become a dental practitioner, capable of, among other things, extracting teeth, filling teeth and all that; before you can then study further and become a specialist known as a cosmetic dentist.
To get into the dental school, in the first place, you will need a strong background in the sciences, especially in the biological sciences.
Your biology and chemistry grades will surely be scrutinized, before a decision can be made on whether to admit you into dental school.
If you flopped in the sciences, this is going to prove hard, if not impossible.
Indeed, depending on which countries of the world you are in, you could find yourself being forced to first study for a general science degree, say in zoology, chemistry or something of that sort, before you can pursue dentistry as a postgraduate course.
Upon graduating from dental school as a general practitioner, the transition into cosmetic dentistry typically won't be automatic.
In most schools, your performance in the just completed general dentistry studies will be checked - in order for the faculty to make up their minds whether you can 'benefit' from postgraduate training.
So when all is said and done, the journey towards becoming a cosmetic dentist is a long one, paved with lots of hard work.
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