To become a dentist, one must complete a bachelor's degree, which takes about four years, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, which takes an additional four years. In total, it takes about eight years to become a dentist.
Dentistry is a rewarding career that offers many opportunities to help people. Dentists can work in private practice, teach at dental schools, or work in public health. They can also specialize in a particular area of dentistry, such as orthodontics, periodontics, or endodontics.