Your general dentist, more than likely, is the health care provider whom you see on the most regular basis. If you are visiting the dentist as recommended, you will see your general dentist roughly every six months. One major reason for this, is that your dentist is focused on preventing disease, not just treating disease.

To become a general dentist, an individual typically needs to undergo several years of education and training. Most dental schools require a bachelor’s degree for admission. It’s not always necessary to have a pre-dental major, but students need to fulfill specific science prerequisites like biology, chemistry, physics, and sometimes advanced courses like organic chemistry. Upon acceptance into dental school, students begin a rigorous program that combines academic coursework and clinical experience. The first two years are primarily didactic in nature and cover subjects like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, oral histology, biochemistry, and more. The latter two years focus more on clinical practice, where students treat patients under the supervision of licensed dentists and faculty. After graduation from dental school, candidates must pass a licensing exam to practice dentistry. The exact requirements can vary from one state to another. In the U.S., this typically involves a written exam (covering dental theory and practice) and a clinical exam where candidates demonstrate their skills on patients.