A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a medical professional who specializes in dentistry, the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Below are steps to Become Dentist South Africa
Do you wish to know about the things you need to become a good dentist in South Africa? Don’t worry, in this section of this article, the basic and key ways to become a successful dentist in South Africa will be explained:
Develop A Good Attitude
Having and maintaining a good attitude is a principal factor that will help you in becoming a successful dentist, not just in South Africa, but everywhere you go in the world! A good dentist should always display good behaviours that will keep people happy and assured of getting the best service.
Develop Good Communication Skills
Having the ability to converse professionally with your clients is immensely important to your career as a dentist. You should develop the skills to talk to them to discern their needs and discover the best treatment for them.
You should know how to explain complicated situations to your customers and shouldn’t be harsh or overly blunt when discussing with them.
Consistently Search For Opportunities To Learn
Whether online, in educational centres, or from experienced dentists, you should always ensure that you keep learning new things about your future profession. All the key strategies and basics of dentistry won’t be taught only in school; you have to keep learning more every day.
Ensure That You Offer The Major Subjects In High School
You have to offer the core prerequisite subjects for dentistry in high school. In South Africa, the important subjects to study dentistry are Mathematics, Life Sciences, and the English Language. You need to offer these courses before planning to attend a university in pursuit of a dentistry degree.
Keep Practising
To become a successful dentist in South Africa, you have to develop the act of practicing. The popular saying ‘Practise makes perfection’ should always stick in your head. It would help if you kept practicing the procedures and methods you have learned in school.
What Subjects Are Needed To Become A Dentist In South Africa
There are four major subjects you need to offer in high school before being accepted into any South African university to study dentistry. These subjects and their importance will be provided below:
Mathematics
Physical Science
Life Sciences
English Language
How long does it take to become a dentist in South Africa?
The Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) is a five-year, full-time course. Years one to three focus on bioethics, health law and dental sciences. Years four and five focus on understanding the medical, dental, social and community.
What is a dentist salary in South Africa?
Dentist Average Salary
The average salary for a Dentist in SA is R 731 920 gross per year (R 60 990 gross per month), which is 164% higher than the South Africa’s national average salary. Salary Range: a Dentist can expect an average starting salary of R 455 390. The highest salaries can exceed R 1 870 000.
How much does dental school cost in South Africa?
What is the cost of a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) in South Africa? The average cost of dental courses in South Africa is R15,000 per year.
Is there a demand for dentists in South Africa?
Demand for job
Dentist jobs are in high demand in South Africa due to the constant rise of patients and South Africa becoming a destination for Medical Tourism. The ASSA (Association of Surgeons of South Africa) have projected the number of citizens on chronic medication by the year 2025 to be 8.8 million.
Does dentist earn more than doctor?
Dentists in some places are so well compensated that they earn more than the average doctor. According to a report in The Journal of the South Africa Medical Association, the average hourly wage of a dentist in South Africa is R 994.07vs. R 961.22 for a physician. As recently as 1996, dentists were making less than doctors.
How much do dental therapist earn per month in South Africa?
Salary range for the majority of workers in Dental assistants and therapists – from R6 817,92 to R34 202,74 per month – 2021.
Is dentistry hard to study?
Dentistry requires hard working and intelligent candidates and can be a tough profession to gain access to. Students are advised to check with their university and desired courses to ensure they understand the UCAS entry points for their course and their dentistry degree requirements.
Where can I study to become a dentist in South Africa?
Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology – The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences.
Durban University of Technology.
Durban University of Technology – The Department of Dental Sciences will constantly.
Sefako Makgatho Health Scienes University.
Is there a shortage of dentists in South Africa?
There is currently a shortage of dentists and specialists in SA and given the huge burden of dental diseases, there is a dire need to increase the number of these health care workers. The best-case scenario estimates a shortfall of 430, 1252 and 1885 dentists and specialists in 2018, 2024 and 2030 respectively.