Dentist

[David0000]

Im considering training to be a dentist, from what I've found out i'll need to do 2 years of Science A-Levels followed by another 5 years in university before im earning anything! Then have to face a �10k debt afterwards.

Is it worth it? My parents think I should just get an apprenticeship in anything available and start earning now rather than 'messing' around with college and uni.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[ursula62]

It depends how much you want to be a dentist.

Your starting salary as a qualified dentist would be far in excess of most salaries  that you could hope to get in 7 years'  time without a degree.

[David0000]

I would love to be a dentist, much more than working in a boring office job. Apart from the 7 years of training, its also very difficult to get into the university, I'll need to achieve a minimum of 2 "A" grades and a "B" grade in A Level science which I have heard is very difficult.

[Solarjunkie]

Go for it!

There is a shortage of dentists, there is work waiting for you. Training would be an "apprenticeship" of sorts.

Don't forget that you only pay off your student loan gradually, when you earn enough to do so - it's not that frightening.

Good luck - people will always have teeth!!!

[Gef]

And when you are qualified it's a licence to print money.

[AllYourBase]

My dentist is minted, and only works four days a week "except for the occasional bit of private on a friday morning".
Don't over worry about the student debt thing, just worry about getting there in the first place. Once you're in, you're sorted.

[jno]

'People will always have teeth'... yes, but will they always have cavities? My father had all his teeth out, like many of his generation. I have most of mine left, but in a rather parlous state, like many of my generation. But my son has never been to a dentist in his life. I presume it's to do with fluoride in the water (it certainly isn't his diet). But this seems to be the case with many people of his age. If this is widespread, there might not be a lot of traditional drilling work in the future as there has been in the past, though there may be more cosmetic work, braces etc, to attend to. Does anyone know what the prognosis for dentistry in general?actually is?

[morg_monster]

Its definitely a safe career - are you up to it academically though?  It is on a par with medicine in that it is the brightest students who get in.  If I were you I'd do the A-levels - even without AAB they will give you a brilliant foundation for your future, whatever you decide to do.  If you still want to work in the area but don't get the grades then there are other professions in the area: dental nurse etcetera.  You are still pretty young (I'm guessing doing GCSEs) and your ambitions may change.  But you can't go wrong with good science A-levels even having just a-levels will start you on a better wage than only having GCSEs.  I can see your parents argument, and doing a degree can be expensive (especially by the time you get there, with topup fees, or for people who do a course which is not going to help them out much with a better salary) but going to college or staying on to 6th form is not pricey and definitely a good investment (of time!).