Dr. Isabella and Dr. Wakefield of Dakota Dental
Some people get pretty nervous before visiting the dentist. And it’s understandable! Someone is poking around in your mouth with sharp, scary-looking objects. But it’s reassuring to know that the dentists looking at your teeth have gone through years of extensive schooling and training before they can work on your pearly whites.
It’s a little known fact that dentists share a number of personality traits. Dentists tend to be patient and have good people skills which they use to work well with patients and coworkers. They’re also skilled at working with their hands and are very detail-oriented.
But we all know that it takes more than some personality traits and an interest in teeth to become a dentist. First, you have to complete a bachelor’s degree. Typical class prerequisites include chemistry, biology, statistics, and physics. After getting a bachelor’s degree, aspiring dentists must take the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT) to get into dental school. Once accepted, dental students must pass a mixture of classes and clinical courses, including anatomy, biochemistry, endodontics, and oral surgery, and many other subjects. After dental school, students will have to pass national and state licensing exams. For going into a dental specialty, some post-graduate training may also be required.
The family dentists at Dakota Dental have gone through all of this rigorous training and schooling. For example, Dr. Wakefield is one of less than 100 dentists in Minnesota to have completed a Post-Doctorate degree in Cosmetic Dentistry, making Dakota Dental one of the few clinics where patients can receive anything from a simple tooth filling to cosmetic dentistry practices like tooth veneers and cosmetic contouring.
So the next time you’re headed to the dentists, rest assured that you’re in good hands with the highly trained Apple Valley dentists at Dakota Dental. They have the experience and training to ensure you have healthy teeth and a perfect smile! Contact Dakota Dental today to make your next appointment.