I have seen many Nigerian students that crave to be doctors, many ladies want to marry doctors, parents want their children to be called doctors, little wonder why many pastors, artisans, musicians, teachers have adopted this title as honourary. The question is who then is a doctor?

In Nigeria a doctor is a title given to any of the following:

1)Person who has obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree PhD
2)Person who is a graduate of medicine
3)Person who is a graduate of dentistry
4)Person who is a graduate of veterinary medicine
5)Person who has obtained a doctorate degree such as LLD, OD, Pharm.D, Doctor of Psychology etc

However, only graduates of medicine and dentistry carry the traditional sense of the word ‘doctor’ as health care providers.

Let me summarize what dentistry is all about first before going into details;

Dentists are doctors that treat diseases of the oral cavity, its structures and related structures. They are trained in a university for a period of six years; four or five (depending on the school) of these years will be spent together with the students of medicine. After which newly inducted dentists undergo one year of compulsory internship and another year of NYSC, then register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before they can practice. They are automatically members of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) upon graduation. They can specialize in a number of specialties with a residency programme similar to that of graduates of medicine under the supervision of Faculty of Dental Surgery of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or that of West African College of Surgeons and become fellows (consultants) in their chosen fields and automatically become members of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN). As a dentist you are entitled to whatever your counterparts that studied medicine are entitled to and you are paid with the same salary scale except for specialists that get special allowances depending on the field and other part time jobs that anyone may decide to take.

As a dental student you begin to feel special right from school because you belong to the Faculty of Dentistry/Dental sciences.

If you are about to take JAMB/pre-degree/Direct entry form this may be what you need just sit down and relax as I take you round the world of dentistry.

Comments, observations and questions are allowed, thanks.

pyramidsinvestment@yahoo.com

I must commend you for this simplistic write-up..The basic fact is that Dentistry is not well known in Nigeria. Infact,most school leavers don't know anything about Dentistry.some that even know keep wondering why you'll spend six good years studying only the teeth which is far from the truth..I'm a proud Dental student, anyway.

Q: What is dentistry?
A: Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, commonly in the dentition but also the oral mucosa, and of adjacent and related structures and tissues, particularly in the maxillofacial (jaw and facial) area.Although primarily associated with teeth among the general public, the field of dentistry or dental medicine is thus not limited to odontology (odoús, "tooth" – the study of the structure, development, and abnormalities of the teeth. It is the study of the mouth and its disorders and diseases.

It encompasses treatment of the face, jaw, cheek, structures in the mouth including teeth, lips, tongue, palates, gums, saliva and salivary glands and other procedures.

Dentistry is a very wide aspect of medicine with about ten subspecialties. Other aspects of medicine that can be likened to dentistry are internal medicine, peadiatrics, surgery. These aspects all have subspecialties too.

Dentists are surgeons BUT not physicians.

This is because eight out of ten times you visit a dentist, he will work on you (be it minor/major surgery) that is why you will be given a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree (BDS/BChD) upon graduation. Similarly, graduates of medicine
whom have specialized in surgery, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, O&G, pediatrics and other surgery related field like anaesthesia are not physicians.

Q: How can I become a qualified dental doctor?

A: To become a qualified dentist you need to have five O level credit in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology and fulfill the UTME and PostUTME requirements of your chosen school. Please note that we have nine schools presently offering the course in Nigeria with very few quota system. Therefore prospective candidates must prepare well to meet up with the cutoff mark as it is usually the highest after medicine ( there were cases in the past when it was higher than medicine in some schools) in the College of Medicine/Health Sciences of your school. The following schools are currently offering the course with their students quota in bracket; UNIBADAN(30), UNILAG(40), OAUIFE(25), UNIBEN(25), UNIPORT(15), UNN(15), UNIMAID(15), LASU(10) and BUKano(10). You can also apply for DE with your first degree with a second class upper division of any biological sciences or basic medical sciences discipline.

Q: What should I expect during my training?

A: Dentistry is for six years for UTME and five years for direct entry.Your first year will see you through advanced physics, chemistry,
biology, mathematics(not all schools) and general studies. This is going to be the easiest class in your undergraduate days. Each school has
criteria for promoting to the next class as their will be no room for carry over, any student found wanting will repeat the class or be withdrawn. Your 200 and 300 levels will be basically anatomy,physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and pathology to be learnt together with your medical colleagues. There is no grading system that is, no A or B will be awarded this is because after completion of your course you wont be given first class or second class, your certificate will state PASS. However after each final examination you take at the end of each level, it is either you PASS or RESIT or REPEAT or WITHDRAW. In addition to those courses dental students will be taught oral biology, science of dental materials, dental operative techniques, prosthetic techniques in 200 and 300 levels. Then you will write your first professional examination marking the end of pre-clinical. In 400 level you will be taught and undergone postings in the different specialties of medicine, and that of surgery, you will also be taught and undergone postings in pharmacology and all aspects of pathology including morbid anatomy, chemical pathology, haematology & immunology, microbiology & parasitology, histopathology together with your medical colleagues. Then you will write your second professional examination. In 500 and 600 levels you will be taught and undergone postings in community medicine together with your medical colleagues. In addition, Dental students will be taught and undergone postings in oral radiology, oral pathology, oral & maxillofacial surgery, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry, preventive & community dentistry, dental therapeutics, endodontics, oral medicine. Then you will write your third professional examination and be inducted by MDCN.

Q: Where can I do my internship?

A: I have heard newly graduated medical doctors lament on where to do internship before their 24 months temporary license is due. This is so because we have medical schools all over the countries (federal/states/privates) with new ones coming up every year. This lack of space and limited time has forced some to do the internship as supernumerary meaning that they will do the one year internship without pay. This is different for dental doctors as there are more accredited hospitals for dentists than the numbers of dentists graduating every year. You can check MDCN site for a list of eligible places.

Q: Where will I serve during NYSC service year?

A: As a dentist you are a precious tool in the hand of our FG so be prepared to work during this service year because we have less than 2000 practicing dentists in a country of over 160 million people, so be ready to work in an hospital possibly attending to patients spread over 5 LGA.The beauty of it is you will be paid more than fellow corpers and possibly make more money. Also you will get to practice your skill fully without supervision and that makes you better than your friends who will be posted to schools.

Q: Can I get a well paid job after school?

A: YES, if you want to work as a dental officer, many dentists are begged to stay back after service due to the extreme shortage of manpower in the profession especially in the northern part of the country. you may also decide to pursue your residency. The choice is yours.

Q: Is there hope in private practice after school?

A: YES, contrary to people’s opinion that private dental clinic will not be patronized the reverse is actually the case as there are increasing awareness among Nigerians on the need for quality oral health. There are a good number of private dental clinics in the country.

Q: How do I specialize and what are the requirements?

A: Specialization in Dentistry require one to pass the exam of Faculty of Dental surgery of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or West African College of Surgeons and then proceed to a teaching hospital where they offer any of the postgraduate programmes in dentistry. The specialties are PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, ENDODONTICS, ORAL MEDICINE, ORAL&MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY, PROSTHODONTICS, PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY, COMMUNITY DENTISTRY, DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH, ORAL PATHOLOGY, PERIODONTOLOGY, ORAL RADIOLOGY, ORTHODONTICS & DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS and FORENSIC DENTISTRY.

Q: If I decide to do medicine in future or want to specialize under medicine/surgery is it possible?

A: YES, you will be required to do 500 and 600 levels of medicine which will be around 22 months ( approximately 2 years) and you will become a holder of MBBS/MBChB but please know that your BDS/BChD degree will be withdrawn from you forever which means you can no longer specialize in dentistry or practice it or be referred to as a dentist.

Q: Can a dentist head a hospital or any medical organization?

A: YES, a dentist is given the same treatment as a medical doctor and can as such be the head of a hospital. A dental consultant who has attained the position of a professor can become the CMD of a hospital or provost of a college of medicine.

Q: Who will I work with in the dental ward/hospital?

A: A dentist will work with a general nurse/dental nurse, dental technologist, dental therapist, lab scientist, radiographer, medical records staff.

Q: Do people visit dentists in Nigeria?

A: YES, the figure is improving and people now see a dentist more than you can actually think of.

Q: Are dentists too life savers?

A: YES, they are life savers too because most diseases in the body will either have oral symptoms whereby it can be detected early enough by
a dentist. Some diseases even have oral manifestations that can only be managed by a dentist. Also diseases such as oral cancer, tonsillitis amongst others can only be managed effectively by a dentist.

Q: Is it possible to have emergency cases in a dental ward/hospital/clinic?

A:YES, though it is not a common occurrence but there are actually a few ones. Take for example a person with a tongue/lip cut that is surely for oral & maxillofacial surgeons or a child with a pin prick in the mouth that is why we have peadiatric dentists too.

Q: Is dentistry tougher than medicine?

A:MAYBE, there is no yardstick for toughness although most foreign forums (American) I have read, people are with the opinion of dentistry
being tougher due to the dexterity of hands and eyes involved. Dentistry can be tougher initially (parts 1-4) due to the fact that you do
dental courses in addition to what medical students will do. But in 500 & 600 levels medicine too can be seen as voluminous when you think of
the number of cases you will come across but dentistry is sure not anywhere less voluminous as you combine clinical postings with
patients care, lectures and practical too are on with dental aspects of basic medical sciences fields you will be taught in parts 5 & 6. So in my
opinion it is indecisive.

Q: Can I admit patients other than dental cases?
A: NO, you cannot so as not to lose your license but you can offer excellent medical advice to your patients and make proper referrals.

Q: Does a dentist use sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, thermometer and others?

A: YES, you make use of everything right from your part4.

Q: What are my prospects outside the country?

A: Dentistry is a promising profession outside Nigeria. According to Daily NewsUSA published on December 19, 2012 for top 100
professions in the United States dentistry ranks first with a median salary of US$142740 (NGN22.8 million with $1=#160). This is to tell you
that not only Nigeria has prospects for graduates of dentistry.

Q: Is the profession not boring and can we call it a ministry like medicine?

A: YES, the profession is interesting because it gives smile to people’s faces. When you walk into your office and your patient is wailing of
toothache (commonest ailment) then you perform the magic and the patient is beaming and smiling again tell me if this is boring? Couples
who can no longer kiss each other again or communicate effectively because a partner has got mouth odour, then you invite the affected
partner over and treat his/her condition, he/she is full of smile and his/her marriage is back on track and he/she will be grateful now tell
me if what you are doing is boring? Tell me if dentistry is not a ministry?

THANK YOU FOR READING

ALL ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO:
pyramidsinvestment@yahoo.com

Drdonzeez:
I must commend you for this simplistic write-up..The basic fact is that Dentistry is not well known in Nigeria. Infact,most school leavers don't know anything about Dentistry.some that even know keep wondering why you'll spend six good years studying only the teeth which is far from the truth..I'm a proud Dental student, anyway.

This is because most people in Nigeria do not know what dentists are capable and as such relegated the profession to the care of teeth only. Dentistry actually started with the care of teeth in the ancient Egypt but modern dentistry has evolved beyond that today.A result of this little knowledge of the profession has caused many Nigerians pain and forced some to live with cases that can be treated, imagine a professor of one southern Nigerian university(name withheld) with supernumerary teeth i.e extra tooth in the mouth and I have also met another nurse with a missing right maxillary central incisor (this can be fixed at an affordable bill). Recently, I stumbled on a thread on NL where the poster claim his/her niece is suffering from one mouth disease, I am sure they must have visited various hospitals but definitely are yet to see a qualified dentist, here is the thread https://www.nairaland.com/2444636/save-child-nairalanders-advice-me

Its a rare privilege meeting you bro..Are you a Dental student or a Doctor?

Nice one boss! Quite enlightening!

Na so, I love this

pyramidsclinic:
I have seen many Nigerian students that crave to be doctors, many ladies want to marry doctors, parents want their children to be called doctors, little wonder why many pastors, artisans, musicians, teachers have adopted this title as honourary. The question is who then is a doctor?

In Nigeria a doctor is a title given to any of the following:

1)Person who has obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree PhD
2)Person who is a graduate of medicine
3)Person who is a graduate of dentistry
4)Person who is a graduate of veterinary medicine
5)Person who has obtained a doctorate degree such as LLD, OD, Pharm.D, Doctor of Psychology etc

However, only graduates of medicine and dentistry carry the traditional sense of the word ‘doctor’ as health care providers.

Let me summarize what dentistry is all about first before going into details;

Dentists are doctors that treat diseases of the oral cavity, its structures and related structures. They are trained in a university for a period of six years; four or five (depending on the school) of these years will be spent together with the students of medicine. After which newly inducted dentists undergo one year of compulsory internship and another year of NYSC, then register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before they can practice. They are automatically members of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) upon graduation. They can specialize in a number of specialties with a residency programme similar to that of graduates of medicine under the supervision of Faculty of Dental Surgery of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or that of West African College of Surgeons and become fellows (consultants) in their chosen fields and automatically become members of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN). As a dentist you are entitled to whatever your counterparts that studied medicine are entitled to and you are paid with the same salary scale except for specialists that get special allowances depending on the field and other part time jobs that anyone may decide to take.

As a dental student you begin to feel special right from school because you belong to the Faculty of Dentistry/Dental sciences.

If you are about to take JAMB/pre-degree/Direct entry form this may be what you need just sit down and relax as I take you round the world of dentistry.

Comments, observations and questions are allowed, thanks.

pyramidsinvestment@yahoo.com

cc: lalasticlala

Wow! THE TRUTH IS THAT, MANY FOLKS ARE NOT SO INFROMED, SO THEY ALL ASPIRE MEDICINE, WHEREAS THEY ARE MANY OF THEM THAT CAN DO WELL IN DENTISTRY,
NA NIGERIA CAUSE AM NA, BIAFRA NO GO TRY AM.
THANK YOU A MILLION.
I SEE A GENERATION OF NEW DENTIST!

this one is long, eleyi o gidi gan

I think they are both good courses with great career opportunities too.. another part of it is the importance of sugar intake in our body http://yesreport..com/2015/07/importance-of-sugar-in-human-body.html?m=0

Hmmm

pyramidsclinic:
I have seen many Nigerian students that crave to be doctors, many ladies want to marry doctors, parents want their children to be called doctors, little wonder why many pastors, artisans, musicians, teachers have adopted this title as honourary. The question is who then is a doctor?

In Nigeria a doctor is a title given to any of the following:

1)Person who has obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree PhD
2)Person who is a graduate of medicine
3)Person who is a graduate of dentistry
4)Person who is a graduate of veterinary medicine
5)Person who has obtained a doctorate degree such as LLD, OD, Pharm.D, Doctor of Psychology etc

However, only graduates of medicine and dentistry carry the traditional sense of the word ‘doctor’ as health care providers.

Let me summarize what dentistry is all about first before going into details;

Dentists are doctors that treat diseases of the oral cavity, its structures and related structures. They are trained in a university for a period of six years; four or five (depending on the school) of these years will be spent together with the students of medicine. After which newly inducted dentists undergo one year of compulsory internship and another year of NYSC, then register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before they can practice. They are automatically members of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) upon graduation. They can specialize in a number of specialties with a residency programme similar to that of graduates of medicine under the supervision of Faculty of Dental Surgery of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or that of West African College of Surgeons and become fellows (consultants) in their chosen fields and automatically become members of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN). As a dentist you are entitled to whatever your counterparts that studied medicine are entitled to and you are paid with the same salary scale except for specialists that get special allowances depending on the field and other part time jobs that anyone may decide to take.

As a dental student you begin to feel special right from school because you belong to the Faculty of Dentistry/Dental sciences.

If you are about to take JAMB/pre-degree/Direct entry form this may be what you need just sit down and relax as I take you round the world of dentistry.

Comments, observations and questions are allowed, thanks.

pyramidsinvestment@yahoo.com

Is DR sid your mentor

just passing by, I'll come back & read

Who are orthodontists ?

Dentistry is as lucrative as medicine anyways and quite easier to enter than medicine though the cut off is still quite high.. It's demanding anyway.. Professional exams to write and all... If you want to come in get ready to work hard and by God's grace you have something bright ahead of you

Medicine or dentistry may not make you as rich as Dangote but you are sure you will be comfortable. If you are not ready to work hard please Dont come.. Failing in medical school is suicidal..

From a proud dental student Unilag

Dr. Sid (Nigerian musician), studied dentistry in U.I... And I think the guy is also practising alongside his musical career although he might not be the one fully in-charge due to his tight schedule.

shaboti:
Who are orthodontists ?

They are dentists who specialise in orthodontics.
They rearrange disorderd/mal-aligned teeth and jaws.

Simply put Orthodontics in Dentistry = Orthopaedics in Medicine

michaelmo11:
Dr. Sid (Nigerian musician), studied dentistry in U.I... And I think the guy is also practising alongside his musical career although he might not be the one fully in-charge due to his tight schedule.

Ate u sure that guy is practicing his profession at all? Don't know y he dump his profession for music. He would have been better practising his dental surgery, cos that course no be moi moi.

What about those that have honourary Dr?

Are they not among?

Aptly written......
Simply Brilliant and succinct.....

@ pyramidsclinic, UI's quota is now 40

abdulkayus:



Ate u sure that guy is practicing his profession at all? Don't know y he dump his profession for music. He would have been better practising his dental surgery, cos that course no be moi moi.

I don't think he's practising at all. He has been a musician since he was in school. He was classmates with two of my lecturers.
You asked why he dumped the profession for music? Will you know him if he's a dentist? The thing is to excel in whatever field one is. And truth be told, he might have not made it big like in the music industry.