Hot Tip -- by Jason Wessel

So you want to become a dentist? You want to pick in peoples' mouths and fill cavities for a living? Maybe it is visions of money bundles and eventual trips to the Bahamas that are luring you into the field. Perhaps you are one of those rare individuals who houses the instinctive need to make the world as "pearly white" as possible. No matter what entices you to the practice of dentistry, you will have to develop a path that can get you there. For the most part, the path is straightforward but there are a few tips you should keep in mind while planning for success.

Firstly, to get in the mood, rent an old 70's movie entitled Marathon Man. It stars Dustin Hoffman as a New Yorker on the run from a crazed Nazi dentist who is hiding out in the States. Future tooth pullers should be aware of the infamous dentist scene that has been parodied in comedy shows such as the Muppets and Seinfeld. Secondly, be prepared to go to school. I mean really go to school. Todd Graham, a recent graduate and practicing dentist, has around 8 or 9 years of schooling behind his belt. There is only one dentistry school in Canada that does not require its applicants to have a three or four year degree before enrollment. Dr. Todd says that your chances of getting into a graduate program improve greatly if you possess an undergraduate degree in the Sciences (Bsc). He specifically recommends that you major in Anatomy or Physiology.

"Previous marks are the most important thing to these schools." Dr. Todd says. "They are not as concerned with what you might have taken as your electives but are more concerned with how you did in those electives. It is key to do well in your core undergraduate classes and chose electives that you are good at so you can maintain a high GPA." If you do well in your undergraduate program, your chances of getting into dentistry school are much better. Dr. Todd adds, "While applying, don't limit yourself to the school that is in your home province. Apply everywhere." The competition for acceptance into graduate dentistry programs can be fierce so apply to as many places as possible. The top dentistry schools in Canada are not segregated to one area and include programs at the University of Manitoba, the University of Toronto and Dalhousie University. Try to keep all doors open by accepting that you might have to move out of your sacred home province in order to fulfill your pearly white visions. Some Canadian students choose to head south for their dentistry training. If you choose to go to the States for an education, be careful. There are a lot of dentistry schools down there but not all of them qualify as accredited programs in Canada. Not to mention that the value of our dollar has made some yearly tuition costs in the States as high as $40,000 Canadian. (Add that up for a four year graduate program!?)

Once you have graduated, do not worry about finding a job. For the most part, locating work as a dentist (assuming you have all of the credentials) is easy. "There's always work," Dr. Todd says. "Nearly all graduates will find work easily." Dentists working up north in Canada's territories are making a lot of money right now (clearing up to $100,000 their first year). Dentists are needed in small towns as well. There are cases where free office space and living quarters have been advertised to dentists who are willing to set up shop in small towns and rural areas. If you can work hard for a few years at school, the benefits of becoming a dentist are numerous. Your dreams of Novacaine and Fluoride gels can come true in no time with a little dedication and planning.