This is Mike. Mike is a dentist. What is a dentist you might ask? Well, a dentist is like a doctor, but for your teeth!

Now, what do dentists do? To start, they do check-ups with you when you go to get cleanings so they can make sure you don't have any problems with your teeth. If they do find something wrong, they can diagnose and treat you.

Dentists treat a variety of different oral problems, such as filling cavities, replacing crowns, root canals, and treating gum disease. They perform a variety of different procedures to treat these problems and make your tooth look good as new! Dentists are also responsible for administering anesthesia to patients undergoing procedures to make it as painless as possible. 

To be a good dentist, you have to have a few key qualities to be successful. One of these qualities is good communication skills. A good dentist needs to communicate with their clients in order to do their job properly. This includes telling them when to open their mouth, bite down on something, or move a certain way so the dentist can provide the best care. Communication also provides trust, which is crucial when you are poking around in someone's mouth with metal instruments.

Dentists should also be somewhat artistic. Dentistry is commonly called an art, so it only makes sense that someone in the field should have the qualities of an artist. With dentistry, you have to be precise, and detail-oriented. These are common skills of artists. A lot of dentistry is also making a smile beautiful through restoring teeth, which is a detail-oriented and artistic process. 

Becoming a dentist is a long, difficult process, but it is very rewarding in the end. Many dentists recommend taking more challenging courses in high school to prepare. You start by getting a bachelor's degree, more often than not in the sciences, before you apply for dental school. There are many prerequisites to take before you apply to dental school. You go through dental school for 4 years and come out with either a DMD(Doctor of Dental Medicine) or DDS(Doctor of Dental Surgery). After you graduate, you gain clinical experience and then you must get your dental license by taking the state licensing exams.  

The environment at work for dentists is very fast-paced, team-based, and includes lots of educating. Sometimes dentists have to work with tight schedules. Some people might be coming in for an implant, meaning they will have to have a longer appointment, while other people may be coming in for a regular check-up. Much of dentistry is team-based, working with all sorts of people: other dentists, hygienists, assistants, receptionists, and lab technicians. Dentistry is a very collaborative field, needing everyone to work together well to get the job done. Dentistry also includes lots of educating. While on the job, you need to explain to patients the importance of oral hygiene and how to keep your teeth in the best shape. You also may need to explain different procedures to patients so they understand what is happening.