Is it hard becoming a dentist?

Becoming a dentist is not easy by any means, but once mastered dentistry can a terrific profession. That being said, given the years of study involved in completing college and dental school, it can be a long-term and potentially difficult undertaking. On top of that, there is a continuous pressure on both  pre-dental and dental students to excel in their course work and this can cause a great deal of anxiety.

Completing dental school, or any related medical professional program, is a significant accomplishment, but the studying does not stop with a dentist's graduation, since mastering the many dental procedures that a dentist is routinely called on to perform can take additional years of practice and training.

Even though the process of becoming a dentist and mastering the skills needed to become excellent at dentistry is a challenge, given the length of time that most people end up working (40-50 years), I believe it  is a great option for someone who has some artistic aptitude, likes people and doesn't mind working hard in order to generate a good income.  Dentistry is consistently rated as a top profession and probably deserves this placement.

Young people looking at potential careers can be daunted by the time and money spent training for their future career and many choose an easier route, one that involves less delayed gratification and sacrifice. In my mind this choice can lead to more immediate pleasures but in the long run can lead to future boredom, a job they do not  find fulfilling, and they may be forced to deal with repeated unemployment. Possessing  a specialized skill that is difficult to master, tends to make it harder for an employer to dismiss a worker.

At 61 I find my work a continuing source of satisfaction because it helps give meaning to my life, and allows me to work along-side a team of people I both like and respect. Maybe I'm a workaholic, but I find pleasure in hard work, especially when I am working on  projects that interest me. I plan on continuing working as a dentist as long as I am physically able and retain my skills.