The path to dentistry
BEING a dentist is a career that provides plenty of rewards and challenges as well as the opportunity to help people and make communities healthier places.
With population growth, changes in healthcare law and the upcoming retirement of a large group of dentists educated in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the need for new dentists is rapidly increasing.
“Whether it is providing preventative care, delivering dental restorative procedures, eliminating pain or correcting dento-facial aesthetics, dentists can experience the satisfaction, privilege and joy of positively transforming a patient’s life by restoring oral health,” said Dr Tan, as he wishes to be known.
Why would students choose to go to dental school? It is the idealistic expectation of what the profession can give them. Job security, financial independence and professional recognition are the three primary reasons. If you see yourself as someone who enjoys helping people, you may consider dentistry where you will be trained to look after, diagnose and treat patients.
Dentistry isn’t just about pulling out people’s teeth. It is the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease and disfigurement in the mouth. Dentistry, like any other medical degree, has a feel good factor. You are changing people’s lives for the better and learning how to keep people in good health. This course has a good career prospects with a good salary cap, even at graduate level.
There is a huge amount of Malaysians studying dentistry in Indonesia currently. There are many universities to choose from including the ones in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Medan and Denpasar.
These universities are widely recognised in the world and fully accredited by WHO, JPA and the Malaysian Dental Council. The tuition fees are much cheaper compared to other universities across the globe and Malaysia’s private universities, due to subsidy by the local government. Besides, the cost of living in Indonesia is much lower compared to western countries. The education syllabus in these universities are compact and is as good as other established universities.
The five-year dentistry course focuses on developing dentists who are able to achieve clinical excellence, practising safely and with high standard of patient care.
Students will learn all about molecular and cellular biology as part of the early dentistry training, focusing on the systems of the human body and in particular, oral biology and the anatomy of the head and neck.
Microbiology and the study of disease are among the other important elements of the syllabus. As well as theory, students will obviously also acquire the clinical skills to become a dentist. This includes learning to carry out patient assessment via dental examinations, developing manual dexterity and knowledge needed to carry out orthodontic and other cosmetic work, use of anaesthetics and such.
You will also learn diagnostic skills and develop the knowledge and ability to decide on appropriate treatments.
Medic Ed Consultant Sdn Bhd offers a direct path to dentistry in Indonesia via Foundation In Science in its very own TMC College for SPM or O-Levels school leavers. TMC College offers extra tuition classes to prepare students for the Indonesian university entrance examination, and classes will be conducted by specially invited doctors from Indonesia.
■ Drop by for further queries on entry requirements or application procedure at 19-1 and 19-2, Plaza Danau 2, Jalan 5/109F, Taman Danau Desa, Off Jalan Klang Lama, KL.
Call 03-7981 1821 or e-mail admin@mediced.com.my or visit www.mediced.com.my for more information.