User talk:Nssien Harris

Dentistry in Nigeria
In Nigeria, dental training last for 6 years, leading to a Bachelor of Dental Surgery(BDS) degree.

The BDS program is currently becoming very difficult to get into as it's only been offered in 15 universities across the country, Aspirants are required to have at least 6 O'level credit passes including Mathematics and English language, and the 3 core science subjects. Aspirants must also sit for a Jamb utme in 4 subjects; use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and get a minimum score of 270.

Dental training in all schools in Nigeria, begins with the pre-liminary phase often known as "pre-medicals", it last for 1 year as dental students take courses in Physical sciences and Biological sciences.

After completing the first phase, dental students head on to the College of medical sciences to begin their pre-clinical training, this phase usually last for 2 years.(second and third year). During this phase, dental students take courses in Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, and at the end of the Second year in pre-clinicals,    dental students take their first professional exams in the 3 Courses studied in the college, and are required to get a 3/3 pass before moving into the next phase (However in some dental schools, dental students take additional courses like, Oral biology, Science of dental materials, Cariology and Operative technique in pre-clinicals and also sit for the professional exams).

After passing the first professional exams, Dental students head on to clinicals, they start taking courses in Chemical Pathology, Haematology, Pharmacology and Histopathology, in their fourth year, this training is been delivered by the medical school (Faculty of Medicine). the round off the fourth year by taking another professional exams in Pharmacology and pathology.

Successful Completion of the professional exams, enables Dental students to move on to the fifth year. Here Dental Students start taking ward rounds and hospital block postings in Medicine, Surgery, Anesthesiology and pediatrics.

They start taking classes in pre-clinical Dentistry, which is being delivered by the dental school, and spend some time in the lab (in few dental schools, as some dental schools deliver this training and take the professional exams in the second-third year). Dental Students in some schools are required to take 2 professional exams in this phase; professional exams in Medicine and Surgery, and professional exams in Pre-clinical Dentistry (Operative technique, oral biology, prosthodontics, science of dental materials) (most dental schools take 1 professional exams in this phase i.e Medicine and Surgery).

A successful Completion of the fifth year, leads to the final year of Dental School, where dental students starts working in School/Faculty Clinics treating their own patients with the supervision of a licensed dentist, and Senior Consultants while in this phase, Dental students take courses in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral medicine and pathology, Child dental health, prosthodontics, Community Dentistry, Dental Radiology and Orthodontics, and also do hospital rotations.

After going through the rigorous training, students graduate as Dentists with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Other protected titles for Dentists in the Country includes; Dental Surgeon and Doctor.

A one year Compulsory paid internship position must be undergone by graduate dentists for further training and practice, which is usually done at a hospital, under the supervision of senior dentists and Dental Consultants. The Current pay for an intern dentist is around #140,000 a month.

The Body responsible for the regulation and issuance of license to dental professionals in the Country is called the MDCN(Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria), and the trade unions representing Dentists are the NMA(Nigerian Medical Association) and NDA(Nigerian Dental Association).

After completing the 1 year paid internship, Dentists Could also go for a 1 year NYSC program, or fully go into practice with their license.

Majority of Dentists get absorbed into the public sector, while others go into private sector, private practice, Academia, research and Residency training.

Residency training positions(specialities) include;

- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - Restorative Dentistry - Oral medicine and pathology - Pediatric Dentistry - Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - Public health Dentistry

Fellowships are undergone at the Faculty of Dental Surgery, West African College of Surgeons.
 * Speciality training is carried out in teaching hospitals, and is overseen by the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College.

Dentistry career options In the Country includes;

- Hospital Dentistry: Hospital Dentistry is dominant in the public sector, dentists working in public hospitals are under the same terms and conditions as a hospital medical doctor, they manage and treat dental patients and refer patients to other dental and medical consultants when necessary.

- Private Practice: Dentists also set up their dental clinics, and begin to treat patients, the private sector is lucrative, depending on the doctor, and the location.

- Military Dentistry: Dentists working for the military, serve as dental corps, and also work in military hospitals.

- Public health Dentistry: Although competitive, Dentists seeking for a career in public health, get employed by the government, they work for Ministries of health, and other health institutes.

- Academic Dentistry: Dentists wanting to go for careers in Academia, go into this sector.

Dentists in the country working in the public sector are paid through the CONMESS salary structure (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure).

Dentists working in the private sector usually have an undefined salary scale, as salary depends on the contract and location of the dental clinic. As of 2021 the minimum starting salary for a 3 years post NYSC Dentist was #120,000 a month, the average starting salary was #150,000 a month, Dentists in big cities like Lagos, Abuja, enjoyed a starting salary of #180,000 Above. The salary in the private sector Could be up to #250k and more depending on the location and experience level.

Dentists earn decently well compared to majority of other professionals, and in the public sector, they are ranked with the highest paid professionals in the health sector.

Although Dental care in the country is backwards, as most citizens in the country are ignorant about their oral health, the prevalence of dental diseases is on the rise, as most people suffer from either a toothache, an abscess or periodontitis.

Dental professionals will still be needed in the country to Carter for the dental needs of the country.