The role of a dentist is changing as more oral complications and treatments are being discovered, leading to an increase in treating patients with health problems linked to dental care. In an effort to better prepare students for this evolving field, some schools are creating new courses that teach individuals about dental care advancements.
For example, The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies has announced it will now offer several courses specializing in sleep apnea. Students who enroll in these classes will learn how to diagnose and treat patients with the disorder as well as how to work with sleep physicians.
In addition to these skills, the courses highlight the importance of dentists having the knowledge to diagnose patients with sleep apnea and the effects of the disease on the body.
"People with sleep apnea often don’t know that they have it," said Don Lowrance, a dentist who treats patients with the disorder. He added that "by simply asking some questions that their primary doctor might not know to ask, we can help people be aware of the problem and start them on the road to treatment."
During the next eight years, the employment of dentists is expected to grow by 16 percent, and approximately 22,100 new jobs will be created, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
