The globalisation of knowledge and dentistry

The best investment for the future is a master’s degree or specialised course abroad.

The globalisation of knowledge has no turning back. The field of dentistry is constantly evolving and requires lifelong learning to compete successfully on a local and global scale.

The world is interconnected. Every day new techniques and new materials are born in the dental sector. Innovation never ceases. A modern dentist never stops training if he wants to keep his business going.

The way to renew professional and technological knowledge is postgraduate higher education (university masters) and high-level specialised courses. No matter how old you are.

Masters and courses abroad and in Spain. Online and face-to-face.

Competitiveness in Spain in the dental sector is constantly increasing. Since 2010 the total number of dentists has grown by more than 40 percent. Finding a career in the sector is very difficult and costly.

However, according to the job portal infoJobs, the annual number of job vacancies in Spain for dental professionals is estimated at 5,000.

On the other hand, worldwide unemployment in all sectors of production will exceed 205 million job seekers, an annual increase of more than 20 percent. This is a statistical projection of the ILO (International Labour Organisation). The figures do not take into account unstable or temporary jobs or low-paid jobs that do not allow you to see your life horizon in the medium or long term.

Making ends meet is becoming very difficult.

However, there are reasons for hope, but also powerful reasons to get more and better training and not fall into irrelevance or job instability.

Only people who can prove that they have a higher postgraduate education will be free from the spectre of unemployment.

If you are a dentist or finishing your degree, prepare yourself thoroughly: globalisation is a unique opportunity but it can also be a trap for those who think that a degree is everything.

Don’t get stuck: success doesn’t just fall from the sky.

Top-paid dental specialties in Spain

According to weighted data from the ESADE business school and the employment portals infoJobs and indeed, orthodontists in Spain earn an average of 5,000 euros per month.

The average income of a paediatric dentist is 3,000 euros per month.

And an endodontist earns an average of 2,000 euros per month.

Although there is no quantitative data, it is believed that the speciality with the highest income is cosmetic or aesthetic dentistry.

There is also no data on oral and maxillofacial surgeons, but it is a highly valued and growing speciality in the labour market.

Top countries for higher education in dentistry

The countries in this ranking are those with the most internationally renowned and prestigious university faculties.

Sweden
Hong Kong
USA
Belgium
Japan
United Kingdom
Australia
Denmark
Brazil
China
Switzerland
South Korea
Finland

Why take a Master’s degree or specialisation course abroad?

1. To improve your CV
2. To increase your job prospects
3. To have more contacts of interest in your agenda
4. To develop your professional qualities
5. To master a new language
6. To get to know different cultures
7. To broaden your personal world

Main dental specialities

Aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry

It takes care of a correct dental whitening and the beauty and natural and healthy appearance of the teeth. Your smile is your most visible calling card.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Deals with injuries related to the head, neck, face and jaws, as well as the general aesthetics of the face. Intervening in both soft and hard tissues of the mouth. Great opportunities for promotion on an international scale.

Orthodontics

Its aim is to correct poorly positioned jaws and teeth. One in four Spaniards has worn orthodontics at some time in their lives.

Paediatric dentistry

Its target patients are babies, children and adolescents. It prevents caries and other dental pathologies and advises on optimal hygiene of the oral cavity.

Endodontics

Its preferred field of action is the dental pulp (the inside of the tooth).

Forensic dentistry

Intervenes in criminal, civil and labour judicial proceedings through the identification of corpses. No two teeth in the world are the same.

Sports dentistry

Prevents and treats oral injuries and oral diseases related to the practice of different sports specialities. It is a young field with immense possibilities for growth.

Periodontics

Covers the tissues and structures that support the teeth: gums, alveolar bone and ligaments.

Prosthetic dentistry and prosthodontics

Replaces missing teeth: crowns, bridges, implants and removable prostheses. It plays an important role in phonetics and food intake.

Maxillofacial and oral radiology

This refers to the study and interpretation of X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, intraoral imaging and ultrasound performed on the skull, face and teeth.

Oral and maxillofacial pathology

Understands diseases of the oral cavity, jaws and related structures, joints and salivary glands.

General dentistry

Its two fundamental goals are prevention and basic oral treatments.

 

New dental techniques

The 3D revolution

3D printing makes it possible to produce teeth and complete prostheses, reducing costs and waiting times, with better quality than traditional parts and implants. Research is already well underway to 3D print skin and living tissue.

Latest generation laser technology

Highly indicated for gingivitis and generic gum pathologies. By applying lasers there is a lower risk of side effects such as swelling and bleeding.

Augmented and virtual reality glasses

Improve interaction between dentist and patient. Widely used in university training.

360º X-rays

Digital images on a 1:1 scale. They are fast, can be viewed on the computer and cause less radiation than other conventional alternatives.

Intraoral cameras

They offer enlarged images of the entire oral cavity.

Dental CT

This is a computerised axial tomography. Painless process with high technical accuracy and reliability.

 

The future is called dental nanotechnology

The immediate future will revolve around dental nanotechnology or nano-dentistry.

Less invasive therapies without surgery and ultra-modern nano-engineering based on revolutionary research, developments and innovations in tissue engineering are just around the corner.

Take note of these new names: nanorobotics, nanotubes, nanofillers, nanoadhesives and nanohybrid biocrosslinked materials. These are concepts that you will be using in your daily dental practice from now on.

The applications of nanodentistry are numerous:

Genetically engineered toothpastes, rinses and toothpastes
Nanocosmetic medicines
Silver nanoparticles
Elimination of pathogens in gingivitis
Remote-controlled anaesthesia
Dental repairs replacing fillings and composites
Implants with better bone integration
Nanomaterials from sapphire and diamond, both up to 20 times harder and stronger than current ceramics
Bioactive glasses made of phosphates and fluoride to prevent tooth decay
Dental graphene for flexible and lightweight dentures
Biocompatible, resilient, adaptable, translucent and long-lasting lithium disilicate dental prostheses

The field of nanotechnology and new materials for dental use has no limits.

Staying on the cutting edge will require high-quality continuing education to compete successfully in the global dental sector.

For the laggards there will be a shrinking market share.

 

Quality education for a global world

Around 20,000 Spaniards go abroad each year to hone their professional skills or enhance their academic curriculum. Globalisation is an unstoppable trend that is not just about the internet and social networks.

Going out into the globalised world means acquiring extra specialised education to be able to work in any country and find new job niches in your profession.

Today everything is interconnected: the human, the social, the personal, the technological and the work-related.

The world no longer has borders.