EVALUATING THE ACADEMIC STATUS AND JOB PROSPECT OF DENTISTRY GRADUATES IN IRAN

Introduction: The increasing interest of students to dentistry field of study and the increasing admission of patients for jobs related to this field of study can clearly reflect the importance of the need for specialists in this regard. Thus, this research was conducted to evaluate the educational status and job prospect of graduates of dentistry in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted analytically using content analysis technique. Results: In Iran, dentistry field of study is divided into two levels of general dentistry and specialized dentistry. The total academic year for the general dentistry is 6 years. They can also study in 10 specialized fields of endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, restorative and cosmetic dentists, oral and maxillofacial diseases, oral and maxillofacial diseases diagnosis. Problems in field of dentistry in Iran include increasing number of dentists and the reduction of job opportunities for a large number of them, especially in large cities, being exposed to infectious diseases, AIDS and hepatitis, and suffering from physical diseases such as neck arthritis and spinal problems and eye problems due to high physical activity, lack of insurance coverage for dental services for patients, leading to reduction in their admission except in emergencies. Discussion and Conclusion: In recent years, the number of students entering to dentistry schools has been increased significantly, while many facilities of these schools have remained unchanged. This problem in the future can lead to reduced quality of education and, consequently, a negative impact on oral health in the community. Keywords: Dentistry, Academic status, Job prospect, Iran