To become a TMJ specialist, obtain a degree from an accredited dental school, take courses related to orofacial treatment, pursue a residency or fellowship focused on treating oral and maxillofacial pain, and join a professional society related to these disciplines. Shadowing a dentist or TMJ surgeon and applying for financial aid can also be helpful.
To become a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) specialist, you must first obtain a degree, such as a Doctor of Dental Medicine or a Doctor of Dental Surgery, from an accredited dental school. There is no specialized authorization for an ATM focus. A person who wants to become a TMJ specialist usually takes courses related to orofacial treatment during dental school. Upon graduation, he or she will pursue a residency or fellowship focused on treating oral and maxillofacial pain.
Similar to a pre-medical course, a pre-dental course includes a solid foundation in biology, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry. These are the courses that must be taken in college. Outside of the classroom, it can also be beneficial to shadow a dentist or TMJ surgeon to learn more about becoming a TMJ specialist. Consulting with an academic counselor or advisor can help in finding a local shadow dentist.
Typically, pre-dentistry students begin applying to dental school during their freshman year of college. The first step is to take an entrance exam that will test your skills in science, math, reading, and spatial reasoning. Then you have to apply to the schools of your choice, making sure to apply to the schools that the current ATM specialists graduated from. You can find this out by researching ATM specialists’ websites and reading their biographies to see where they got their degree.
Many dental schools participate in a service that allows you to consolidate applications, such as the American Association of Dental Schools’ application service. After submitting applications, expect to have a personal interview with the dental school representative. This interview will give you the opportunity to ask about becoming an ATM expert. It is also imperative that you apply for financial aid during the application season in order to help mitigate the cost of going to dental school.
In dental school, there will be no specific path to follow to become an ATM specialist. Dental students interested in this specialty take the same courses as other students, perhaps with an additional internship in oral surgery or orofacial treatment during the summer. It is not until after dental school that the training to become an ATM specialist becomes apparent.
After dental school, there are two paths interested students can take: residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery or fellowship in orofacial treatment. Both paths depend on whether you, as someone who wants to become a TMJ specialist, want to focus on surgical or non-surgical treatment methods. Post-dental school membership in a professional society related to these disciplines can also boost your career plans.
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