Is Medical and Dental Instrument a Good Career Path?
Medical/dental instrument is a career path that has existed for over two centuries. It’s one of the oldest professions in the healthcare industry and has always attracted many people who are interested in taking up this profession.
If you’re considering starting a career as an oral surgeon, dentist, or any other medical professional, consider joining this industry because it’s still growing every year.
Why is Medical and Dental Instrument a Good Career Path?
If you’re looking into a career in medical or dental instruments, it’s important to know that this is a great path. There is plenty of money to be made, as well as a large variety of job opportunities available.
This industry is a vital part of human daily activities and well-being. In addition, many more people will need help from doctors and dentists over time because they’re getting older (or injured).
That means there will always be jobs available no matter what happens in society down the road—which means it may even get better than ever before.
What are Medical Instruments?
A medical instrument is essentially a device that makes use of various models and technology to help in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. These are commonly utilized by physicians, nurses, surgeons, and other healthcare experts for various purposes.
They are commonly utilized for a wide range of purposes. For example, medical instruments help in the diagnosis as well as treatment of patients suffering from various ailments.
Medical instruments such as thermometers, sphygmomanometers, and stethoscopes are used to measure temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, respectively. In addition, an ophthalmoscope helps the doctor examine a patient’s eyes, while an otoscope is used to examine ears.
What are Dental Instruments?
What are dental instruments? Dental instruments are tools that dentists and dental hygienists use to complete various procedures in the mouth. Dental instruments can be divided into two categories which are surgical instruments and non-surgical instruments.
Surgical instruments are used for cutting and shaping teeth, gums, and other soft tissues in the mouth.
They include files, scalers, and handpieces while Non-surgical instruments include suction units, air polishers, lasers, and x-ray machines. Dental instruments are tools that dentists use to examine and treat patients.
Dental hygienists use these tools daily to clean teeth and gums. In addition, they are used to treat and diagnose dental problems. Various instruments are available; general dentists and specialists use them to perform different procedures.
Some of the Commonly Used Medical and Dental Instruments
Medical and dental instruments are used to help diagnose and treat patients. Medical devices are mostly tools doctors use to look inside the human body, such as a stethoscope or otoscope. Some common medical instruments include:
- Anesthetics.
- Scissors.
- Surgical tools.
Some major dental instruments include; Dental handpieces, Dental drills, Hand scalers, Rotary toothbrushes, Burs and files, dental extractors, etc.
Medical/dental instruments are used for various purposes, including diagnosing diseases/illnesses, performing surgery, treating wounds/injuries, etc.
What are the Job Prospects in the Medical and Dental Instrument Industry?
The medical/dental instrument industry is expected to grow by 6.65% from 2020 to 2025, around 11 billion dollars in market value. In 2017 alone, over 2 million workers had employment in this field. One unemployed person per every eight jobs available.
The industry is also expected to face a shortage of skilled workers in the future. And this could be because many people are retiring from this field, and there isn’t enough time for new graduates to fill their positions.
Best-Paying Jobs Available in the Medical and Dental Instrument Industry
You can find numerous jobs in the medical/dental industry. They consist of different roles and responsibilities.
For example, the role of an oral surgeon is to restore or reconstruct parts of the mouth, jaw, or face. They do this through a variety of procedures, including:
- Extraction of wisdom teeth (usually during adolescence).
- Dental implants (used to replace missing teeth).
- Bone grafting and reconstruction following an injury.
Medical instrument sales is a great job option if you have a passion for dentistry. As a medical equipment sales professional, you’ll set out to educate hospital staff and physicians on new products while also helping them diagnose patients with special needs and injuries.
Another option would be a quality assurance engineer—a job requiring individuals to ensure that all processes are performed according to standards the FDA/EPA set.
In addition, they must ensure that every step in manufacturing meets these standards do not compromise patient safety with defective products being released into hospitals/clinics worldwide. So, let us discuss in detail some attractive jobs available in this industry;
Oral Surgeon
Oral Surgeons specialize in oral surgery. Oral surgeons also repair damage to facial soft tissue and bones from trauma or other injuries, often while their patients are sedated or anesthetized.
Oral surgeons perform various procedures, including wisdom tooth extractions, biopsies, and reconstruction. They also work with dentists to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions, such as TMJ disorders and Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome.
Oral Surgeons are the most highly trained oral health professionals in the field of dentistry. That is why they could earn up to $371,000 every year.
Medical Instrument Sales
Medical instrument sales is a good career path for people interested in the medical industry and have strong communication skills, especially if they have experience with selling. Also, people who are good at working with people and can sell will do well as medical instrument sales representatives.
Many choose this career path because they love helping others and ensuring they get the proper treatment they need as quickly as possible.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Quality assurance refers to a systematic approach that aims to ensure the standards of products and services. A quality assurance engineer is responsible for ensuring that high-quality products are produced by their company.
A quality assurance engineer must be able to evaluate the work of others and make sure that it meets the company’s standards. They must also be able to identify any potential issues with products before they become a problem. This career option could see them make around $86,000 annually.
Medical Device Engineer
A medical device engineer is a person who develops and designs medical instruments, such as stents and catheters. The job requires a high level of technical knowledge and understanding of the human body.
A medical device engineer may also be involved in manufacturing, quality assurance testing, or other aspects of the device’s production process. Medical device engineers work for companies that produce or distribute products like surgical equipment, dental tools, hearing aids, and prosthetic limbs.
Orthodontist
Orthodontists are dental specialists who treat patients with crooked or misaligned teeth and other dental problems. They are also known as dentists who specialize in the field of orthodontics.
Orthodontists work closely with a patient’s general dentist to create an individualized treatment plan for straightening and aligning teeth, whether braces or other appliances such as retainers, after treatment has concluded.
In addition to correcting alignment issues, these professionals may also treat other conditions affecting the mouth and teeth, such as enamel hypoplasia (underdeveloped tooth enamel) and spacing problems between teeth due to missing baby teeth during childhood development.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in treating diseases, injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaws, face, and neck. They also perform surgery on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region to restore function or improve appearance.
As an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, you earn a good amount of money per year. But it requires a lot of dedication because, at times, you have to work 12-15 hours a day to meet deadlines, but it is worth doing as you will get a great financial reward if you do well.
Anesthesiologist
Doctors specializing in anesthesiology are medical professionals responsible for administering anesthesia to patients before any surgical procedure or other medical treatment. Their job requires them to monitor their patient’s vital signs, help administer anesthetic agents and monitor the patient during the process.
Anesthesiologists also work closely with other medical team members, such as surgeons, nurses, and technicians. Some may also have specialized training in critical care medicine or pain management.
They are also one of the best-paying professions in the medical/dental industry, earning an average income of $271,000 annually.
Prosthodontist
A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. They are trained to perform more complex procedures than regular dentists, including crowns and bridges, dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, and full-mouth rehabs (yikes).
Prosthodontists treat patients with missing teeth or gaps between their teeth by creating custom-made dental appliances (that might look like something out of a sci-fi movie) to replace them.
These can include partial or complete dentures (basically false teeth). Prosthodontists also specialize in repairing the damage done by trauma or disease that may have caused problems like broken teeth or malformed jaws.
In addition to training at a medical school, prosthodontists undergo extensive postgraduate training to enter this line of work. The average annual wage for this position is $214k per year.
Entry-level Jobs in Medical and Dental Instruments
Some job openings require less experience in this industry. They include;
Medical And Dental Instrument Sales
Sales positions are available in both medical and dental instrument companies. These jobs require candidates to have a background in sales and marketing and maybe a degree in biology/chemistry or a related field.
These positions are mainly entry-level and can lead to advancement opportunities. Sales representatives must be able to explain the benefits of products and services and demonstrate their value.
Sterile Processing Technology
Sterile processing technicians are responsible for the preparation of medical and dental instruments. Their responsibilities include cleaning, sterilizing, and packaging them.
Requirements to become a sterile processing technician may consist of a high school diploma, certification in bloodborne pathogen training, and some experience working in a similar position. They can also earn around $37,000 annually.
Product Assembler
Product assemblers are responsible for putting together products. They must follow instructions from a blueprint to ensure all parts are put together correctly. They may also perform quality control checks on products. You can make an average income of about $30,000.
Conclusion
No matter your profession, you can always benefit from a career in medical instrumentation. It’s an exciting and rewarding line of work, with plenty of opportunities to build a satisfying career.
If you are interested in this field and want to know more about how it works, do a little research and find out more. You may be surprised at how much there is to learn about this fascinating area of medicine.