An individual who wants to become a dentist might want to take the DAT. This is a dental aptitude test.
Have you always dreamed of becoming a dentist? It is a wonderful profession for those with the abilities to become a stellar oral health care practitioner. But just like dreaming of becoming a baseball player won't quite cut it if there is a lack of athletic ability,
or fantasizing about being a rock-n-roll singer won't ever really materialize without having the innate talent of a singing voice. If you lack what it takes to be a DDS, it's probably not going to happen although you could take remedial courses to improve your chances.
In Canada, there is a test called the DAT which stands for Dental Aptitude Test. Following the path toward utilizing one's unique talents and gifts is really what it's all about and it's better to discover these sooner rather than later. The DAT examination measures four areas of competency in an individual. To be a competent dental practitioner, it will take more than brains; it will take a unique combination of strengths. Here they are:
1) Manual dexterity: One portion of competency testing includes manual dexterity. This is the ability to use your hands and fingers in fine motor maneuverings with skill and finesse. This job requires a refined level of coordination involving the mind and the muscular groups within the fingers, hand, wrists and arms. One portion of the test is reportedly carving a bar of soap into a specified shape. If this seems like an odd test, think of how dental practitioners work with molds, models and replicas all the time. If they are uncoordinated in these types of refined steps, imagine what their patients' teeth would end up looking like.
2) The natural sciences: A potential DDS needs to have a broad grasp of basic scientific knowledge. Specifically, biology and chemistry will be tested as these are the foundations that much of the other studies will be based on. Some examples include human anatomy, lab equipment and much more.
3) Perception: Perceptual abilities will be necessary in the line of work that is dentistry. A future tooth doc needs to be able to look spatially at angles and forms in order to diagnose and treat dental maladies or perform reconstructions. He or she will be tested on angle discrimination, apertures, cubes, forms and projections.
4) Reading comprehension: Reading is the foundation upon which most other knowledge is built. As a dentist, the professional will need to be able to read and understand textbooks, records and more. Reading proficiently involves taking the data in and organizing it, analyzing it, remembering it and actually applying it. We all know that simply reading information doesn't do any good unless we can decipher, digest and utilize it in meaningful ways.
When a person dreams of someday becoming a dentist, it may or may not be the reality based future. There are many steps to take to strengthen the four competencies of manual dexterity, natural sciences, perceptual abilities and comprehension of reading materials. But if any of these areas are sorely lacking and not able to be developed, becoming a successful DDS may be a long shot.
