Graduation Gifts for Dentists

Training to become a dentist requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Finding the perfect gift for a graduate about to earn a DDS degree takes some thought, as well. Luckily, there are numerous ideas to consider, depending on a variety of factors, ranging from the closeness of your relationship with the graduate to his sense of humor.

Dental-Themed Gifts

• For gifts that are meant to be on the lighter side, Occupations Gifts' website offers numerous items designed for a dentist. These include an intricate copper-and-steel sculpture of dentist and patient that doubles as a business-card holder, hanging signs and plaques that can be personalized with the graduate's name, a humorous necktie adorned with teeth, and even a dentistry-themed wristwatch, replete with tiny toothbrushes on its face. In addition, Moon Hunter Designs offers an online selection of T-shirts, baseball caps, coasters, aprons and other items that are specifically tailored to a dental graduate.

Framed Diploma

• The graduate has spent years earning a dental degree, but may not have given much thought as to what to do with the piece of paper denoting the accomplishment. Having the diploma professionally framed can save the graduate the hassle of having to do it, while providing a reminder of your thoughtfulness each time she looks at it. Framing Achievement is a company that specializes in framing diplomas, and has a special dental degree frame adorned with two 24-carat gold-plated medallions of the Rod of Asclepius, the international symbol of dentistry depicted by a single serpent wrapped around a staff.

Day at the Spa

• Dentists, like surgeons, spend much of their working hours on their feet, hunched over a patient. This can leave a dentist prone to back pain and spinal strain, so an excellent idea for a recent dental grad is a gift certificate for deluxe spa treatment where the graduate can enjoy a day of stress-free pampering, including a deep-tissue massage. If the graduate isn't the spa type, an alternative could be a gift certificate package of multiple massages from a registered massage therapist.

Help With Bills or a Student Loan

• According to the KayCircle website, the average cost of earning a DDS degree at a public school is estimated at being about $150,000, so one gift the graduate may appreciate is a well-intentioned check to help cover the costs of a student loan. Although a dentist's earning potential is high, money is likely tight for a recent graduate starting out in a new career, and a gift of some extra cash may go a long way toward cushioning those first few months.