what course should i take to become a dentist

by Katlyn Bernhard 5 min read

What to study if you want to become a dentist

  1. B.S. in Biochemistry. Biochemistry is a very popular undergraduate degree and area of study for students who would...
  2. Bachelor of Science in Physics. A Bachelor of Science in Physics degree is typically taken by students who are...
  3. B.S. in Molecular Biology. A Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology degree is a...

The main courses that you will be tasked with taking include general and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biology, and math. Once all of the required courses have been completed, you should be accepted into the dental school at the college or university that you've chosen to study at.Jun 24, 2020

Full Answer

What classes do you need to become a dentist?

Oct 20, 2021 · One of the things you need to become a dentist is a college degree. While dentistry is not a major at the undergraduate level, there are many pre-dental bachelor's degree programs available. These programs can usually result in a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Often, these degrees are in areas like biology with a pre-dentistry concentration or …

What are the best colleges to become a dentist?

Oct 20, 2021 · Becoming a dentist requires earning a doctoral degree in dentistry and admission to such a program usually requires a bachelor's degree with science coursework, as well as the completion of the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT).

What are the educational requirements to become a dentist?

Nov 09, 2019 · The math and science classes you're able to take will naturally depend on what is offered at your high school, but here are some examples of courses that would work well for students hoping to eventually establish a career in dentistry: Algebra Geometry Pre-calculus Calculus Statistics Trigonometry Biology Chemistry Physics Earth science

How many years of school to be a dentist?

What courses should I take to become a dentist? Gross anatomy. biochemistry. physiology. pathology. histology. dental materials. pharmacy. full dentures. removable partial dentures. operative dentistry.

Which dentist course is best?

Dentist Courses after 12th FeesCourseDurationBachelor Of Dental Surgery [BDS] (General Surgery)4 YearsBachelor Of Dental Surgery [BDS] (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery)4 YearsBachelor Of Dental Surgery [BDS] (Orthodontics)4 YearsBachelor Of Dental Surgery [BDS] (Oral Medicine & Radiology)4 Years2 more rows•Apr 13, 2022

What qualifications would you need to become a dentist?

University degree: you will need to do a bachelor's degree in dentistry (that's a BDS or BChD). The course usually takes five years. You'll learn in lectures and seminars, as well as developing practical skills. You'll get the chance to treat patients in hospital and community clinics.

Do you need maths for dentistry?

What A-levels are needed or essential to become a dentist? Chemistry, biology and either maths or physics (or both) will keep all dentistry courses open to you. If you don't take maths or physics but do take chemistry and biology, most courses will accept you.Nov 18, 2021

How long is dentistry course?

five-yearThis five-year degree is designed to help you build the skills you'll need as a dental professional.

What are the requirements for a biology degree?

Some of the field-related competencies that students will be prepared for when obtaining a degree in biological sciences include: 1 Understanding genetics 2 Understanding the role that biology plays in society 3 Comprehending the relationship between every living thing 4 Applying science to research 5 Integrating sustainable living practices whenever possible

Why is biochemistry important?

For instance, an understanding of biochemistry is necessary to better understand the formation of dental caries and plaque. Biochemistry also plays a key role in the advancement of diagnostic techniques and research for dentistry. These advancements occur at a rapid pace.

What is the role of dentistry in dentistry?

Dentistry is an essential component of oral health care that involves everything from treating gum disease to providing adolescents and adults with braces.

How many years of schooling do I need to become a dentist?

While there are comprehensive educational requirements that you must meet if you want to become a dentist, the only undergraduate requirement is that you obtain some kind of undergraduate degree before you enroll into a four-year dental program.

What is the best degree for dentistry?

1. B.S. in Biochemistry. Biochemistry is a very popular undergraduate degree and area of study for students who would like to pursue a career in dentistry. Some of the top courses that are taken during a biochemistry degree include biology, calculus, physics, and chemistry.

What degree do I need to become a dentist?

2. Bachelor of Science in Physics. A Bachelor of Science in Physics degree is typically taken by students who are interested in starting a career within the physics research field. However, anyone who wants to become a dentist must take at least two semesters of physics courses.

What is a B.S. in physics?

The courses that are taken by students who are enrolled into a B.S. in Physics program provide the student with an extensive foundation of physics that can later be used in a career as a dentist. Most of the courses that you will be expected to take during this degree will include laboratory and classroom components.

Credit Hours

Most students that apply to dental school also complete a college undergraduate degree. Having a degree is not a requirement, but not having one means your grades and DAT scores must be even more competitive.

DAT Scores

You must also take the DAT to apply. Getting a good score on the DAT is very important so make sure you set apart some time to study for it. I used the whole summer and it worked out great for me. Also, realize that math is on the DAT so don’t forget to study up on math before the test.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need to have a certain number of letter of recommendations to get into dental school. Start picked professors right now to write these letters. Check out my article on dental letters of Recommendation for great techniques on how to get these letters.

Make a Plan

Getting into dental school requires a plan that spans over multiple years. Map it out now. Make sure you can answer all these questions.

How long does it take to become a dentist?

How long does it take to become a dentist? All dentists must have completed four years of dental school and received a doctorate in dentistry. There are two types of dental doctoral degrees you can get:

Is dentistry a good career?

Becoming a dentist requires many years of dedication, focus, and hard work—but by planning ahead, you can make your own path to dentistry a lot smoother. Dentistry is a great profession to choose these days: it offers a high salary as well as a high employment growth rate over the next several years.

Why is it important to shadow someone?

To shadow someone is to spend a day observing them performing their everyday work duties .

What is the American Student Dental Association?

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) is a group that gives out free advice and publications for dental school students and college and high school students who are interested in becoming dentists.

How much does a dentist make?

Dentists have the opportunity to make quite a bit of money. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for all dentists in 2018 was $156,240 , or $75.12 per hour. By comparison, the average median salary for all jobs in 2018 was $38,640; this means that dentists make over $100,000 more than the median pay for all jobs in the US.

What are the first two years of dental school?

The first two years of dental school are primarily classroom and lab instruction, with an emphasis on basic health sciences. In the last two years, you'll work with real patients under the supervision of licensed faculty. To see what a day in the life of a dental student looks like, go to the ASDA website.

What is the second part of dental licensure?

The second part of dental licensure is the clinical, or live-patient, examination , which generally takes place after you finish dental school and have passed both Part I and Part II of the NBDE (see Step 12).

What are the different types of dental specialties?

In addition to becoming a general or family dentist, dentistry also offers a number of specialties. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes 12 dental specialties within the field: 1 Dental anesthesiology 2 Dental public health 3 Endodontics 4 Oral and maxillofacial pathology 5 Oral and maxillofacial radiology 6 Oral and maxillofacial surgery 7 Oral medicine 8 Orofacial pain 9 Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics 10 Pediatric dentistry 11 Periodontics 12 Prosthodontics

What was the first dental school in the United States?

A quick history lesson explains the difference between the two. The first dental school in the United States was the Baltimore College of Medicine founded in 1840, which began granting the DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree. Harvard founded a dental school shortly thereafter.

How long does it take to become a dentist?

It takes eight years to become a dentist: four years to earn a bachelor’s degree as an undergraduate and four years to earn a DDS or DMD in dental school. If you’re interested in specializing, you’ll need to complete a dental residency.

Is dentistry a good career?

Pursuing a career in dentistry is an excellent choice. The 2019 US News & World Report rankings of the “ 100 Best Jobs ” placed dentistry in the top five of all career options, and had three dental specialties (oral and maxillofacial surgeon, prosthodontist, and orthodontist) ranked in the top 10.

What is a DMD in dentistry?

Because all of their degrees are in Latin they chose to grant a DMD ( Doctor Medicinae Dentariae or Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. Since then, universities choose which degree to grant, with two thirds currently offering the DDS.

How many specialties are there in dentistry?

In addition to becoming a general or family dentist, dentistry also offers a number of specialties. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes 10 dental specialties within the field: To enter a specialty, you’ll need to do a residency following dental school.

What are the career options for a dentist?

Career opportunities in dentistry include academics, private practice, public health, and more. A dentist could work in several different settings across the course of a career, for example starting in public health, moving into private practice and finishing in academics.

Shadow a dentist

Shadowing is when you go in and watch a dentist work. Try to get a job working for a dentist or volunteer, even if it is just for a few hours a week. If you suggest this to a dentist, most of them will be willing to let you come in and shadow.

Attend a Health High School

If there is a health high school in your school district, try to get into this school. These offer an excellent exposure to the health profession.

Start developing hand skills

Another thing you can do that might help you is to develop your hand skills. Try taking up a musical instrument. That is something people did that they say helps.

Participate in Community Service

Get involved with community service. This will help you apply to your undergraduate university or college and also your dental school. It will help with your people skills and might give you a better idea about what you want to do.

Look into Early Acceptance Programs

Some dental schools have early acceptance programs. By performing well in high school you can become accepted into one of these programs. Start looking into these programs early, you will need a few credit hours and some planning to apply. San Antonio will only let you apply if you have between 12 and 30 college credit hours.

Set Yourself Apart

Make it your goal now to think of anything you can do to set yourself apart from all of the other people applying to dental school. If you can be a good strong applicant to your college or university, then you should be a good strong applicant to dental school. Keep doing those same things.

Comment Below?

We’ve had a huge response on this topic. I’m very happy to answer your questions, but first please read over this article and become familiar with this website. Most of your questions are probably already answered here.

How do dentists work?

Here is what a typical day’s work for a Dentist looks like: 1 Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases. 2 Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments. 3 Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures. 4 Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements. 5 Formulate plan of treatment for patient’s teeth and mouth tissue.

What does a dentist do?

Dentists examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. .

What is the best way to protect yourself from infectious diseases?

Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases. Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.

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The Dental Admissions Test

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The first step in considering a dental degree is determining the testing and prerequisites needed during an undergraduate degree. Any college student thinking about becoming a dentist needs to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). As theAmerican Dental Association (ADA) notes, it's typically recommended that stu…
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Attending Dental School – Prerequisites and Degree Requirements

  • Along with their DAT scores, most students also need to have a good grade point average (GPA), experience shadowing a dentist, and excellent recommendation letters. Although an applicant doesn't need a science degree to enroll, they need some dentist education requirements from their undergraduate classes. Most programs require at least eight hours of biology, chemistry, physic…
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Passing Dental Licensure Exams

  • Once dental school is complete, a student needs to take and pass a series of examinations. The ADAnotes three critical requirements to licensure: an educational component, a written test, and a clinical examination. Besides these three components, additional requirements for licensure vary by state.
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Considering A Dental Specialty and Extra Schooling

  • Did you know that 20% of dentists in the U.S. are specialists? They range from oral surgeons to orthodontists to pediatric dentists. As noted above, becoming a specialist requires more training – in some cases, as many as six extra years of education and clinical experience. Once a dentist has completed dental school and all the necessary exams and potential postgraduate training, t…
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B.S. in Biochemistry

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Biochemistryis a very popular undergraduate degree and area of study for students who would like to pursue a career in dentistry. Some of the top courses that are taken during a biochemistry degree include biology, calculus, physics, and chemistry. The subject matter that you learn will prepare you for careers in medic…
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Bachelor of Science in Physics

  • A Bachelor of Science in Physicsdegree is typically taken by students who are interested in starting a career within the physics research field. However, anyone who wants to become a dentist must take at least two semesters of physics courses. While it’s possible to take physics courses with another degree, a physics degree opens up numerous career paths that you might …
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B.S. in Molecular Biology

  • A Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biologydegree is a complex degree that involves an interdisciplinary science. Molecular biology combines aspects of science like genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and biophysics. As such, the many courses that you take during this degree program will center on the four aforementioned subjects as well as mathematics, compu…
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Biological Science

  • Biological scienceis an undergraduate degree option that students can enroll into when they want to become a dentist. During the course of your studies, you will learn about cellular, supracellular, molecular, and supramolecular processes, which provide the basis for dental medicine. These subjects are required by the majority of dental schools and can help you learn more about oral …
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Biomedical Engineering

  • Biomedical engineeringis a degree that provides undergraduate students with knowledge on how to apply the problem-solving techniques and principles of engineering to medicine and biology, which extends to dental medicine. Many students who obtain a biomedical engineering degree go on to enter a career in dental research. Biomedical engineering coursework allows students to b…
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Biomedical Sciences

  • Biomedical sciencesis a degree option that allows students to study the fields of medicine and biology with a focus on the health of humans and animals. The main issues that are explored in biomedical sciences coursework include medicine, disease, and human health, which can be integral towards better understanding oral health and the many ailments that an individual can e…
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Physiological Sciences

  • Physiological sciencesis a bachelor’s degree option that focuses on the normal functions of organisms and their parts. Obtaining an undergraduate degree in physiological science can pave the way for dental school and a future career as a dentist. The coursework that you complete will: 1. Help you improve your verbal and written skills 2. Allow you to understand the fundamentals o…
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Chemistry

  • A Bachelor of Science in Chemistryis a highly popular degree for undergraduate students who want to enter careers as chemists or go into adjacent fields like medicine, biology, and dentistry. The coursework that a chemistry student is expected to complete during this degree includes organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. Some of the more specialized courses that you will t…
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Pre-Dentistry Studies

  • Pre-Dentistry studies is a type of degree that’s offered by some colleges and universities around the country. The majority of universities provide pre-dentistry studies as a preparation program that doesn’t classify as an undergraduate major. Instead, the program is designed to help prepare students for dental school. However, certain universities allow students to obtain a B.S. Degree i…
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Introductory Sociology

  • Introductory sociologyis an undergraduate degree that isn’t specifically related to dentistry but will allow you to take many of the courses that are needed to prepare you for a career in dentistry. It’s also important to understand that obtaining this type of degree will give you access to a wide variety of career paths in and outside the field of dentistry. Though not exactly integral to your e…
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