In this article we answer the following questions: 1ºWhat education is needed to become a dentist? 2º what does a dentist do? 3º Steps to becoming a dentist
New York University (NYU) states on its website (https://dental.nyu.edu/) that it is “a global leader at the forefront of dentistry.” Its Dentist Education Requirements and Career Information includes the following minimum requirements for applying to their college of dentistry.
First, students should have a bachelor’s degree, which can include a foreign bachelor’s degree. Students must also have complete 90 credits (or in the case of a foreign bachelor’s degree a minimum of 60 credits), which must include all prerequisites.
Second, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Third, NYU requires students have completed a minimum of two semesters (or three quarters each) of English/Writing-Intensive, Biology, Physics, Inorganic/General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry, and additional recommended courses are comparative anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics, histology, mathematics, microbiology, philosophy, physiology, psychology and sociology.
Fourth, students must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and submit “one committee evaluation letter or three individual letters of evaluation, two of which must be from science faculty members.” Students are also recommended to do “a minimum of 100 hours of dental shadowing.”
NYU offers both training and education to more than 1,800 students on an annual basis. These students include both from the U.S., as well as from more than 50 other countries.
According to the Canadian Dental Association’s website (https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/index.asp) there are specific pre-admission requirements before an aspiring dentist even applies to dental schools. These include completing courses in the maths and sciences, but advanced biology and physics are “typically not required.” The Association recommends checking with dental schools to find out their specific requirements. In addition, students interested in becoming a dentist in Canada must complete the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT).
The Canadian Dental Association’s website says dental school is a minimum of 4 to 5 years and that it is likely dental students will need student loans. It recommends visiting the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) website for financial aid options.
Similarly, NYU’s predoctoral Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is a four-year, full-time program.
The American Dental Association’s website (https://www.ada.org/en) lists the following duties for a dentist:
~ Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth and mouth
~ Improve a patient’s appearance
~ Perform surgical procedures such as implants, tissue grafts and extractions
~ Educate patients on how to better care for their teeth and prevent oral disease
~ Teach future dentists and dental hygienists
~ Perform research directed to improving oral health and developing new treatment methods
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website (https://www.bls.gov/) lists the medium pay for dentists in 2018 as $156,240 per year ($75.12 per hour).
The American Dental Association sums up the steps to becoming a dentist on their website as follows:
Get a broad exposure to science and math while in high school—enroll in college preparatory classes in biology, algebra and chemistry
Continue taking natural science courses in college such as general biology, organic and inorganic chemistry and physics
Ask to volunteer or job shadow at your family dentist’s office, orthodontist’s office and pediatric dentist’s office
A college undergraduate degree is recommended as preparation for dental school
Talk with admission officers about financial aid resources and dental school requirements (See list of ADA accredited dental schools in the U.S. on ADA.org)
Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) a year before entering dental school
While some requirements such as prerequisites may vary from school to school, a strong foundation as early as high school in the maths and sciences is the essential educational foundation to become a dentist. As for what level of education is required to become a dentist, like other medical professions, aspiring dentists will need a minimum of four additional years of schooling beyond their undergraduate education in order to achieve their career goals.
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