What Training Is Needed to Become a Dentist?
If you want to become a professional with the ability to perform surgical and medical procedures on human teeth and gums, consider the pursuit of a training program in dentistry. Upon graduation from an accredited program, you can begin working in clinical practice or in a related career such as dental research.
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Undergraduate Training
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A dental student builds on at least two years of college before becoming a candidate for a graduate program. Dental programs include prerequisites in sciences such as biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics and other courses. The American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation notes that students typically have a four-year degree completed before admission to dental school. Only about 15 percent of students complete a bachelor's degree while in dental school.
Types of Graduate Programs
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Typically, a dental school program results in a graduate degree called a Doctor of Dental Surgery, or DDS. In some dental schools, the degree you earn is called a Doctor of Dental Medicine, or DMD. According to the American Dental Association, these degrees are equivalent because the degree programs have identical curriculum requirements. Some programs combine a dentistry degree with another college degree.
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First Two Years
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American colleges of dentistry have many common requirements to keep their ADA accreditation. In the first two years, students complete courses in many areas, including laboratory work. At the University of Iowa's DDS program, first-year subjects include pathology, gross anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, general histology and microbiology. The first patient-treatment experience occurs, as well as training in other dental topics. In the second year, students continue with biomedical and dental training, study in preclinical courses and have more experiences with patients.
Last Two Years
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In the final two years of dental school, students get more experience working with patients under the supervision of dentists and specialists. At the University of Iowa, the third year includes clerkships in seven dental disciplines. In the fourth year, students work in the field in situations similar to private practice dentistry and community dentistry environments. These experiences bring them into direct contact with different populations of patients.
Advanced Training
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Students who complete their dentistry degree may wish to pursue advanced education credentials. The ADA's accreditation commission recognizes nine specialties that offer dentists higher earning potential. These specialties are dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics.
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References
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