The American Dental Academy lists the following as potential dental specialties:. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Each of these specialties could take you another two years of specialized training and school to earn your certificate in that field. National Board Dental Examination. This is a national test with two parts, and you must pass both of them before taking your clinical exam. The good news is that you can take these exams during dental school, which most people do.
Clinical Examination. This exam is called a clinical or live-patient dental examination. It can also be taken during your last year of dental school, or you can take it immediately after. There are two important things to note about this exam. When you add all of that up, it comes to roughly eight years after high school to become a general dentist. Our AI resume builder helps you write a compelling and relevant resume for the jobs you want. The next thing you need to do is learn the steps for becoming a dentist so you can get on the right path.
High school dental prep. Start by taking as many health and science-related classes as you can. Get that grade point average up there and start networking. Contact a few local dentists to see if they would be willing to mentor you.
Most students entering dental college have their undergraduate degrees, but not all. A few exceptional dental students get into dental school with only a couple of years of college under their belt.
They can vary a little bit from school to school, but the following are fairly standard. Some colleges have additional requirements. You might want to plan to take eight credit hours or two semesters of the following fields to open your dental school options to more college:. Math Calculus or Statistics might be required. The good news about undergraduate studies is that there is no required major. There are prerequisite classes, but you can pick any major you find interesting, and it would be in your benefit to select the one you will excel in — grades matter.
Get involved. Dental schools will also review your extracurricular and volunteer experiences. They ideally want to see applicants who have had exposure to dentistry , done some community service or local outreach, and that there has been a research element to your experiences. This is why making connections with dentists and getting a mentor in high school can be so useful in the future.
This is THE test for future dentists. The latest you should take this test is September of your senior year of university if you plan to go on to Dental School immediately following your graduation from college.
Studying should also begin several months before you take the DAT. Recommendation letters. Dental schools ask for recommendation letters as part of the application process. Two evaluation letters from science faculty who taught you in a college course. One from a college instructor who taught you a course outside of science or your main discipline. News and World Report revealed that during the academic year , and out of 66 accredited dental schools, only These are things to consider when becoming a dentist.
In short, is it hard to become a dentist? Being a dentist can be really difficult. It is challenging to be selected and study hard at a dental school.
Is there a quick and slow way to become a dentist? More or less. The difference between dental schools and high-quality, reputable dental schools is that the education in the latter will be better. The steps to becoming a dentist will take you several years, sometimes more than However, do you need to go to medical school in order to become a dentist?
Generally speaking, dentistry students do not need to go to medical school. Note that, while it will surely guarantee a better future and potentially better working conditions and tasks, you will need to attend medical school for 2 to 4 years more.
Dental assistants are a very important part of the dentistry world and they have endless opportunities to grow their career. But can a dental assistant become a dentist? Absolutely, everyone can become a dentist. However, all dentists must have a college degree with completed semester hours on specific subjects as well as finishing a 4-year course at a dental school.
Of course, the dental school costs will be the same as generic applicants which often means hundreds of thousands of dollars. This was everything you needed to know about the duration of the dental school, the specialization at a medical school, and the steps to become a dentist. Aspiring dentists can typically complete their education and training requirements in about eight years, but it can vary. In this guide, we review the requirements to become a dentist and how long it takes to become one.
A dentist is a medical professional who specializes in oral health. They prevent dental diseases and use diagnostic measures to evaluate dental problems. Dentists also use tools to treat conditions like broken teeth, misaligned teeth, periodontal disease and exposed tooth roots. It takes between six and eight years to become a dentist.
The exact route to becoming a dentist will depend on a few factors, such as whether you choose a specialization. Specializations like becoming an oral surgeon or periodontist will require additional training and education. However, some students who choose not to specialize can shorten their time in school with a combined educational program. The following factors can affect your timeline when becoming a dentist:.
Some aspiring dentists will complete four years in an undergraduate program, followed by another four years in a dental program. Dentistry programs that combine the undergraduate degree with dentistry training will typically allow students to complete the program in about six years. Whether or not you choose to specialize in an area of dentistry will also influence your timeline, as specializations require additional training. The major that you pursue in your undergraduate program can affect how long it takes for you to become a dentist.
For example, students who choose an undergraduate program in areas such as biology, chemistry or pre-med may have to take fewer courses in dental school. Some students may choose to pursue a double major to further prepare themselves for dental school, but a double major can also take more time to complete. Admission to dental school can be a competitive process. Students will need a good GPA and recommendations from previous professors or employers.
Additionally, students will need a minimum score on the state exam. The number of programs that you apply to and whether or not you are admitted into your preferred school can affect how long it takes to become a dentist. Related: Letter of Recommendation for College Students. Additionally, dentists may choose to specialize in a certain area of dentistry.
The American Dental Association recognizes nine specializations within the dentistry industry, which include:. A general dentist typically works in a dental office in a public health environment. They complete checkups and educate patients on proper dental care practices but they may also sometimes perform surgeries.
An orthodontist focuses on the alignment of the teeth. Orthodontists often work with children, teens and young adults in diagnosing and treating misaligned teeth. Oral and maxillofacial pathologists are primarily focused on the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. They may work with dental patients with frequent cavities, periodontal disease, dental trauma or cleft lips. A pediatric dentist specializes in the education and treatment of dental conditions affecting younger patients.
Children and teens have unique dental concerns, as they are still growing and developing. An oral and maxillofacial radiologist focuses primarily on the evaluation and interpretation of diagnostic images. Oral radiologists will often assist other dental professionals when evaluating the results of X-rays.
An oral surgeon focuses primarily on the surgical side of dentistry. They may conduct surgery to repair damaged tissue or to correct misalignments with the jaw.
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