Dentistry

Dentistry offers variety, creativity, prestige, flexibility, and financial security. A rapidly changing profession, it involves:

  • Detection of diseases
  • Diagnosis
  • Aesthetic improvement
  • Surgical restoration
  • Public education/prevention

 

Dental specialties:

Endodontists diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the dental pulp and other dental tissues that affect the vitality of teeth.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide a broad range of diagnostic and treatment services for diseases, injuries, and defects of the head, neck, and associated structures.
Oral pathologists study and research the causes, processes, and effects of those diseases with oral manifestations.
Orthodontists treat problems related to poorly arranged teeth, missing teeth, and other abnormalities.
Pediatric dentists specialize in treating children from birth to adolescence.
Periodontists diagnose and treat diseases of the gingival tissue and bone supporting the teeth.
Prosthodontists replace missing natural teeth with fixed or removable substitutes such as dentures, bridges, and implants.
Public Health Dentists specialize in preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through community efforts.

Finding Information on Dental Schools:

For information on dental schools, see the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS) Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools and ADEA’s Official Guide to Dental Schools. These publications are available at the library or in LSAC (25 Ingraham).
Online, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) offers links to all accredited dental schools, as well as scholarship and other information.
The Dental Pipeline features the activities of 15 U.S. dental schools that are part of the Dental Pipeline program. Since 2003, each of the Dental Pipeline schools have been developing community-based dental education programs, revising their dental school curriculum to include cultural competency classes, and designing initiatives to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority and low-income (URM/LI) students.

Pre-Dental at Wisconsin

Pre-Dental Course Requirements
Pre-Dental Planning Guide
Dental Timeline - Freshman and Sophomore Years
Dental Timeline - Junior and Senior Years
Dental Application Checklist
Sample of possible questions asked at a dental interview
Writing essays in application to Dental School

Applying to Dental School

You will apply through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) centralized application process. You will also need to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). You should also consider a Summer Program or Research experience in preparation for applying to dental school.

DAT (Dental Admission Test)

The Dental Admission Test is conducted by the American Dental Association and is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. While all dental schools require candidates to participate in the Dental Admission Testing Program, DAT test results are only one factor considered in evaluating the admission potential of a candidate, although it has been shown to be a reliable predictor of dental school success. The relative importance of the DAT in the admissions process is determined by the dental school. Read about how to register for the DAT.
Much that we stated about preparation for the MCAT applies to the DAT. The DAT includes sections on Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. The DAT is now administered solely on computer, and is offered throughout the United States and its territories. Candidates may be scheduled for the computerized the DAT on almost any date. There is no application deadline.
Sample test questions from the dentistry exam are available at:
http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_test_sampleitems.pdf