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Dentistry Schools and Programs in The United States

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Dentistry Studies in The United States

You can study dentistry in the US at the prestigious Harvard University

If being a dentist has always been your passion, then you should consider studying dentistry in the United States. The course is open to both local and international students and it is quite rewarding.

Studying dentistry in the United States

To pursue dentistry in the US, students are required in enroll to dental schools for their first professional degree for a duration of two years of undergraduate study. Most students get to complete a full four-year degree program and then major in any field. Students, however, have to complete course work in physics, English, organic and inorganic chemistry, and biology. A few learning institutions offer combined degree programs where a student gets to pursue both a bachelor’s degree and an initial degree in dentistry in a duration of seven years.

Requirements for Dentistry Study in the US

Before being admitted into any dentistry program, students have to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). This is the entry test for US first professional degree dental programs and the American Dental Association (ADA) administers the DAT in the US. This test evaluates a student’s proficiency in organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, reading, mathematics, and perceptual motor skills.

Other requirements for enrolling into dental schools in the country include an interview, recommendation letters, a strong undergraduate record, and an English language test, for instance, TOEFL for international students. It is important to note that international students are rarely admitted into dental schools in the country not unless if they have finished at least two years of undergraduate studies in the US.

Doctorate Degree programs in Dentistry in the US

Students who want to become dentists must obtain a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and then finish more training in their interested specialty within the dental field, and excel in a state licensure exam. The DMD or DDS is earned after completion of the bachelor’s degree and pre-dental undergraduate course work. The DMD and DDS programs take four years to complete and at this level, students enroll for advanced courses in subjects related to dentistry, for instance, periodontics, radiology, and oral anatomy. Students also get to take part in supervised clinical experiences so as to acquire hands-on training in the field.
The first and second of years study of these programs focus mostly on biomedical sciences. It is in the second year when instruction in dental sciences begins. This is mostly accompanied by work with patients under supervision by a faculty member and it is the focus of the third and fourth years.

Specialty certificate programs in Dentistry in the US

As mentioned earlier, dentistry students have to get additional training in a specialty that is of interest to them so as to prepare for the state licensure exams. Learners can choose from nine main specialty fields, which include general practice, prosthodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, advanced and adhesive dentistry, orthodontics, orofacial pain, and pediatric dentistry. Certificates in these specialties can take between two to four years to finish depending on the program.

Learning institutions with dentistry programs in the US

Some of the renowned dentistry programs in the US are offered at the following institutions; Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, University of California – San Francisco, and the University of Illinois at Chicago just to mention a few.

When enrolling in a dental school in the US, it is important to bear in mind that private schools normally admit more foreign students as compared to public ones, which give priority to local students where the schools are located.