Dental school graduates have career options beyond working in practices, as their skills are needed in emergency rooms, classrooms and research labs. Competition for dental school admission is fierce, with schools only accepting the best undergraduate scholars. Graduates have excellent career prospects, with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting demand for dentists to grow 16 percent between 2008 and 2018, fueled in part by the retirement of the generation of practitioners born during the baby boom years.
Preparing for Dental School
Brigham Young University recommends that undergraduates consult the American Dental Education Association's Official Guide to Dental Schools to learn their prospective schools' prerequisites. Each school requires a strong life-science background, but individual course requirements differ among schools. The BLS recommends that pre-dental students take as many biology, health and physical-science electives as their schedules allow, as the undergraduate course work will prepare students for the heavy science course load of dental schools' first two years.
Dental Admissions Test
All dental schools require applicants to take the DAT, basing their admissions decisions on applicants' DAT scores, undergraduate GPA and faculty recommendations. The DAT's four sections cover biology, general and organic chemistry, perception skills, reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Students can score between 1 and 30 points on each section and the average of the four scores comprises the final grade.
Biology
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas notes that most pre-dental students major in biology to acquire the life-science background that prepares them for the DAT exam and early dental school courses. Brigham Young University recommends students take anatomy courses following their year of introductory biology, so that they have the basic knowledge of human biological processes and of the maxillofacial structures before beginning dental school. Students should also take elective courses in microbiology to study how micro-organisms, particularly pathogens, interact with their host organisms. BYU also recommends taking a histology course to gain advanced understanding of cell structure and function.
Chemistry
Dental students must take a full year of introductory general and inorganic chemistry courses with labs, to attain basic understanding of chemical reactions and processes that support life. The University of Washington notes that students who take biochemistry courses in their junior or senior years will find the DAT less challenging and be better prepared for their first two years of dental school.
Other Courses
The University of Washington recommends students extend their science curriculum by taking introductory physics courses with labs. UNLV suggests enrolling in computer-science courses for a practical understanding of the software and technology used in a clinical setting. UNLV also recommends taking electives in the humanities, business and public speaking because dental schools are impressed by candidates who have a well-rounded body of knowledge to accompany their clinical skills.
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