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Applying to dental school takes time to do well and typically costs a hefty fee. Time and cost will vary depending on the schools you apply to.
You’ll need a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) or DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree to practice general dentistry or any of its specialties like orthodontics and oral surgery. Becoming a dental assistant, hygienist, or laboratory technician requires different and less intensive degrees.
With a degree from dental school and a dental license from your state’s regulatory agency, you can cultivate a fulfilling and rewarding career. Here’s what you need to know about applying to dental school.
Anyone can apply to dental school, but there are some prerequisites that dental school applicants need to complete before applying.
These are the prerequisites:
Most dental students already have four years of college under their belts. However, a few dental schools may have early admissions programs that admit students with two to three years of undergraduate preparation.
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in science isn’t required but is recommended. Most dental schools will look to see if you have studied science before.
Whether or not you have an undergraduate degree, you must finish a few prerequisite courses. These pre-dental science requirements are:
You must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) a year before dental school. A year of college-level biology and chemistry courses would be helpful to pass this test.
Applying to dental school requires ample time and effort. To apply to dental school, you need to prepare the following:
Admissions requirements will vary depending on the school(s) you’re applying to. Still, it’s always better to be overprepared with more materials than necessary than underprepared.
The Dental Admissions Test (DAT), sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), is a computerized test. It measures your general academic and perceptual ability and your comprehension of science in these four key elements:
Each test is scored on a scale of 1 to 30. However, the Survey of Natural Sciences test averages your three sub-scores for biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry.
You can take the DAT at any Prometric test center in the United States, U.S. territories (including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), and Canada.
Prospective dental students generally take the DAT during their junior year in college. This is about one year before their admission to dental school.
Taking the Prometric test gives you ample time to apply to a school and retake the test if necessary. You can retake the DAT if you don’t achieve your desired score, but you should aim to take the test only once, as retakes are limited.
To register for the DAT, apply for a Dental Personal Identification Number (DENTPIN) here. The DENTPIN is a unique identifier for all people taking the DAT.
It’s an eight-digit number that helps protect your personal identifying information. Those who have previously applied to take the DAT must use their existing DENTPIN if they want to retake the test.
Dental school application processes under the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) schools are time-consuming but straightforward.
Here’s what you need to know:
You can apply to the ADEA AADSAS online on the American ADEA website here.
The application cycle typically opens on or around June 1; the deadline is around February 1. It’s important to note that the ADEA doesn’t make admissions decisions; it’s just a centralized application service. Each school will have its own admissions committee.
Here are the application steps you must take:
ADEA AADSAS
PO Box 9110
Watertown, MA 02471 3
From there, the ADEA will verify your transcripts, import your DAT scores, and send your information to your chosen dental schools. The dental schools will then apply their own admissions process.
The admissions committee will typically review your application materials and any supplemental information you share. They may interview you or request additional information.
The admission committee can also send you a supplementary application. If they choose you, they’ll send you an offer of admission and enrollment information.
The ADEA AADSAS charges $259 (USD) for the first program you apply to and $112 for each additional program. Some programs may have supplemental fees.
Fee assistance is available for qualifying applicants. Learn more about whether or not you qualify for financial aid here.
The dental school application process is competitive and rigorous. To help you with this journey, here are some tips to keep in mind: