Pre-Dentistry

About the Profession

Dentists are healthcare providers who specialize in oral health. They are able to diagnose oral diseases, create treatment plans to maintain or restore the oral health of their patients, and monitor growth and development of the teeth and jaws, among others. Dentists play a crucial role in promoting oral health and disease prevention. They can counsel patients on diet, flossing, use of fluoride, and other aspects of dental care that improve the patient's oral hygiene. During a comprehensive exam, they examine the teeth and the gums as well as actively look for lumps, swelling, discolorations, ulcerations, or other abnormalities. They can spot early warning signs that appear in the mouth which may indicate disease in the body.

Work Settings

Dentists can work in a variety of settings including private practice and public health dentistry. Private practice allows dentists to work by themselves or in partnerships with other dentists in a medical office. Dentists can also offer their services in the public sector. The U.S. Public Health Service offers dentists unique opportunities to provide care in a Native American Reservation, Coast Guard base, or Federal Prison setting. Research is an area for dentists to focus on expanding the knowledge of the profession that will ultimately impact patient care. Hospital dentistry allows dentists to work alongside an interprofessional healthcare team, often in emergency departments and operating rooms. 

Academic Requirements

Dentists are required to obtain either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry/Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Most applicants have a bachelor's degree and although there is no required major, some programs prefer applicants to major in a science field. Drake's Bachelor of Health Sciences degree provides excellent preparation for dental school. Applicants usually take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) when they apply to dental school. Dental education programs review academic qualifications, DAT results, GPAs, letters of recommendation, personal interviews, and dental office shadowing experiences. Once you've earned your Drake degree, you'll complete four years of studies in an accredited dental education program. The first two years of dental school traditionally consist of didactic classroom learning with some practical training on models of the mouth and teeth outside of core classes. The third and fourth years are mostly clinical and consist of rotations in clinics, hospitals, and other community settings.

Additional Information

Following graduation from an accredited program, candidates need to be licensed in each state they are going to practice in. All dental specialties require additional training in the form of a 2- to 4-year residency program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Surgery programs take up to 6 years and allow candidates to obtain a joint Medical Doctor (MD) degree. Dentists who are interested in academia or research may need to enroll in a postdoctoral program in general dentistry. Some of the specialties that a dentist can choose include:

• Dental Anesthesiology
• Endodontics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orofacial Pain
• Pediatrics
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics

Why is Health Sciences a great major for Pre-Dentistry?

As a student in our Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree, you'll get the best of both worlds: a rigorous science curriculum that will prepare you for the academic challenges of dental school and an education in healthcare that will help you succeed in your professional career. All Health Sciences students take core courses in the sciences that can be customized based on the required prerequisite coursework you'll need to get into your top choice graduate program. Beyond that, you'll complete our Health Sciences Core Curriculum, which teaches you about every aspect of healthcare and how to be a successful professional once you graduate. The Health Sciences Core Curriculum includes coursework in professionalism, innovation and problem solving, cultural sensitivity, healthcare ethics, and an overview of what to expect when you enter the workforce. This unique curriculum is only offered to Health Sciences majors at Drake and will make you stand out when you apply for dental school.

In addition to your coursework, the Health Sciences Core Curriculum also includes a full-year internship and research. In your senior year, you will be paired with a professional in a career that relates to your own interests and complete an internship with that person at their office or practice site. You will also conduct an original research project alongside your internship, which is valuable in the graduate school admission process and is the reason why our graduates are so successful in getting into many of their top choice dental schools!