Pre-Health Advising: Dentistry Preparation

• Dentists are trained initially to be generalists. Upon completion, you can apply to specialize on endodontics, pathology, radiology, pediatric dentistry, surgery, and prosthodontics.
• A general dental education typically takes 4 years to complete and spend 2-3 more years in residency after dental school.
• Some dental programs lead to a DDS degree, and others lead to a DMD. Despite their different names, these are equivalent degrees.
• There are 77 dental schools in the United States and Puerto Rico with OHSU School of Dentistry being the only Dental school in Oregon.
• Common majors pre-dental UO students pursue: Human Physiology, Multidisciplinary Science, Biology, Biochemistry or Neuroscience. 

• Completing the prerequisite courses is just one aspect of the process. Applicants must also have a well- rounded application consisting of experience (For example: shadowing, volunteer work, undergraduate research, life experience, etc.), letters of recommendation, DAT scores, and a strong admissions essay. Most dental programs require varying shadowing hours. Competitive applicants will have 100-300 shadowing hours.
• Dental schools look for students who chose meaningful experiences that they are able to reflect upon during the application process.
• The Dental Admission Test (DAT) covers four areas: natural sciences, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and perceptual ability. Visit ADA for more information.
• Applying to dental school is a year-long process. Students applying in their final year at UO will have a gap year before starting dental school. Students can work, take courses, travel, etc. during the year. Keep in mind, the average age of a First-Year dental student is 24.
• Be sure to research individual programs about any COVID-19 related changes (Pre-recs, DAT exceptions, Pass/Fail Policy, etc).

The chart below illustrates one way dentistry school prerequisites can fit into a 4-year plan. 

• Keep in mind that a graduation plan is as unique as the student following it - Math placement, major, transfer credits, application timeline, and other factors will help shape your graduation plan and timeline. 
• Following the "Common requirements" list above will allow you to cast a wide net when applying to Dental Programs. 
• The list above outlines "requirements that vary" and "highly recommended" courses. It is recommended that students explore programs and ensure their graduation plan captures all of the requirements they need for their programs of interest.
• Additionally, we strongly encourage students to take 3-4 of the “highly recommended science courses” listed on dental program websites. Keep in mind, some of these highly recommended sciences may already be embedded within your major requirements. 
  • Use the ADEA Dental School Explorer to explore Dental Programs. 
• Work with a pre-health advisor to solidify your graduation plan! 

Watch the Dental School Prerequisite Overview video for additional details on prerequisite courses. 

Questions? Email pre-health advisors at prehealthadvising@uoregon.edu.