Pre-Dentistry

Dental schools award the D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree after three or four years of study; the degrees are equivalent to one another. The first years typically consists of foundational science courses and theirapplication to the study of dentistry. The final years are morepatient-focuses and the student is exposed to a variety of specialtieswithin the dental field.

Following graduation, students who wish to specialize undergo postgraduate training in fields such as periodontics, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery. Graduates who plan to be general practitioners are not required to engage in postgraduate training. Mostdentists are in private practice with most of these in a practice by themselves. It is becoming more common for dentists to be employed by health organizations rather than owning their own practices. All graduates must pass a licensing exam to practice dentistry, which varies from state to state.

American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org

American Dental Education Association
http://www.adea.org

Dental Admissions Test
http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx

Associated American Dental Schools Application Service
http://www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aadsas/Pages/default.aspx

Links to Dental schools
http://www.ada.org/267.aspx