(Doctor of Dental Surgery). A four-year degree program,
it is offered at 55 dental schools accredited by
the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American
Dental Association. Requirements for entrance may
include:
 |
At least two years of undergraduate
education; but 89% of the first-year dental
class completed four years of pre-professional
education and that 76% of the first-year dental
class received a baccalaureate degree prior
to dental school enrollment. |
|
Completion of undergraduate
courses in inorganic and organic chemistry,
biology, physics, mathematics, and English.
|
|
Satisfactory performance on
the Dental Admission Test (DAT) offered at
any previously arranged times at Prometric
Test Centers. |
Information about the Dental Admission Test and
addresses of US dental schools may be obtained from:
Dental Admission Testing Program
Department of Testing Services
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1846
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678
Tel: 312-440-2679
Advanced Standing
Graduates of foreign dental schools
may apply for admission and advanced standing in
the first professional degree program. About 45%
of the dental schools consider applications from
graduates of foreign dental schools for admission
to the second or third year of the basic dental
degree program. They would have to take the National
Board Part I examinations. Licensure
In most states, licensure requires
graduation with a D.D. S. or D.M.D. degree from
a dental school accredited by the Commission on
Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Since the Commission only accredits American and
Canadian schools, this presents a problem for
foreign dentists who do not want to repeat part
of their basic dental education by entering a
first professional degree program, even with advanced
standing.
Fortunately, 20 states do make it
possible for graduates of foreign medical schools
to obtain licensure without returning to a basic
dental education program. However, they will usually
require that the individual should have graduated
from a program recognized in his own country,
and that s/he pass the National Board Dental Examinations.
Many also require up to two years supplementary
education in an accredited dental school with
a special program for foreign dentists.
Advanced Dental Education
Universities conduct graduate
programs leading to either the Master of Science
(M.S.), Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S. D),
or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Postgraduate
dental programs, on the other hand, may be conducted
in hospitals, and lead to a certificate rather
than a degree. This distinction between "graduate"
and "postgraduate" appears to be a peculiarity
of dental education.
References:
Admission Requirements of U.S.
and Canadian Dental Schools. Washington, DC: American
Association of Dental Schools, Published annually.
Accredited Advanced Dental Educational
Programs. Chicago, Illinois, American Dental
Association, Published annually.
Dentistry in the United States:
Information on Education and Licensure. Chicago:
Council on
Dental Education, Office of International Affairs,
Joint Commission on National Dental
Examinations. Dec. 1999. |
