DENTAL LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND

EDUCATION IN THE

U.S

Dentistry is one of the most popular career paths for students

interested in the sciences and there are over 150,000 dentists

practicing in the United States, However, although dentistry is

a professional career path, there are many requirements for

an individual to obtain a dentistry position. It’s vital for dentists

to get dental licensing, certification, and education.

Educational Requirements for students Planning on a

career of Dentistry

• No specific undergraduate degree is required for students to enroll in dentistry schools, but the United States Bureau of Statistics shows that a majority of dental students have at least a bachelor’s degree from an undergraduate school. The most common majors include biology, chemistry, and microbiology.

• Aspiring dentists need to enroll in dental schools accredited by the American Dental Association. In order to be considered a viable applicant, students need to submit their score from the Dental Admission Test. Each exam costs $385 dollars and it is a multiple choice standardized exam taken by students in both the United States and Canada.

List of Degrees

• Dental schools either offer a degree as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a degree as a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM)

• The Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Dental Medicine programs are covered over four years of in-class courses, pre-clinical and clinical instruction, as well as lab exercises. Some of the classes that are offered are oral pathology, dental diagnosis, and dental treatment techniques.

• In the last two years of the program, the students usually complete a dental rotation

externship which takes place in a dental clinic that allows the prospective student to

engage with patients.

• Additionally, dental schools offer

specialized programs of study

for students that include courses such

as oral and maxillofacial

surgery, orthodontics, or pediatric

dentistry. These programs of

postgraduate areas of study which

means that they require an extra two

to six years to complete after dental

school.

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• Dental school graduates need to have a Doctor of Medical Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in order to be eligible for certification.

Requirements for licensing according to the American

Dental Association :

• In addition, the students must pass the two-part examination offered by the

National Board of Dental Examinations, which covers topics taught in dental

school such as dental anatomy, ethics, and patient management.

• Clinical exams are also a part of the process, and the board requires students to perform certain procedures and examinations on patients while under observation.

Becoming a Dentist

Becoming a dentist is an academically and mentally challenging process, these certifications and requirements ensure that the professionals who practice at dental clinics have the skills to be a dentist. The examinations and degrees are a necessary part of testing prospective dentists so that the students are prepared for the patients they will have to treat in the future. After completing the certification process, though, being a dentist is a very rewarding profession for the students who are able to succeed.