What are the classes needed for a denist?

Answer 1

The requirements for being a Dentist is: Before applying to dental school, you'll first need to complete an accredited, 4-year bachelor's degree program. The curriculum generally includes both general education and major coursework. Once you make the decision to become a dentist, you can major in a science-related field to meet the coursework requirements for admittance to an approved dental school. Alternatively, some schools may offer a pre-dental curriculum for you to enroll in. Your program of study may focus on such classes as Biology, organic chemistry, physics, calculus, physiology and human genetics.

You'll take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) after you've earned your bachelor's degree to ensure you're prepared for dental school training. Your dental school should be fully accredited by the American Dental Association's (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Dental school usually lasts four years, and it leads to a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. A DDS and a DMD are equivalent and meet the same curriculum requirements, according to the ADA (www.ada.org).

Individuals do not need to have a bachelor's degree to qualify for dental school, although according to the American Dental Association (ADA), a large majority of dental students have earned a bachelor's (www.ada.org). Additionally, many students obtaining a dentistry education have a degree in a completely unrelated field.

Dental schools do have college-level prerequisites, however. Students are expected to take courses in subjects such as organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, physics and English. Some colleges offer pre-dental programs designed to provide the necessary foundational classes for entry into dental school. The minimum required semesters and GPA for admission vary by school.

Before applying to dental school, students must also take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). The DAT is 280 multiple-choice questions spread across four sections: natural sciences, reading comprehension, perceptual ability and quantitative reasoning. Study guides and applications can be found at the ADA's website.