Dental Degrees

Overview

A dental degree is essential in order to become a dentist. After acquiring the necessary qualifications, a dentist can go on to specialize in endodontic, oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology and surgery, dentofacial orthopedics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentistry. On completion of the degree, dentists must get accredited in order to obtain a license to practice.

A program in dentistry lasts four years, at the end of which the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is awarded to the student. Some universities award the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). For further specialization or advanced degrees, students can opt for Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Students undergo theoretical and practical experience during the course of their dentistry program.

Benefits

Dental hygiene is of utmost importance in our lives. Problems pertaining to teeth, when left untreated, manifest themselves as illnesses that affect other parts of our body. Thus, dental care is an essential service and will never become obsolete. This implies that dentists will be necessary in the present as well as in the future.

Dentists, unlike doctors in other specializations, can choose their working hours based on their schedule. This means that a dentist normally works four or five days a week. You can choose to work in a hospital or set up your own practice. Also, it is possible for dentists to partially continue practice even after retirement. On an average, dentists earn around $154,300 per annum.

Costs

The cost of pursuing a degree in dentistry varies from state to state. On average, a student is expected to pay about $80,000.00 for four years of study. For any further specialization, the student may have to spend around $10,000 to $21,000, depending on the area of specialization. The program duration for specialization is normally two years.

Schools

Some of the reputed schools that offer programs in dentistry include University of Florida, University of Southern California, and University of Pittsburgh.

Testing & Preparation

Students aspiring to become dentists have to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) for admission to dentistry programs. Schools generally asses a student for admission based on the DAT score, their grade point average (GPA) score, recommendations from their previous institution, and interviews conducted by them. Studying biology, chemistry, and related courses during high school and/or college is an added advantage. Students who want to study dentistry programs should have a Quality Point Average (QPA) of at least 4.0 for admission.

Financial Aid

Students admitted to dental schools are encouraged to apply for federal aid (FAFSA). Students can also borrow from Grad Loans and Dental School Loans to pay for college. The American Dental Education Association along with Johnson and Johnson Health Care Products offers Preventive Dentistry Scholarships for pre-doctoral dentist students with academic excellence.