Academic and Career Information
Updated July 2024
Nature of the Work, Earnings and Occupational Outlook
Dentistry is a branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to maintaining the health of the teeth, gum, and other hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and adjacent structures. Dentistry required diagnostic ability and manual skills. The United States Department of Labor Statistics reports that in 2023, dentists held about 155,000 active jobs in the United States (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024). Dentists should have a good visual memory, excellent judgment of space and shape, a high degree of manual dexterity, and scientific ability. Good business sense, self-discipline, and communication skills are helpful for success in private practice.
The average net income for dentists in private practice in 2023 was $218,710 for general dentists and $345,860 for specialists (American Dental Association, 2024). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average annual income for general dentists is $191,750. Employment of dentists is expected to grow 4% from 2022-2032. About 5,100 openings for dentists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024).
Clinical Fields or Specialties in Dentistry
- General Dentistry: uses oral diagnostic, preventive, surgical, and rehabilitative skills to restore damaged or missing tooth structure and treat diseases of the bone and soft tissue in the mouth and adjacent structure.
- Dental Public Health: treats the community rather than the individual patient.
- Endodontics: deals with diseases of the pulp and other dental tissues.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: studies and researches the causes, processes, and effects of diseases with oral manifestations.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: takes and interprets conventional, digital, CT, MRI, and allied imaging modalities of oral-facial structures and diseases.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: deals with diseases, injuries, and defects of the neck, head, jaw, and associated structures.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: treats problems related to irregular dental development, missing teeth, and other abnormalities.
- Pediatric Dentistry: treats children, adolescents and young adults whose dental development is not complete.
- Periodontics: treats diseases that affect the oral mucous membranes that surround and support the teeth.
- Prosthodontics: replaces missing natural teeth with fixed or removable substitutes.
(See the American Dental Education Association: Official Guide to Dental Schools, 2014 for more information).
Pre-Dental Preparation
Most schools require a minimum of 2 years of undergraduate education (also called “pre-dental education”). However, most dental students have at least a bachelor’s degree, and a few have graduate degrees. According to ADEA: Official Guide to Dental Schools, of all the United States students entering dental schools, more than 90% had completed 4 or more years of college, and about 6.3% had graduate training. When selecting students, schools consider scores earned on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), the applicants’ grade point average, and information gathered through recommendations and interviews.
Aside from prerequisite courses, it is recommended that students engage in extracurricular activities such as volunteering in a dental setting and community service. Pre-dental students should be able to demonstrate their potential for independent critical thought, leadership, concern for others, and an understanding of the dental profession. Additionally, pre-dental students should work at developing and/or improving manual dexterity and eye-hand-coordination.
For the fall 2020 entering class, about 57% of applicants were accepted to dental school (10,965 applicants and 6,257 enrollees). Also in 2020, the mean GPA for accepted students to U.S. dental schools was 3.44 (Total) and 3.32 (Science) (ADEA: Official guide to Dental Schools, 2021). The average 2020 DAT test score was 22.4.
Major
Any major is appropriate for dental school preparation. While a science major requires many of the same basic prerequisites, selecting a science major is not required for admission to any dental school. Students are advised to select a major they find interesting and to work at developing a broad-based, interdisciplinary foundation of knowledge and skills from which they can build upon.
Other Factors That Can Make You a More Competitive Applicant
- Become involved in pre-dental or pre-health student organizations. If none exist, consider starting a local chapter.
- Demonstrate your leadership by organizing a project, working with others, and achieving a goal.
- Shadow a practicing dentist and volunteer at community health clinics.
- Become involved in a research project (does not have to be dentistry-related). Find an experience that helps you develop critical thinking skills.
- Become informed about health care issues, legislation impacting health care, and access-to-care issues.
- Get acquainted with faculty and advisors (you will eventually be asking for letters of recommendation).
- Request letters of recommendation early and apply early.
- Make sure your social media profiles are either private or are very professional.
- Proof read your application.
- Make sure the personal statement is well written and original.
Also, the American Dental Education Association provides a tip sheet on applying to dental school.
Dental Education
The American Dental Education Association indicates that there are 70 dental schools in the United States (7 in California). Most dental schools award the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.). The rest award an equivalent degree, Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.). Dental school is usually 4 academic years. Studies begin with classroom instruction and laboratory work in basic sciences including anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and physiology. Beginning courses in clinical sciences, including laboratory techniques, are also provided at this time. During the last 2 years, students treat patients, usually in dental clinics, under the supervision of licensed dentists. All 50 States and the District of Columbia require dentists to be licensed. In most states, a candidate must graduate from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, and pass written and practical examinations to qualify for a license. A degree in dentistry can lead to dental careers in a variety of settings including, academic dentistry, general dentistry (private or group practice), dental specialties, dental research, and public policy, international health, and government/military.
Dental Admission Test
All United States dental schools require applicants to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The American Dental Association states that successful participation in the Dental Admission Test Program requires completion of at least one year of collegiate education (courses in Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry). The DAT is entirely multiple choice and consists of 4 separate sections:
- Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry)
- Perceptual Ability (Three-dimensional manipulation and spatial reasoning problem-solving)
- Reading Comprehension (Three academic essays followed by comprehension questions)
- Quantitative Reasoning (Mathematical problems in algebra, numerical calculations, conversions, trigonometric identities, etc.)
Schools vary in their emphasis on the different parts of the test. The DAT is administered on the computer almost any day of the year. Applicants should register to take the DAT at least one month before the intended test date, and at least one year prior to when they hope to enter dental school.
Application
The Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) is a centralized application service sponsored by American Dental Education Association (ADEA). This web-based service is required of all students applying to dental schools located in the United States and Puerto Rico. AADSAS simplifies the application process by allowing applicants to complete only one application form. AADSAS then sends the applicant’s information in a standardized format to the dental schools that the applicant listed on the AADSAS application. Note that Canadian dental schools require direct applications. For more information about dental schools, visit Go Dental
Course Requirements
Prerequisite admission requirements vary from school to school. For the specific requirements at individual dental schools, refer to ADEA: Official Guide to Dental Schools available in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) website.
Listed below are the prerequisite admission requirements for most U. S. Dental schools.
This is NOT a comprehensive list of prerequisites for all programs. Students maintain responsibility for verifying course selection with individual programs.
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) provides a prerequisite course requirement guide for dental schools in the United States; however, students should still visit each individual dental school’s website to confirm information. Below are some local dental schools in California and their requirements.