It could take more than eight years of education to earn a DDS or DMD degree and dental license. But that’s a good thing, because that extended education is how you know you can trust your dentist to help you keep a healthy smile.
Getting into a university’s dental program usually requires a prospective dentist to have already started college. In some cases, students graduate with a Bachelor’s degree before even beginning their years in dental college. They must also take specific classes during their undergraduate years to qualify for dental programs. These tend to include courses in English, inorganic and organic Chemistry, and other sciences. And those are just the minimum qualifications! As with any application, extra coursework and other experience will give the future dentist a boost to their acceptance chances.
After getting into their college’s dental program, the prospective dentist will spend another four years in school, this time with courses specific to dentistry, instead of the more general (but still fundamentally important) undergraduate courses. Often, this time includes on-site experience with established dentists.
Once the prospective dentist finishes dental school, getting officially licensed by the state is no small matter. At a bare minimum, they must graduate, get their DDS or DMD degree, and pass two examinations—one written and the other clinical. The state will also look into the prospective dentist as a person, including (but not limited to) a background check and an interview, to ensure the candidate’s moral character.
Getting a dental degree and license is a rigorous process, but again, that’s a good thing. It’s because of this process of education and state licensing that you know you can trust your dentist—they wouldn’t have their degree if they hadn’t earned it, and they wouldn’t have their license if they didn’t deserve it.
Appointments Before & After Work or School & on Saturdays & Sundays!
Request Online or Call Today!
Related Posts
The Truth of Washington’s Teeth
At the dawn of the United States, before modern dentistry had evolved, tooth pain could reach historic levels. Nearly every U.S. schoolchild has heard the story of George Washington and his wooden teeth. While the story has gained a level of fiction in the style of tall tales—the false teeth he had were not wooden—the […]
It’s Possible but Rare to Have Extra Teeth
Many people are used to the idea of a tooth that feels superfluous. As we enter adulthood, our wisdom teeth come in, & a good chunk of us can’t fit them into our bite, leading to these molars being pulled. But some people experience an even greater abundance of teeth called supernumerary teeth, which are […]
Teeth Tell the Story of Humanity
While they no longer help form words, ancient people’s teeth can still tell us a lot about our shared history. Through preserved teeth, anthropologists & other scientists have been able to tell how we lived, who we were & what we ate. Teeth that survive the test of time illuminate a world long past.