There are two types of degrees dentists can attain: The D.D.S. and D.M.D. degrees are equivalent degrees. Which degree you attain will depend on the type of degree offered by the dental school you attend.
“Dentists are doctors who specialize in oral health. Their responsibilities include:
- Diagnosing oral diseases.
- Promoting oral health and disease prevention.
- Creating treatment plans to maintain or restore the oral health of their patients.
- Interpreting x-rays and diagnostic tests.
- Ensuring the safe administration of anesthetics.
- Monitoring growth and development of the teeth and jaws.
- Performing surgical procedures on the teeth, bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Dentists’ oversight of the clinical team is critical to ensuring safe and effective oral care. Even seemingly routine procedures such as tooth extractions, preparing and placing fillings or administering anesthetics carry potential risks of complications such as infection, temporary or even permanent nerve damage, prolonged bleeding, hematomas and pain.
More than Just Teeth and Gums
Dentists’ areas of care include not only their patients’ teeth and gums but also the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, the tongue, salivary glands, the nervous system of the head and neck and other areas. During a comprehensive exam, dentists examine the teeth and gums, but they also look for lumps, swellings, discolorations, ulcerations—any abnormality. When appropriate, they perform procedures such as biopsies, diagnostic tests for chronic or infectious diseases, salivary gland function, and screening tests for oral cancer.
In addition, dentists can spot early warning signs in the mouth that may indicate disease elsewhere in the body. Dentists’ training also enables them to recognize situations that warrant referring patients for care by dental specialists or physicians.” ADA 2021 https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/dentists-doctors-of-oral-health.
Dentists can practice in several clinical fields including general dentistry, dental public health, endodontics (dental nerves and pulp), orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics (tissue and bone supporting teeth), prosthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, and surgery.
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Academics
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Extracurriculars
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Application
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Additional Resources
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Specialty Programs
- Suggested Timeline
- Pre-Requisite Chart
- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/docs/PreHealthRequirements.pdf
- The following are UF courses required for most dental schools. Requirements vary from school to school, so it is your responsibility to check requirements of individual programs. You should check your dental schools to see if they accept online versions of any prerequisite course.
- General Chemistry: CHM2045/L and CHM2046/L or CHM2051;OR CHM2047/L (CHM2054L may be substituted for CHM2045L and CHM2046L) General Biology: BSC2010/L and BSC2011/L (BSC2044L may be substituted for BSC2010L and BSC2011L) Organic Chemistry: CHM2210 or CHM2212 and CHM2211 or CHM2213 and CHM2211L (CHM3217, CHM3218, and CHM2211L may substitute) Physics: PHY2053/L or PHY2048/L or PHY2060 and PHY2054/L or PHY2049/L or PHY2061 (PHY2064L may substitute for the other Physics labs) Biochemistry: BCH4024 or CHM3218 Microbiology: MCB3020/L or MCB3023/L English: Two semesters of any English department course. Examples are ENC1101, ENC1102, ENC3254, LIT2110) Recommended: Math: Some schools may require STA2023 or MAC2311 Genetics: PCB3063, AGR3303, or PCB4522 Anatomy and Physiology: Some schools require APK2100C and/or APK2105C (some may accept PHY4723C and/or ZOO3713C)
- The ADEA AADSAS Participating Dental Schools Required and Recommended Courses (PDF, 219 KB)
- Electives
- BCP science GPA Information- BCP GPA: All undergraduate, graduate and cumulative courses identified on transcripts as Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- UF College of Dentistry- Entering Class Stats- https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/why-ufcd/entering-class-stats/
- Research
- Dental Volunteering and Shadowing
- Healthcare Experience
- UF Health- https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/events/volunteering/
- Tacachale- https://apd.myflorida.com/ddc/tacachale/
- Dental Assisting- https://ce.dental.ufl.edu/courses/fundamentals-of-dental-assisting/
- Community Service
- Leadership/Teamwork
- Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/leadership-resources/
- Brown Center for Leadership and Service UF- https://leadershipandservice.ufl.edu/
- Student Organizations
- Gator Connect (search keyword dental) https://orgs.studentinvolvement.ufl.edu/
- Go Dental website- https://www.adea.org/GoDental/
- International Opportunities
- UF College of Dentistry- https://dental.ufl.edu/education/dmd-program/service-opportunities-international-experience/
- UF International Center- https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/
- UF Global Dental Brigades- https://fundraise.globalbrigades.org/empowered/chapter/university-of-florida-dental-chapter
- Summer Opportunities
- Events
- UF Admissions Pre-Dental programs-https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/events/ufcd-pre-dental-programs/
- UF Pre-Dental Fair-https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/events/pre-dental-fair/
- UF Pre-Dental Forum- https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/prospective-student-programs/pre-dental-forum/
- Professional Organizations
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA)- https://www.adea.org/
- CAS Websites
- AADSAS: Associated American Dental Schools Application Service- https://www.adea.org/GoDental/The_application_to_dental_school__ADEA_AADSAS.aspx
- If you plan to only apply to the three dental schools in Texas, you may instead apply through TMDSAS: Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service- https://www.tmdsas.com/
- Presentations
- Dentistry - AADSAS Application
Brittany Hoover - CLAS Asst. Director Pre-Health Advising - https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/planning-to-succeed/becoming-a-competitive-applicant/
- Dentistry - AADSAS Application
- Professional School Directory
- ADEA Dental School Explorer- https://dentalschoolexplorer.adea.org/
- Choosing Dental schools- Most students apply to 8-12 schools. You will usually have your best chance of admission at the public dental school(s) to your state of residency. You should also consider other schools that accept a reasonable number of out-of-state students.
- UF Professional School Contact
- Standardized Test Resources & Information
- DAT- https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test
- The sections of the DAT are as follows: ∙ General Biology ∙ General Chemistry ∙ Organic Chemistry ∙ Perceptual Ability ∙ Reading Comprehension ∙ Quantitative Reasoning (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc.) There is no Physics on the DAT.
- DAT Guide- https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/education/dat_examinee_guide.pdf?rev=bd7f12191ff246d48889adcd0f5b8d75&hash=3DA38971B005E45458BFF508E23115C8
- Test Prep- https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test/test-preparation
- Fee Assistance
- Applicant Guides
ADEA- https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_AADSAS_Applicant_Help_Center
- Suggested Reading
- ADA News- https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news
- Journal of Dental Education- https://www.adea.org/jdehomepage/
- Trends in Dental Education- https://www.adea.org/publications/tde/Pages/Students.aspx
- Dental Tribune- https://us.dental-tribune.com/
- Science Daily Dental News- https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/dentistry/
- Pre-Health Website- Suggested Reading- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/suggested-reading/
- Financial Assistance
- Fee Assistance Programs (Repeated)
- Scholarships
- https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Money_Matters/Financing_Options.aspx
- ASDA- https://www.asdanet.org/index/dental-student-resources/scholarships-and-repayment-plans/scholarships
- ADEA- https://www.adea.org/studentawards/
- Army HPSP scholarship- https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/health-care/amedd-scholarship.html
- UF COD- https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/financial-aid/d-m-d/scholarships-d-m-d/other-scholarship-programs/
- UF Pre-health Financial resources- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/financial-resources/
- UF SFA Scholarship Search Engine- https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/search/
- Student Financial Affairs
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BS/ DMD- BS/DMD
The BS-DMD Program is for outstanding University of Florida freshmen who know they are interested in becoming dentists and are committed to attending the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Students accepted in this program complete a BS degree and a DMD degree in 7 years, instead of 8 years.
During the first three years of this program, students enroll in a carefully sequenced series of courses to meet both their undergraduate University of Florida baccalaureate degree requirements and the College of Dentistry’s admissions requirements. Students who are admitted into this program will choose a major in either Microbiology and Cell Science or Nutritional Sciences within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. See the CALS Pre-health Advising Information.
During what would have been the senior year of college, BS-DMD Program students enter the freshman class at the College of Dentistry. An ADEA AADSAS application is not required. Credits from the dental program are transferred back to the undergraduate college to complete the baccalaureate degree requirements. Approved students spend a minimum of 90 hours in the bachelor’s program and four years in the dental program.
If you are still in high school: please review this material carefully for your future, but do not apply until the end of your freshman year at the University of Florida.
Please refer to the UF College of Dentistry for more information. https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/d-m-d/combined-programs/b-s-d-m-d/
Contact email- DMDAdmissions@dental.ufl.edu