Pre-Dentistry at
Penn State Behrend
SC 201: Fall, 2013
What Is Dentistry?
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Diagnoses and treats diseases of the teeth and their
supporting tissues, the tongue, lips, and jaws.
Restores teeth damaged by decay or trauma.
Replaces missing teeth with artificial materials.
Carries out cosmetic procedures to improve a client’s
appearance.
Performs corrective surgery on the jaws and
supporting tissues.
Straightens teeth.
Performs oral hygiene procedures and provides
instructions to clients.
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
Dental public health: Dental public health is involved in the
assessment of dental health needs and improving the dental
health of populations rather than individuals
Recent controversies:
• Fluoridation of drinking water
• Linking of commercial mouthwashes to an increased
risk of oral cancer
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
Pediatrics: Pediatric dentists are
dedicated to the oral health of
children from infancy through the
teen years.
Children are not just small adults.
They are not always able to be
patient and cooperative during a
dental exam. Pediatric dentists know
how to examine and treat children in
ways that make them comfortable. In
addition, pediatric dentists use
specially designed equipment in
offices that are arranged and
decorated with children in mind.
http://www.aapd.org
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
Endodontics: concerned with the
study and treatment of the dental
pulp.
Endodontists perform a variety of
procedures including endodontic
therapy ("root canal therapy"),
endodontic retreatment, surgery,
treating cracked teeth, and treating
dental trauma.
https://www.aae.org
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
Oral and maxillofacial pathology: the
dental specialty that identifies and
manages diseases affecting the oral and
maxillofacial regions and investigates the
causes, processes and effects of these
diseases. Includes treatment of
congenital, infectious, Inflammatory
diseases or oral cancers.
http://www.aaomp.org
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
Oral and maxillofacial surgery: the surgical
specialists of the dental profession; specialize
in office anesthesia and procedures for:
• Dentoalveolar Surgery
• Preprosthetic Surgery/Dental Implants
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Oro-Facial Deformities
• Corrective Jaw Surgery - Congenital
Reconstruction
• Snoring/Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Cosmetic Surgery
http://www.aaoms.org/
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
Orthodontics: concerned with the study and treatment of
malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of
tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or
both. Orthodontic treatment can focus on dental
displacement only, or can deal with the control and
modification of facial growth (dentofacial orthopaedics).
http://www.mylifemysmile.org
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
• Periodontics: A periodontist is a dentist
who specializes in the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal
disease, and in the placement of dental
implants, oral inflammation and
cosmetic procedures as pertaining to
the supporting tissues around the teeth.
http://www.perio.org
What Are The Areas of Specialization?
• Prosthodontics: specialty pertaining to the diagnosis,
treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of
the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of
patients with clinical conditions associated with missing
or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues
using biocompatible substitutes
http://www.prosthodontics.org
What Are the Job Prospects?
US News and World Report
No. 1 — Dentist
• Our smile is their fortune. The profession should grow
21.1% by 2020.
• Median Salary: $142,740
To see the complete list of 100 best jobs: usnews.com/100bestjobs
What Are the Job Prospects?
Why?
• Employment of dentists is not expected to keep pace
with the increased demand for dental services.
• Still areas of the country where patients have little
access to dental care.
• People with new or expanded dental insurance
coverage will be more likely to visit a dentist than in the
past.
• Cosmetic dental services, such as teeth-whitening
treatments, will become increasingly popular. This trend
is expected to continue as new technologies allow for
less invasive, faster procedures.
Reasons to Choose Dentistry?
Ten Great Reasons to Be a Dentist
1. Service to Others: Help people maintain and improve
their oral health, quality of life and appearance
2. Balanced Lifestyle: Dentistry offers flexibility to balance
professional and personal life
3. Empower Your Patients: Give patients smiles they are
proud to wear
4. Technology and Research: Be involved with the scientific
advancement of dentistry
Reasons to Choose Dentistry?
5. Be a Leader: Earn respect from your family, friends and
community
6. Prevention/Education: Be an educator on oral health
importance
7. Detect Disease: Treat oral health and detect disease –
including cancer and cardiovascular
8. Be Creative: Use your artistic and scientific talents
9. Success Potential: With the aging population and
increase in access to care, the demand and need for
dentistry is on the rise
10. Self-Employment: Own a dental practice and be your
own boss
Preparing for Dental School
Freshman/Sophomore Years
• Work with your Pre-health Professions
Advisor to plan courses and
experiences that will help you to
prepare to apply to dental school.
• Begin to complete Chemistry, Biology,
Physics and Organic Chemistry
requirements
• Join a dental-related student
organization to get exposure to the
dental profession
• Consider job shadowing and/or
volunteer experience
• Consider alternative career plans
• Attend health-related career fairs
Preparing for Dental School
Mentoring Program
• Would you like to talk with a dentist in
your community, ask questions and
possibly observe first-hand (job
shadow) a dental professional at work?
Mentors can help you understand
dentistry from the other side of the
chair and provide guidance about
pursuing dentistry as a career.
Ask your local dental society for help.
Join American Student Dental Association
(ASDA)!!!
Preparing for Dental School
Junior Year
• Complete requirements by end of 2nd
semester
• Prepare and take the DAT (ADA.org/DAT)
• Apply for admission at least a year in
advance
• Review dental school catalogs and/or
websites such as:
• Official Guide to Dental Schools at
adea.org
• ASDA Handbook: A Resource for Predental
Students at ASDAnet.org • Dental School
Listing link at ADA.org/students
• Gather letters of evaluation from faculty
and others
Preparing for Dental School
Senior Year
• Take advantage of “mock” interview
practice with advisory staff before dental
school admission interviews
• Complete forms for financial aid
• Send thank you notes to evaluators and
mentors
Statistics of Success
American Dental Association
• Use the resources for prospective dentists!!!
Statistics of Success
Coursework:
• Prerequisites
• Students should contact the programs they are applying to!
• 8 hours Biology with lab
• 8 hours Physics
• 8 hours English
• 8 hours General Chemistry with lab
• 8 hours Organic Chemistry with lab
• Majoring in science is not a must, but completion of predental
science requirements is necessary.
• A college undergraduate degree is recommended in preparation for
dental school. Most dental students have completed four years of
college.
Statistics of Success
Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
• Take the DAT at least a year prior
to seeking admission to dental
school.
• This computerized test measures
general academic ability,
comprehension of scientific
information and perceptual ability.
• Completion of at least one year of
college level courses in biology
and general and organic chemistry
is recommended before taking the
DAT.
Statistics of Success
Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
• Make sure you get the guide from
the ADA
• http://www.ada.org/sections/edu
cationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_exami
nee_guide.pdf
• Take sample exams!
Statistics of Success
Benchmarks:
• Competitive GPA: 3.3 or better
• Minimum 17 on DAT
• 100 hours of observation or work experience in dental
settings
• Demonstrated capacity for manual dexterity
• Strong recommendation(s)
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent coursework
LECOM School of Dental Medicine
College of Medicine
School of Pharmacy
School of Dental Medicine
Dental Admissions Facts
BRADENTON c/o 2016
TOTAL APPLICATIONS
2590
SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATIONS
2236
INTERVIEWS
583
SEATS AVAILABLE
100
College of Medicine
School of Pharmacy
School of Dental Medicine
Dental School
Student Profile - Class of 2016
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Average Total GPA
Average Science GPA
Average Non-Science GPA
Average Total DAT
Average Age
Male/Female
In/Out of State
College of Medicine
School of Pharmacy
3.42
3.27
3.66
19
24
43/57
49/51
School of Dental Medicine
Dental School
Tuition- Class of 2016
First Year
Fees
College of Medicine
$ 48,000
$
850
School of Pharmacy
School of Dental Medicine
Dental School
Choosing!
There are over 50 dental schools in the United States accredited by
the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Each
program is rigorously evaluated for its content and quality. Typically,
DDS/DMD programs take four years to complete with an additional
years for dental specialties like Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and
Pediatric Dentistry.
Admission to dental school is highly competitive, but the application
process has never been easier. Most U.S. dental schools accept a
single online application through the American Association of Dental
Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
Application Process
Associated American Dental Schools Application Service
(AADSAS)
• https://portal.aadsasweb.org/aadsas20xx/
• Opens ~ May 15
• http://www.adea.org/AADSAS/ for thorough instructions
• Deadline depends on the school. Varies from Sept. 15-Feb. 1..
Information is also on http://www.adea.org/AADSAS/
• OR you can purchase “ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools, for
students entering fall 20xx” $35.00..
Application Process
AADSAS
• Before you begin, think about what makes you a unique candidate, why
you are interested and passionate about dentistry, what experiences
and lessons you have learned that have helped you grow as an
individual.
• Awards/ Honors/ Scholarship
• Dentistry Experience
• Name of Supervisor, Position Title, Brief Description, Total number of hours,
Position Type, Start Date, End Date
• Extracurricular/Volunteer/Community Service
• Research Experience
• Work Experience
Remember to estimate your hours honestly and make sure you are able
to talk thoroughly about anything you have written on your application
AADSAS
• Biographic Information (DOB, address, etc.)
• Parent and Family Information (Parents’ education, address, etc.)
• Background Information (600 characters per question, including spaces,
as well as some yes/ no questions). This is your opportunity to describe
other aspects of yourself and your interests, as well as report any legal
or academic discipline on your record.
AADSAS
There are a variety of questions but these are some:
• Describe any activities requiring manual dexterity (e.g. activities
requiring hand-eye coordination such as cross-stitching, sewing, art,
crafts, playing musical instruments, auto repair, etc.) at which you
are proficient.
• List any supplemental academic enrichment programs and/or postbaccalaureate programs in which you have participated to enhance
your preparation for dental school. : summer academic enrichment
programs; DAT preparation courses and post-baccalaureate
programs. Provide the name of the program, a brief description,
and total hours of participation, and dates of experience(s).
• Has your education ever been interrupted or affected adversely
for reasons other than deficiencies in conduct or academic
performance?
• Have you previously, or are you currently applying to a health
profession school other than dental school?
AADSAS
• Secondary (High) School Information
• DAT Scores
• Colleges Attended (Transcript Matching Form)
• Coursework/Transcripts: Tedious and time consuming!
• Enter in every course taken or plan to take EXACTLY as they appear on
your transcripts:
• AADSAS will verify your transcripts. You can send your transcript online
or by yourself.
• Make sure you are check to see if AADSAS has received your
transcripts.
AADSAS
• Extracurricular
• Dentistry Experience
• Work Experience (Including Military Experience)
• Awards, Honors, Scholarships
• Research Experience
Limited to 175 characters, including spaces, detailing your duties/
experiences. PI, supervisors names requires, and hours spent.
AADSAS
Personal Statement
• Very important part of the application.
•
• Follow the prompt!
• Your Personal Statement should address why you desire to pursue a
dental education and how a dental degree contributes to your
personal and professional goals.
• You are limited to approximately 1 page (4500 characters, including
spaces).
• Write it in a word processor such as Word or Notepad and copy and
paste the final version into the text box in AADSAS.
• Have your personal statement edited!!!
AADSAS
Letters of Recommendation
• Most schools want 3
• You may want to collect 4 (AADSAS currently says this is their max):
• Science Professor: Someone who can evaluate your academic and
intellectual qualifications. Unless specified by the school, the type
of science professor should not matter, as long as they can write you
a STRONG letter.
• Dentist: Someone who can evaluate your knowledge and motivation
toward the dental profession.
• Character: Someone who can indicate your contribution to humanity
and community.
***Check individual schools to be sure your LORs meet their
requirements. If sending additional letters (i.e. 4 instead of 3) call to
make sure additional letters are accepted***
AADSAS
• Examine the AADSAS site for yourself thoroughly
• Do not underestimate how long AADSAS will take in processing your
information
• Once you have SUBMITTED, you can not change your application
EXCEPT for the LOR and DAT section
• Continually check back with your application to see if letters and
transcripts have been received
• You can submit your application before you take your DAT
• Remember, you’ll have a lot of secondary applications to fill out once
you’re done with AADSAS!
Dental School
Choosing!
There are over 50 dental schools in the United States accredited by
the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Each
program is rigorously evaluated for its content and quality. Typically,
DDS/DMD programs take four years to complete with an additional
years for dental specialties like Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and
Pediatric Dentistry.
Admission to dental school is highly competitive, but the application
process has never been easier. Most U.S. dental schools accept a
single online application through the American Association of Dental
Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
Dental School Curriculum
Earning a doctoral degree in dentistry usually requires four
academic years of study. Dental schools award the degree of
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine
(DMD).
Years One and Two
• Classroom and laboratory instruction in basic health sciences
(including anatomy, biochemistry, histology, microbiology,
pharmacology and physiology), with an emphasis on dental
aspects
• Basic principles of oral diagnosis and treatment, may practice on
manikins and models, and may begin treating patients later in
the second year
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (First Year Student)
• 7:15 a.m. I use two alarms to wake up—the alarm on my phone and a machine
that shakes my pillow until I turn it off! I shower, swallow my daily vitamins and
eat a breakfast bar. I can walk to class in seven minutes—I’ve timed it!
• 8:00 a.m. The lectures start at 8:00 a.m. and we have another class from 10:00
until noon. We get a five or 10 minute break every hour, but it’s a lot of sitting.
This morning’s class is Radiology. Today we’re covering the radiographic
presentations of various bone lesions. I love this class because reading
radiographs is a practical skill and it feels like I am really developing my
diagnostic ability.
• 10:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m. today we have an EME (End Module Exam) for our
Integrated Medical Sciences (IMS) course. This class is system-based, which
really meshes well with my style of learning. For example, the module we’re
completing today is on the nervous system. Rather than studying the histology
of many systems at once (e.g. nervous, cardiac etc…) in IMS we’ll cover the
anatomy, histology, physiology and pathology of the nervous system all at once,
so you can see how everything is integrated. There’s a ton of material on this
exam and I’ve been preparing for weeks- I’ll be so relieved when it’s over!
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (First Year Student)
• 12:00 Noon We have an hour for lunch each day. Sometimes we’ll gather at
somebody’s house near campus and order pizza, but other times I just buy my
lunch and squeeze in some extra studying if I have an exam coming up. Today
I’m just sitting around with some of my friends and relaxing after our tough
exam earlier this morning!
• 1:00 p.m. Pre-clinic is my favorite part of the day! Even putting on the mask
and gloves makes me feel like I’m becoming a dentist. We have a lot of skills to
master before we do even simple procedures on patients. For the past week we
have been waxing up #21. You really have to master the tooth’s anatomy and
be able to translate those details artistically as you sculpt the wax. I loved
building model planes as a kid, so I think that really helped develop my manual
dexterity; but these assignments can be challenging if you haven’t worked on
tedious projects with your hands.
• 5:00 p.m. I’m in a bowling league with other grad students—some of us are in
medicine but we’ve also got law and social work students—it’s one of the
highlights of my week!
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (First Year Student)
• 8:00 p.m. to Midnight If I have pre-clinic the following day, I’ll go back to the
lab and continue work on waxing up so that I can present a final product for my
instructor tomorrow. Otherwise I’ll go home and study for three or four hours.
My first semester I tried to reserve weekends for fun, but the workload is too
heavy for that this semester.
• “I think it’s important for students to know what they’re getting into when they
enroll in dental school—that’s why I’m a student mentor for someone who’s
still in college, but is considering dental school. My undergraduate mentee has
come a few times this year to shadow me and hang out, and I’m sure she’ll be
back once or twice in the fall. I shadowed dentists myself—it’s how I knew I
wanted to become a dentist!”
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Second Year Student)
• 7:00 a.m. I wake up in time for my 8:00 a.m. class. Unless I know there is a quiz
or an exam and I want a last-minute review of my notes—then I’ve been known
to get up as early as 6:00 a.m. (ugh!)
• 8:00 a.m. Every day of the week is different. On Friday mornings we study local
anesthesia—the different options, and how to choose what works best for a
particular situation.
• 9:00 a.m. My second class of the day is perio (periodontology) which is
basically teeth and everything around them, like gums. We go over periodontal
disease, and also prevention. When most folks think about visiting the dentist,
they are thinking about the topics we cover in perio class!
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Second Year Student)
• 11:00 a.m. My third class on Fridays is systemic pathology. We’ll focus on a
single system in the body, like the digestive system or respiratory, and the ways
that oral health is connected to those systems. I chose dentistry because I’m
interested in health care, and this class is a reminder that dentists care about
patients, not just mouths!
• Noon Lunch hour! Alton is a small town so it’s easy to run home for lunch, but
it’s more likely that I’ll go to the lab to continue whatever project I’m working
on. The lab work is all so new— the first day they gave each of us a huge box
with all these tools and it was a little intimidating. I’m more comfortable now.
• The great thing about lab work is that it takes all the material that we’ve been
reading about and puts it into action—I like being able to see results. The rough
thing about lab work is the learning curve. It might take me five times to try
something that someone else gets right away. Then the next project could be
the opposite.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Second Year Student)
• 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. On Friday afternoons, we have local anesthesia lab. Basically
it means that when someone needs to get numbed up, we do the injections. I
won’t be doing any procedures until the summer between my second and third
year, but I’m getting pretty good at giving the shots!
• 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The labs at my school stay open until 10 p.m., so I
might go back there if I’m still in the middle of a project. Otherwise, I go back
home to study.
“There’s no class on the weekends, but I still have so much to do. It seems like my
friends who aren’t in dental school have a lot more free time than I do. I miss out
on a lot right now—like I couldn’t go to a friend’s bachelorette party because it
was on a bad weekend and I couldn’t take that much time away.”
“Everyone says that the second year is the hardest, and so far I agree! I got into
dentistry because I want a career in healthcare with a work life balance. And I
think that will be true—after I’m done with dental school!”
Dental School Curriculum
Earning a doctoral degree in dentistry usually requires four
academic years of study. Dental schools award the degree of
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine
(DMD).
Years Three and Four
• Students treat patients under the supervision of licensed dental
faculty. Procedures cover the broad scope of general dentistry
and include opportunities to work in a variety of settings, e.g.,
community clinics, hospitals and outpatient clinics.
• Practice management courses include instruction in effective
communication skills, the use of allied dental personnel and
business management.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Third Year Student)
• 6:30 a.m. The alarm goes off and I start the day with cold cereal in front of
Saved by the Bell. My best friend catches the bus a few stops before my
apartment, so she calls to let me know it’s time to run downstairs. Lots of
students walk or take the bus in Philly—parking is a hassle!
• 8:00 a.m. We rotate through different classes. Today I have geriatrics—caring
for the oral health of older patients. This week we are working on a group
project—analyzing a hypothetical patient, looking at pictures, reading the
medical history. We’ll propose three different treatment plans, detail the pros
and cons of each approach, and then present the case for the rest of the class.
• 9:30 a.m. I race to clinic to get ready for my 10 a.m. patient. I’ve ordered all my
supplies the night before, so those are waiting for me in my locker, but if
something is missing, I have to track it down. We have a morning huddle—eight
other students and our instructor—to discuss our patients for the day.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Third Year Student)
• 10:00 a.m. Instructors are in the clinic the whole time, but they aren’t by my
side every moment—they check in at each phase of the treatment. So for
example, I’ll drill a prep, then have it checked, fill the prep, then have it
checked again, polish, then have it checked. It could take three hours to
complete a filling!
• 1:00 p.m. Officially lunch is between 1 and 2, but realistically I eat a salad for
thirty minutes, then set up for my afternoon patient. While I’m eating I look
over my schedule. Even though I have a Blackberry, I still use a paper planner—I
like crossing things off.
• 2:00 p.m. Time for afternoon clinic. After taking an impression of my patient’s
prepared tooth, and fabricating an acrylic shell, I’m carving the temporary
crown chairside. It’s almost like making a sculpture on-the-spot, shaping the
acrylic so that it looks and functions just like a natural tooth. Dentistry isn’t just
science, it’s also an art.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Third Year Student)
• 5:00 p.m. Once I’m home I definitely need half-an-hour in front of the TV. Then
I either go for a run or hit the gym. I’m not one of those people who loves
exercising, but it helps me stay in balance.
• 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. I’m lucky—friends of mine from undergrad live in my
building, so we take turns going to each other’s apartment to fix dinner. We’re
all in some kind of grad school, so we live on a budget.
“If I have clinic the next day, I call my patients the night before to remind them of
their appointments. If I’m proposing a complex treatment plan, I write up all the
options—it’s easier for patients to decide when they see choices on paper. There
are fewer tests in third year, so I don’t study as much, but I’m applying to a
residency in Orthodontics, and that takes up a lot of my free time.”
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Fourth Year Student)
• 6:30 a.m. Alarm goes off and I’m ready for another day of dentistry. I try to eat
healthy, so I usually eat a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast. If there’s anything
unusual about the procedures I have scheduled today, I may look over my notes
one last time or get to school extra early to ask for additional guidance from
faculty. It took me awhile to learn the time management skills required for
dental school—but now I’ve got a system that works! It’s really important to
stay organized.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Fourth Year Student)
• 8:30 a.m. I live close by, so I walk to school which takes only about 10 minutes.
Most days, I try to get to school a little early, so that I can review my day using
the patient scheduling software at school and also check my ADA Appointment
Book for any meetings that I might have that day. Each Tuesday morning I run
by the Starbucks® in the hospital and head to class. The 4th years at my school
attend class instead of clinic on Tuesday mornings. One class in particular is
more of a discussion than a lecture. We talk about treatment plans or
participate in a peer-learning activity, like listening to a presentation from a
classmate. During the second semester, that Tuesday morning is open time… I
spent many Tuesdays preparing for licensure boards. The rest of the
week,during second semester, I see patients and attend an 8:00 am lecture on
esthetics once a week.
• 9 a.m. I see my first patient of the day. Each appointment is scheduled for three
hours, but as you become more comfortable and skilled, you can finish one
procedure in a shorter amount of time and move onto something else, such as
lab work.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Fourth Year Student)
• 10 a.m. I’m still working on my first patient. One of things that I love about
dentistry is that it’s a different type of work every day—every day is challenge,
every day is new, everyday is exciting. For example, let’s say I am scheduled to
do a crown prep on a tooth, but when I greet the patient he is complaining
about intense pain on biting. I then try to diagnose this new problem and
make sure the crown is the correct treatment. I may take a radiograph and
discover that the tooth is fractured at the root, which means that I will now
have to extract the tooth and rework the treatment plan.
• 11 a.m. If I have an appointment that doesn’t go as planned, I may signal a
faculty to give me some additional guidance. Generally the faculty is around for
certain check points during the procedure. It’s really helpful to have the faculty
available whenever you need them. They will stay late or come in early to walk
you through any procedures you’re not comfortable with yet. I’m very lucky—
the faculty at MUSC is amazing! If I finish a procedure before lunch, I usually do
lab work or review my charts for the next day.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Fourth Year Student)
• Noon I usually eat lunch with my friends in the “4th floor lounge” at my school.
There are several big tables and a pretty wide mix of people from my class. We
talk about what procedures we have scheduled that day and what happened
that morning—tell stories, share experiences. Talking things out with my dental
school peers really helps me stay sane and manage stress. It’s comforting to be
surrounded by people who understand and can listen … and you can do the
same for them. As the year went on, I would cut lunch short, so I could go
practice for boards on the mannequins.
• 1 p.m. Back to clinic for my second patient of the day. This appointment should
go smoothly and I hope to finish early.
• 3 p.m. In 4th year, you spend a lot of time “jumping hurdles.” You go from
working on a patient to practicing prepping crowns or other procedures and
preparing for your next block rotation and boards. At our school, we rotate to
certain areas for a week at a time, like pediatrics or oral surgery. Also, I may talk
with a faculty member about a specific procedure, for instance, especially if I
have a patient scheduled for something challenging like a perio surgery
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Fourth Year Student)
• 4 p.m. In January and February, I spend time searching for patients and
practicing for my licensing exam coming up in March. At our school, we take
our NBDE Part II first semester and the licensing boards in the spring. The
licensing exam has both a written computerized portion and a patient portion,
and it’s really challenging to find the patients with the exact lesions you need.
The 4th year students in my class at MUSC decided to alternate screening
patients from the local community who were in need of dental care. We all sign
up to staff the clinic with a faculty member present for a couple hours in the
evening during the months of January, February, and March, while we are
looking for board patients. When we screen a patient who fits a requirement,
we enter the case into a pool (with the patient’s consent)and then we have a
lottery to determine which student gets matched up with which patient. The
path to licensure is a seriously intense experience. It’s really expensive to take
the boards, so there’s a lot of pressure to pass—it’s a lot of pressure in general.
Dental School Curriculum
A Day in the Life (Fourth Year Student)
• 6 p.m. I decide to skip the gym and just head home. It’s difficult to have a
regular exercise routine in dental school, so you just go when you can and be
happy with that! I heat up some leftovers and spend about an hour sending
ASDA e-mails. I am the ASDA chair for the legislative grassroots network, which
means I lead student efforts to monitor and affect change in legislation related
to dentistry. We inform students of important legislation and coordinate
legislative events for students from all over the country.
• 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. I need some quiet time to clear my head and let go of the
day’s stress—I may decid to watch some TV or just relax. You can’t let
everything that happened during the day prevent you from unwinding. And
even though your life is dental school, there are ways to keep a balance. Our
school holds a lot of charity events, sporting or social activities. I went to a
silent auction and wine tasting put on by the American Association of Women
Dentists—it was fun and helps to take your mind off of everything.
Dental School Curriculum
Getting a License
All states require dentists to be licensed to practice. In most states,
a candidate must graduate from a U. S. dental school accredited by
the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation and pass written and
practical examinations to qualify for licensure.