Major: Predentistry
"I thrill when I drill a bicuspid," sings Orin Scrivello, the leather-wearing dentist in the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Fortunately, real dentists don't share Orin's taste for causing pain. In fact, some dentists are starting to use painless lasers to root out tooth decay.
If you want to join the legions of professionals who protect teeth and gums from disease -- and keep our smiles bright -- you can start by signing up for a predentistry program.
Predentistry programs guide students as they prepare for admission into dental school.
Did You Know?
- Some universities offer combined degree programs in which you can earn both a bachelor’s degree and a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery).
Are You Ready To...?
- Get a well-rounded liberal arts education including science and math courses
- Meet with an adviser to make sure you are doing everything necessary to prepare for dental school
- Intern at a dental office or clinic
- Volunteer with a health organization -- maybe overseas
- Spend lots of time -- on top of a full course load -- preparing for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), a required element of the dental school application
- Start a DAT study group
- Join a campus club for future dentists
It Helps to Be...
Confident, steady with your hands, and good with people.
College Checklist
- Are academic advisers and career counselors actively involved in the program?
- Does the school offer challenging science courses?
- Are science labs well-equipped?
- Is there a dental school on campus?
- Are there nearby dental clinics and offices where you can intern?
- Does the school provide any review courses or other DAT preparation services?
- How many grads have gone on to dental school?
“You have to know how to deal with people, put them at ease about dental procedures, and treat them like human beings, not just sets of teeth. ”
Robin, Dentist
Course Spotlight
In a class on cell biology, you’ll learn about the basic structure and function of cells. In the classroom and the lab, you’ll study cell replication, cell communication, and organelles (the specialized parts of cells). You may look at the common yeast, in particular, learning about complex processes from this simple being.
