Dental School Application and Requirements
Opportunities exist for those entering the field of dentistry
today. As the public's awareness of the importance of dental care
increases, so does the need for both qualified general practitioners
and dental specialists. Those engaged in general practice constitute
more than 80% of the active dental population. They are concerned
with the prevention of dental disease, its diagnosis and treatment.
Among the fields of specialization in dentistry are: endodontics,
dealing with straightening of misaligned teeth; periodontics,
treatment of diseased gums and oral tissues; prosthodontics, dealing
with the replacement of missing teeth; pedodontics, limiting
practice to the treatment of children; oral surgery; oral pathology;
and dental public health.
Dental School Admissions
Furthermore, dental careers can also be fulfilling working in
education and research. Too often, dentistry is viewed as a second
choice alternative to medicine. It should not be viewed this way,
but instead as highly specialized branch of medicine. Attainment of
a degree in dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) is the result of the proper
combination of intelligence, personality, manual dexterity, hard
work, and sincere determination.
Planning a dental education is a time consuming process and,
therefore, should be started at least two years in advance of the
anticipated date of entrance into dental school. There are decisions
to be made as to what schools to apply to, tests to be taken,
applications to be completed, and financing to be planned.
Considering all this must be done while maintaining high pre-dental
academic standards, time becomes precious and organization becomes a
necessity.
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