A doctorate in dentistry is the highest general dentistry degree in the U.S. UU. Dental schools award a doctorate in dental medicine (DMD) or a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) to graduates. The titles Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) differ only in name.
Both prepare you to practice as a general dentist. In these programs, you'll study dental anatomy and nutrition. You will also explore oral disease prevention procedures and dental operations. You will gain general knowledge of oral and maxillofacial radiology and pathology, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics and orthodontics.
Dentistry is an essential component of oral health care, ranging from the treatment of gum disease to the use of braces for adolescents and adults. If you get the right education, you can enter many different dental careers, which extend to dental hygienists, dental laboratory technicians, and dental assistants. While there are comprehensive educational requirements that you must meet if you want to become a dentist, the only undergraduate requirement is to obtain some type of college degree before enrolling in a four-year dental program. Explore our featured online programs to find the right fit for you today.
Upon completing your studies for this degree, you will also be charged with taking pre-dental courses to help you with your studies and ensure that you are fully prepared for dental school. While it's possible to enroll in just about any degree program when you want to become a dentist, there are some degrees that are more beneficial than others and will help prepare you for a career as a dentist. Below are ten of the best undergraduate degrees available to individuals who want to pursue a career in dentistry. Biochemistry is a university degree and an area of study that is very popular among students who want to pursue a career in dentistry.
Some of the main courses taken during a degree in biochemistry include biology, calculus, physics, and chemistry. The subject you learn will prepare you for careers in the medical and pharmaceutical industries while providing you with a wide variety of useful laboratory skills. A degree in biochemistry will help you in your search for a career in dentistry because every dentist must have a strong knowledge of biochemistry for their job. All dentists must understand the molecular physiology of the body, as well as the viruses and bacteria that live in it.
Dental health can affect the health of the rest of a person's body, so biochemistry is essential. Even students who don't earn a degree in biochemistry should take courses on the subject during their undergraduate studies. While earning a degree in biochemistry, you will be provided with knowledge about the role that biochemistry plays in dentistry, which focuses mainly on specific dental problems. For example, it is necessary to understand biochemistry to better understand the formation of tooth decay and dental plaque.
Biochemistry also plays a key role in the advancement of diagnostic techniques and research in dentistry. These developments are happening at a rapid pace. Students who earn a degree in biochemistry must gain extensive experience working in state-of-the-art laboratories, which can prepare them for a career in dentistry. Students who are interested in starting a career in the field of physical research usually pursue a degree in Physics.
However, anyone who wants to become a dentist must take at least two semesters of physics courses. While it's possible to take physics courses with another degree, a degree in physics opens up numerous professional careers that you might want to have access to. Physics is a very complicated subject that will prepare you for dental school. While a physics degree may not be necessary for some careers in the field of dentistry, physics has a lot to do with dentistry.
Oral surgery instruments, x-rays, and lasers are based on many of the principles you'll study during your physics classes. Many of the tools a dentist uses are based on the principles of torsion and levers. Some of the more complicated aspects of dentistry require at least a basic understanding of the principles of physics. A bachelor's degree in molecular biology is a complex degree that involves an interdisciplinary science.
Molecular biology combines aspects of science such as genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and biophysics. Therefore, the many courses you take during this degree program will focus on the four subjects mentioned above, as well as on mathematics, computer science, and chemistry. Many of the principles that are covered in the courses taught in this degree program are an integral part of modern advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology. If you want to obtain a degree in molecular biology, it is highly recommended that you are interested in the sciences.
Many students who enroll in a molecular biology degree program choose to specialize in neurobiology, cell biology, or microbiology. Students who graduate with a B, S. In Molecular Biology, you will normally pursue a career in biomedical sciences. Molecular biology is an essential component of dentistry that allows dentists to better understand the diseases and health conditions they treat.
Since molecular biology focuses on understanding the interactions between the different systems of a cell, the very basis of oral health has to do with this particular topic. The study of molecular biology also allows dentists to promote personalized care rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment methodology. Based on molecular biology, treatment can be adapted to meet the individual needs of each patient, so a degree in molecular biology can be useful for any student who wants to pursue the field of dentistry. Biological sciences are a bachelor's degree option that students can enroll in when they want to become dentists.
During the course of your studies, you will learn about the cellular, supracellular, molecular and supramolecular processes, which provide the basis of dental medicine. Most dental schools require these subjects and can help you learn more about oral microbiology, bone biology, dental development, and pain research, all of which are essential for dentists to understand before starting such a career. As is the case with most science-related degrees that students can pursue before dental school, college students who have enrolled in a degree in biological sciences will participate in standard classroom classes and laboratory work. While many colleges and universities that offer these types of degrees allow students to choose when to take certain courses, consider studying chemistry before most other subjects.
The principles you learn in chemistry can make it easier to understand the language of biology. Dentistry is one of the main careers that people enter after obtaining a degree in biological sciences. Biomedical engineering is a degree that provides undergraduate students with knowledge of how to apply problem-solving techniques and engineering principles to medicine and biology, which extends to dental medicine. Many students who earn a biomedical engineering degree enter a career in dental research.
Biomedical engineering courses allow students to better understand how to create devices and tools used by dentists and in dental offices. If you want to be involved in creating technological advancements that will help drive the dental industry forward, a degree in biomedical engineering may be right for you. The main purpose of a biomedical engineering degree is to help the student understand how to improve health with the skills they have. By earning this degree, it can be used to enter a variety of different careers within the dental industry.
Since you don't need a specific degree to enter dental school, you can focus solely on becoming a dentist. It could also work on advancing dental implants or advancing dental imaging. The courses that students must take when completing a biomedical engineering degree include aspects of chemistry, mathematics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. By earning a biomedical engineering degree, many students can gain practical experience through internships and similar initiatives.
As long as you take the right courses that will allow you to enter dental school, a degree in biomedical engineering can help you become a dentist. Biomedical sciences are a degree option that allows students to study the fields of medicine and biology with a focus on human and animal health. The main topics explored in biomedical science courses include medicine, diseases, and human health, which can be fundamental to better understanding oral health and the many ailments a person may experience in and around the mouth. The main subjects of study with a degree in biomedical sciences extend to genetics, anatomy and chemistry.
You will learn how to promote and maintain health by gaining knowledge about the basic concepts of immunology, nutrition and disease. By the end of this four-year degree, you should be fully prepared for the courses you are expected to take in dental school. By graduating in biomedical sciences, it is also possible to delve into fields such as cell biology, toxicology and parasitology, the latter of which can be especially useful for anyone who wants to become a dentist. This degree will prepare you to evaluate new scientific findings and integrate them into the work you do as a dentist.
The biomedical science curriculum can empower you to think critically, solve problems, perform a self-evaluation, and act like an ethical professional. The core curriculum of a degree in physiological sciences includes classes in physics, mathematics, statistics, biochemistry, chemistry, and life sciences. By studying this degree, you should learn how the concepts and principles of physiological science apply to dental practice. To have a complete understanding of oral health care and the treatments you will be responsible for administering as a dentist, you must understand cellular physiology, nervous physiology, the central nervous system, and the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
This knowledge will be a central component of your future studies at dental school and can make it easier for you to study dentistry without having to work hard through the courses. A degree in Chemical Sciences is a very popular degree among undergraduate students who want to enter careers as chemists or pursue adjacent fields such as medicine, biology, and dentistry. The courses that a chemistry student is expected to complete during this degree include organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. Some of the more specialized courses you'll take extend to chemical biology, nuclear chemistry, and analytical chemistry.
In Chemistry, you will gain extensive practical experience in a laboratory, which should prepare you for your possible studies in dental school. The courses for earning a predentistry degree focus on all the requirements of a dental school. The main courses you will be assigned to include general and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biology and mathematics. Once you have completed all of the required courses, you should be accepted to the dental school of the college or university where you chose to study.
Students will generally complete one year of residency after completing a three-year pre-dental program of study. This specific degree is ideal for individuals who want a simplified path to becoming dentists. Introductory sociology is a college degree that isn't specifically related to dentistry, but it will allow you to take many of the courses needed to prepare for a career in dentistry. It's also important to understand that obtaining this type of degree will give you access to a wide variety of professional careers inside and outside the field of dentistry.
Although not exactly an integral part of your possible work as a dentist, introductory sociology analyzes social life, social interaction, and sociological research. The many topics covered in introductory sociology classes include social class, race, information technology, and economic globalization. Here are 10 of the best undergraduate degrees that students can pursue when they want to start a career in dentistry. Each degree will provide you with the opportunity to take all the courses that are required in dental school while providing you with an education that can improve your skills and better prepare you for the job requirements that a dentist has.
A degree in biochemistry can make it easier for you to understand how dental health problems develop. On the other hand, a degree in biomedical engineering can allow you to have a deeper understanding of how dental tools work and how to get the most out of them. With a wide variety of options to choose from, the titles mentioned above should give you a firm starting point when choosing the title that's right for you. What degree do you need to be a dental hygienist?.
The listings below may include sponsored content, but they are popular choices among our users. What is your highest level of education completed? What is your highest level of education? What is your high school graduation status? The California Dental Board licenses dentists in the state. To work as a dentist, individuals must obtain a doctorate in dental surgery (D, D, S. This graduate program requires previous courses, dental admission exam scores, and letters of reference.
The curriculum includes clinical, conference, laboratory and simulation training. Some schools also have dual degree programs, such as D, D, S and Master of Business Administration, as well as master's degrees in specializations such as oral biology or craniofacial biology. In addition to these degree offerings, California universities can also offer 2- to 3-year graduate certificates in fields such as pediatric dentistry, implant dentistry, oral medicine, and orthodontics. In addition, national board exam scores are required to apply to any of these graduate programs.
The following California dental schools prepare students to take the national licensing exam:. This school, which is located in the city that bears its name, Loma Linda, enrolls about 4,000 students. Offers a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D, D, S). Students in this program learn about general dentistry.
A program designed for dentists with international training is also offered. The program is also offered as a dual-degree program with a Master's degree in Public Health, a Master's degree in Bioethics, or a Doctorate in Philosophy or Master of Science program of the student's choice. This Southern California dental university also offers a Master of Science (M, S). A master's degree in science and a postdoctoral certificate in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics are also available.
Certification programs take 24 months to four years to complete. Programs are designed to prepare students for careers in research, clinical dentistry, or teaching. The program is considered to have completed a dental specialty program. A dental program located in Los Angeles, this dental school enrolls nearly 40,000 students.
It offers a 4-year Doctoral Program in Dental Surgery. Students in this program begin clinical experiences during their first year of study. The university also offers a 2-year D, D, S. And the programs of Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Oral Biology or Doctorate of Philosophy in Oral Biology are also available.
Dentists and oral health researchers can also earn a Master of Science in Oral Biology. The curriculum for this 2-year program includes a thesis requirement. A Doctorate of Philosophy in Oral Biology is also offered. This program, which prepares students for research careers, requires a minimum of four years of study.
Students in this program must write a dissertation. This dental university is located in San Francisco and enrolls about 3,000 students, all of them graduate students. The university offers a traditional Doctor of Dental Surgery program, but it also offers a D, D, S. And a double degree Doctor of Philosophy program that is part of the school's Comprehensive Oral Health Training Program, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
This program prepares students for careers in dental research. The program is offered to dentists with international training. Students can also complete a dual degree program of Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Business Administration. The business-related courses in this program are offered by the University of San Francisco.
With the degree you can obtain a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D. This program's curriculum prepares students for careers in research or academia. The program may choose to complete a residency program in prosthodontics or periodontics. A Master's Degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences can also be completed with a residency in prosthodontics or periodontics.
A Master's Degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences with a certificate in endodontics, oral medicine, orthodontics or pediatric dentistry is also offered. The curriculum for these 36-month programs includes didactic and clinical instruction. Students can also attend the Doctoral of Medicine program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The curriculum for this 6-year program meets the requirements established by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
The University of Southern California also offers a dental school in the Los Angeles area. The university's Doctoral Program in Dental Surgery, which takes four years to complete, offers instruction in pharmacology, patient interviews and microbiology. The program's curriculum includes numerous clinical rotations. The program is also available to dentists trained abroad.
A D, D, S program is also offered, which is offered in conjunction with a Master of Science in Gerontology or a Master of Business Administration. These dual degree programs require five years of study. Students can also earn a Master of Science (M, S). Both programs prepare students for careers in research or academia.
The program can simultaneously earn a degree and a certificate in orthodontics, periodontology, or surgical dentistry. In total, students in the master's program complete 32 credit hours of study, including writing a thesis. Earning the Doctor of Philosophy degree requires completing 60 credit hours of study, including researching and writing a dissertation. The University of the Pacific is located in Stockton and enrolls about 7,000 students.
The university is close to San Francisco and is Arthur A. The Dugoni School of Dentistry offers a Doctoral Program in Dental Surgery that students can complete in three years instead of four. Students in this program learn about topics such as biochemistry, dental materials, and microbiology. They also begin working with patients during their second year of study in the school's simulation laboratory.
Students can earn a Master of Science in Dentistry and a Certificate in Orthodontics. This 27-month residency program provides students with instruction in areas such as practice management, oral physiology, and orthognathic surgery. The next dental program in California is the Western University of Health Sciences, located in Pomona. The university's dentistry program enrolls about 3,000 students, all of whom are graduate students.
It offers a Doctoral program in Dental Medicine that includes numerous clinical experiences and requires four years of study. The instruction in this program covers topics such as the anatomy of the neck, the neuroscience system, maxillofacial pathology, and the essential aspects of clinical dentistry. Below are the six CODA-accredited schools in California. Pre-dental programs are not usually offered as specializations or degrees in and of themselves, but rather as pre-professional programs or.
There are a number of previous courses needed to enter a dental hygiene program in the United States. Students interested in studying dental care in Philadelphia, PA have only a few schools to choose from. Few schools in the Des Moines, IA area have top-notch dental assistance programs. Read on to learn more about what these.
Start with Carrington College Start with Grand Canyon University Start with the University of Southern New Hampshire Start with Bryant & Stratton College Start with Liberty University Start with the University of the Pacific Start with the University of the Pacific Start with Loma Linda University Start with the University of Western Health Sciences Start with the Harvard University Dental Schools in California with information on degrees California dental schools with information Dental schools in California with information on degrees California dental schools with information on degrees. Prospective students who want to practice dentistry and become a true leader in their field will find great opportunities to learn and grow at the UCLA School of Dentistry. . .