collageA job in dental hygiene may be perfect for you if you’re interested in mouth, teeth, and dental issues. Continue reading to learn more about your choices in this sector.
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Many students are asking themselves the questions ‘How long is dental school?’ or ‘What are the dental school requirements?’ Well, you don’t need to look any further because we have all the information you require to start this great career path. The following article will give you all the basic information that you require and then some! You might be asking questions like:
On the internet you can often find inaccurate and incorrect information, so it can be frustrating to find the right answer. Now, if you’ve been searching for information on dental schools in arkansas, then the article below brings you all you need to know and more.
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Dental Schools In Arkansas
Dentists must complete four years of graduate level training at a dental school after receiving a bachelor’s degree from an undergraduate institution. Requirements for entry into dental schools include the DAT (Dental Aptitude Test) and having taken coursework that meets a particular dental school’s requirements. Arkansas has no dental schools, but Arkansas residents can apply for financial assistance for attending certain dental school programs through grants offered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. These programs include the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN; Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA; University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO; University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK; Texas A&M System HSC, Dallas, TX; and the University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL. Most of our graduates who enroll in dental school attend the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis.
It’s a great time to get into Dental Studies and find the best school for your undergraduate Dental Studies degree on our list of the Best Dental Studies Colleges and Universities in Arkansas.
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
4 Year • Fort Smith, AR •
10 reviews
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a public university based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is an institution with an enrollment of over 1,084 bachelor’s degree candidates. The admission criteria is somewhat competitive with the acceptance rate of 55%.
#1 in Best Dental Studies Colleges & Universities in Arkansas
Acceptance Rate
55%
Net Price
$19,967
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NorthWest Arkansas Community College
2-4 Year • Bentonville, AR
NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public university based in Bentonville, Arkansas.
#2 in Best Dental Studies Colleges & Universities in Arkansas
Net Price
$5,863
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University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
2-4 Year • North Little Rock, AR •
20 reviews
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College is a public university based in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
#3 in Best Dental Studies Colleges & Universities in Arkansas
Net Price
$5,970
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4 Year • Little Rock, AR
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is a public university based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
#4 in Best Dental Studies Colleges & Universities in Arkansas
Net Price
$8,147
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Eastern College of Health Vocations-Little Rock
2- Year • Little Rock, AR
Eastern College of Health Vocations-Little Rock is a private for-profit university based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
#5 in Best Dental Studies Colleges & Universities in Arkansas
dental school requirements
Prerequisites
Students should contact individual dental schools for specific prerequisite information. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) maintains a list of accredited dental education programs in the U.S. You can search on CODA’s website for accredited dental education programs/dental schools. Required hours and courses will not apply to all dental schools/dental programs, but generally include:
- 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.
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.
Applying
Admissions committees review credentials such as academic qualifications, the results from the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), grade point average (GPA), letters of recommendation, personal interviews and dental office shadowing experiences. Admission requirements can vary from school to school.
Most dental schools require personal interviews with candidates to assess qualities such as desire to help people, self-confidence, ability to meet challenges, ability to get along with people and capacity to work independently. The personal interview also provides an opportunity to ask about the school.
Apply for admission at least a year in advance of the planned enrollment date. Most dental schools participate in the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). For a fee, students can subscribe to this service and complete a single application to apply to multiple dental schools.
how long is dental school?
Dental school typically lasts four years, although an accelerated degree may take only three years to finish. A dental graduate program usually involves science coursework and a clinical curriculum.
How long does it take to become a dentist?
It generally takes eight years to become a dentist: four years to earn a bachelor’s degree as an undergraduate and four years to earn a DDS or DMD in dental school. If you’re interested in specializing, you’ll also need to complete a dental residency (more on that below).
For high schoolers who are 100 percent committed to the field, there is another path towards dentistry that may shorten the time commitment needed. BS/DDS programs, or “direct dental programs,” pair an undergraduate institution and a dental school, allowing students to gain acceptance to both straight out of high school. These programs typically take seven or eight years to complete, though there are a few that can be completed in as few as six or even five years.
how to become a dentist
Becoming a dentist requires a significant investment in your education. The vast majority of dental schools require a bachelor’s degree to apply, with only a couple of schools offering accelerated admissions after just two or three years of undergraduate studies. Of the 68 currently-accredited dental schools in the United States, all are four-year programs with the exception of the University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry, a three-year program in San Francisco.
Like medical school admissions, dental schools don’t require a specific major. However, you will need to complete dental school requirements, which include certain courses (primarily in the sciences), a Dental Admissions Test (DAT) score, letters of recommendation, a dental school personal statement, and relevant extracurriculars.
Upon completion of dental school, a student will receive either a DDS or DMD. These degrees are in all aspects equivalent, having the same accreditation body and curriculum requirements.
A quick history lesson explains the difference between the two. The first dental school in the United States was the Baltimore College of Medicine founded in 1840, which began granting the DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree. Harvard founded a dental school shortly thereafter. Because all of their degrees are in Latin they chose to grant a DMD (Doctor Medicinae Dentariae or Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. Since then, universities choose which degree to grant, with two thirds currently offering the DDS.
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