Skip to content
Dentistry Education and Specialties
- A dentist specializes in oral health. Dentists complete a 4-year undergraduate degree followed by 4 years of dental school.
- Dentists earn either a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. The title depends on where the degree was obtained. DMD and DDS degrees are interchangeable.
- Dental school is competitive with around 12,000 applicants competing for 5,000 seats in 2016.
- Dentistry specialties include orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics and more. Dentists can continue training in these specialties after dental school.
Dental Hygienists and Therapists
- Dental hygienists usually need an Associate’s degree. Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are less common but needed for research, teaching, or public health roles.
- Dental therapists also provide oral health services. Hygienists and therapists need less training than dentists.
Preparing for Dentistry
- A science degree like biology or chemistry prepares for dental school. Physics, math, or engineering also work. Completing prerequisites matters more than the specific major.
- Dental school requires classes in anatomy, immunology, and more.
