Dental School Information
This page provides additional information about applying to dental school.
All schools require that you have experience in the dental profession.
As a guideline, we can quote from the University of Missouri-Kansas City dental school: “It is strongly suggested that candidates observe in a minimum of five different dental offices such as general dentists (3 minimum) and specialists (2 minimum). Students should log a minimum of 100 hours of dental office observation.”
The American Dental Association mandates that all predental students take the DAT in the computerized test format. You can get all current information about the test and register online.
It is recommended that the DAT be taken in the spring semester of the junior year (though earlier is better) after completing all the science course requirements, in particular your organic chemistry courses. (Physics is not on the test).
This provides additional opportunities to take the test again if necessary. You may take the test only three times, and you must wait 90 days between each attempt.
The University of Tennessee, Memphis states: “Don’t apply until you are satisfied with your DAT score. We receive applications each week and make interview decisions based on when the application is first sent to us.”
PREPARING FOR THE DAT:
Preparation materials for the DAT can be obtained from a variety of sources such as the Kaplan preparation course, a variety of prepare-yourself books, which is highly recommended by dental schools.
I suggest that each student take practice tests (always on a computer) and then review all of the wrong answers.
Additional review and test companies recommended by our own students include:
Predental students who have done well on the DAT and been admitted to dental school recommend:
- Chad's Math: http://chadsvideos.com/
- Barron's DAT-Dental Admissions Test 2nd Edition DAT Q Vault: http://datqvault.com/
- Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/
- DAT Bootcamp: https://datbootcamp.com/AP Biology Book
RECOMMENDED BOOK PURCHASES:
- ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools: http://www.adea.org/officialguide/
- Getting into Dental School: ASDA’s Guide for Predental Students: https://www.asdanet.org/
WEBSITES THAT ARE USEFUL:
- The American Dental Association provides information about testing and admissions.
- The American Student Dental Association is a good organization to join.
- The American Dental Education Association has many links to sites about dental schools, application procedures, the AADSAS unified application process, testing, etc.
You will apply to dental school one year prior to the time you wish to begin.
If you are pursuing your degree on a traditional four-year timeline, you will begin the application process early in the spring semester of your junior year.
At this time, your predental advisor will hold a mandatory meeting of all students applying to dental school where the information necessary to prepare your predental committee letter of recommendation will be distributed and explained.
All committee letters will be written between March and May, so it is mandatory that you start this process early. It can take up to one month for you to collect all the materials needed for the committee letter.
It is recommended that you not finish your application until you are satisfied with your DAT scores. By the end of July, it is probably too late to apply or to add new DAT scores.
Texas residents will apply through the TMDSAS application system (from May 1 - September 29).
Residents of all other states, including Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas and Louisiana, will apply through the AADSAS application system (from June 1 - September 29).
Please note the earlier starting date for Texas.