Also see a sample 4-year plan.
Dentistry is a profession that combines science and technology with helping people to enhance and maintain their oral health. As health care practitioners, dentists diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth and mouth. They improve a patient’s appearance by using a variety of cosmetic dental procedures; perform surgical procedures such as implants, tissue grafts and extractions; educate patients on how to take better care of their teeth and prevent oral disease; teach future dentists and dental hygienists; and perform research directed to developing new treatment methods and improving oral health. The majority of the more than 190,000 professionally active dentists are private practitioners. Most dentists practice in an office setting, typically in a solo practice with an average of five employees. It is most common to enter a practice immediately after receiving a doctoral degree in dentistry, either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D) (there is no difference between the two degrees). About 79% of dentists in the U.S. are general practitioners. The remaining 21% of dentists are involved in one of the twelve dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, which require additional education after the D.M.D. or D.D.S. The twelve specialties are:
The James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine at The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the only dental school in South Carolina and gives strong preference to South Carolina residents in the admissions process. Pre-Dental students at Winthrop select a major in one of the academic departments. Because of the large number of undergraduate biology and chemistry courses required and/or recommended by dental schools, biology is a popular major for pre-dental students. For the best chance of graduating from Winthrop in four years and moving directly on to dental school, students should maintain an overall grade-point-average at or above 3.5 and a science GPA at or above 3.6 (out of 4.0), and take a sequence of courses designed to prepare them to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) following their junior year. Students should be aware that such a path is extremely challenging and it is becoming more common for students to take a growth year between graduating and beginning dental school. This allows an additional year to complete the recommended coursework prior to taking the DAT and initiating the application process through the ADEA AADSAS system. To strengthen their application and be better prepared for dental school, students should also seek out opportunities to gain clinical experience, participate in undergraduate research, perform community service, and develop their leadership abilities. ADA
The prerequisites for dental school typically include a combination of coursework, exams, experiences, and personal qualities.
Most dental schools require completion of the following college-level courses (usually with a grade of C or better):
Subject Common Requirements
Biology: 1 year with lab (8 credits)
General Chemistry: 1 year with lab
Organic Chemistry: 1 year with lab
Physics: 1 year with lab
English: 1 year (composition or literature)
Mathematics: Often 1 semester of calculus or statistics (varies)
Biochemistry: Often required or strongly recommended
Check each school’s requirements via the ADEA Dental School Explorer or their admissions website.
The James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine at The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the only dental school in South Carolina and gives strong preference to South Carolina residents in the admissions process.
The following are only guidelines (and are specific to MUSC); students should consult their advisors and programs of interest to plan their academic schedule.
General Chemistry I and II + Lab(s) (CHEM 104, CHEM 105, 108)*
Organic Chemistry I and II + Lab(s) (CHEM 301, CHEM 302, CHEM 304)*
Physics I and II + Labs (PHYS 201/201L, 202/202L)
General Biology I and II + Labs (BIOL 220/222, 221/223)
Science Electives (8 credits, Biochemistry recommended, consult with Pre-Dental advisor)
Math (6 credits, Recommend any two of 101, 105, 141, 151, 201/104, or 202)
English (satisfied by WRIT 101, HMXP 102, and CRTW 201 sequence)
*Note: MUSC has indicated that these Winthrop courses will satisfy their requirements even though our curriculum is structured differently. The courses above represent only the subset required as prerequisites by MUSC. The biology department offers many additional courses that will help prepare you for dental school. We encourage you to examine our course offerings and consult with a Pre-Dental advisor to select the best combination of courses for you. You might also want to structure your coursework to allow you to take advantage of the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree with one year of additional coursework if you choose to take a growth year or if you are not admitted in your first application cycle.
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is a standardized exam required by all U.S. dental schools. The test is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and your ability to analyze and interpret visual information. It represents one of the most challenging components of the dental school application process and includes a Perceptual Ability section that is unique among all of the entrance exams for health professional programs and requires extensive preparation and practice to score well. The American Dental Association (ADA) website has excellent information and statistics about the DAT.
While the courses listed above cover much of the content on the DAT, none of them are specifically designed to prepare you for the DAT. Thus, students should plan to spend an extensive amount of additional time preparing for the DAT. There are several online resources available for free, as well as books and other study materials available for purchase, as well as online and classroom courses you can take. We highly recommend that you invest as much time and effort into your DAT preparation as possible. Speak to one of the Pre-Dental advisors about developing the best plan for you.
Schools seek a demonstrated commitment to service, particularly in health-related or underserved communities.
Consistent, meaningful engagement is more important than the specific type of service. Admissions committees are looking for depth of commitment, reflection on what you learned, and how the experience shaped your desire to pursue dentistry. Keeping that in mind, here are some examples of dental-related volunteering:
Letters of recommendation, also known as letters of evaluation, are a required portion of the ADEA AADSAS® application. ADEA AADSAS allows you to submit up to four letters or one committee report (or composite evaluation) plus one additional letter of evaluation. See ADEA AADSAS instructions for detailed information. Individual dental schools also sometimes ask for additional letters of recommendation separate from the ADEA AADSAS application. It is important to start forming strong relationships with potential evaluators early in your undergraduate career.
$245 for initial designation; $93 for each additional designation. ADEA AADSAS offers a Fee Assistance Program for applicants with severe financial need. Detailed instructions about the program can be found in the ADEA AADSAS application. Qualifying applicants receive a waiver of the initial designation fee and two additional schools; they must pay for any additional designations beyond the first three. In 2015, 516 applicants received the waiver. Official Guide to Dental Schools by the ADEA can be purchased here.
The admissions process for dental school is highly competitive. Winthrop offers several opportunities for you to gain experience and skills that will help prepare you for dental school and distinguish yourself as an applicant. You should speak to an advisor about identifying opportunities at Winthrop and in the community. Opportunities available within the Biology Department include: