A general dentist typically requires eight years of education and training, including four years of undergraduate study and four years of dental school.
Dental specialties, on the other hand, may necessitate several years of additional education and training following dental school.
Before applying to dental school, future dentists must first obtain a Bachelor’s degree and pass the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
While no specific degree is required, many accredited dental schools require applicants to have prerequisites in science courses such as biology, anatomy, and chemistry.
Admission to dental school, like medical school, is highly competitive, so a high GPA, strong letters of recommendation, adequate DAT scores, and a well-written personal statement provide the best chance of acceptance.
Future dentists will study and complete course requirements in dental school to earn either a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.
A degreed dentist must obtain a license in the state where they intend to practice before they can begin practicing general dentistry.
Prior to licensure, dentists in the United States must pass the National Board Dental Examination, but some states may have additional requirements. Following dental school, the ADA recognizes 12 dental specialties that require advanced training through a residency program and additional board certification.
Endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine, orofacial pain, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, and prosthodontics are among the specialties.
Required skills of a Dentist
Dentists, like doctors, learn the majority of the technical skills required for dentistry in dental school. Dentists must learn how to use a variety of dental tools, such as drills, scalpels, brushes, forceps, and mouth mirrors, in order to examine and repair teeth.
Also, Dentists will need to know how to use X-ray machines, laser tools, digital scanners, and other technology to assist their patients.
To execute dental assessments and treatments, all of these technical dentistry skills require concentration, proper hand dexterity, and patience.
Some dental problems, such as a difficult extraction or a difficult root canal, may necessitate some creative solutions, so dentists use general skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and observation when performing procedures and administering treatments.
When supervising dental assistants, hygienists, lab technicians, and other office staff in private practice, dentists must also exercise management and delegation skills. They may also be in charge of general administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, supply maintenance, and equipment purchases.
Dental Schools in Philadelphia
These are the dental schools in Philadelphia.
1. Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry
Temple University, founded as a night school by Russell Conwell in 1884, has grown into an international powerhouse in higher education and a top-tier research institution with approximately 40,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
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Temple University, the largest university in one of the nation’s most iconic cities, educates diverse future leaders from Philadelphia, the country, and around the world who share a common desire to learn, prepare for careers, and make a real difference.
Temple University provides students with a dynamic and nurturing learning environment, renowned faculty, dedicated academic advisors focused on establishing a clear path to graduation, and a diverse curriculum of over 500 academic programs. Temple University, a long-standing leader in professional education, is also one of the nation’s largest educators in the combined fields of dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and podiatry.
With impressive results, investments in the campus learning environment have elevated the university’s capabilities across its 17 schools and colleges.
Temple was awarded the R1 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2015, putting it among the nation’s most active research universities. Temple also recently celebrated a Rhodes scholar, a Goldwater scholar, and its largest and brightest graduating class.
The bustling Main Campus of Temple University is set against the backdrop of the Philadelphia skyline.
A vibrant residential setting is formed by green space, athletic facilities, and eclectic architecture ranging from the historic Temple Performing Arts Center to an emerging state-of-the-art Charles Library. On campus, Temple’s NCAA Division I athletic programs and hundreds of student organizations thrive.
Temple University, Philadelphia’s public university, offers unparalleled value to families in the region and is a vital resource to the surrounding community. Temple also serves as a global gateway, with long-standing international campuses in Tokyo and Rome, as well as study abroad opportunities on six continents.
The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, the second-oldest dental school in the United States, upholds a legacy of innovation in dental education, research efforts, community service, and pioneering healthcare services.
Kornberg, founded in 1863, is still a fixture in the dental community. They have over 7,000 alumni who are currently redefining the field of oral health all over the world.
Contact: +1 215-707-2900
Address: 3223 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States
2. TRINON Implant Direct Courses & Implant Training
Trinon Collegium Practicum (TCP) is a dental education provider and implant surgery course organizer. Trinon Collegium Practicum has organized over 150 Q-Implant Marathon sessions since 2003, which provide hands-on implant surgery training using a live patient model.
In their 17th year, they assisted in the education of over 3,000 dentists and provided over 100,000 implants to patients.
Participants spend five days assisting and leading hands-on surgeries under the supervision of experienced instructors during their implant surgery courses.
The Q-Implant Marathon is accredited by the Academy of General Dentistry, and all participants are eligible for 60 continuing education credit hours.
“Doing is Learning”
Traditionally, continuing education in dental implantology has concentrated on theoretical aspects. By providing practice-oriented implant surgery, Trinon Collegium Practicum challenges this training approach. Traditionally, many dentists have found it difficult to enter the field of implantology.
It is not typically a subject of university education, with many universities and courses emphasizing theoretical orientation.
As a result, establishing oneself in this particular area of implantology can be a time-consuming endeavor. That is why, more than 17 years ago, Trinon Collegium Practicum began organizing 5-day hands-on implant courses. These intensive practical course sessions will give you the confidence you need to add implant placement to your practice!
Contact: +1 267-800-0174
Address: 1515 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States
3. University of Pennsylvania
Penn’s academics benefit from the university’s inherent culture and innovation ecosystem. If it’s cutting-edge, the faculty and students at the University are involved. Penn provides students with an unrivaled education informed by inclusivity, intellectual rigor, research, and the impetus to create new knowledge for the benefit of individuals and communities worldwide.
The School of Dental Medicine, founded in 1878, is one of the country’s oldest university-affiliated dental schools, and it has established numerous precedents in education, research, and patient care.
A DMD program with dual-degree options in education, bioethics, bioengineering, and public health; postdoctoral training in eight specialties with the option of a master’s in oral biology; and a degree program for foreign-trained dentists are among the academic programs available.
Penn Dental Medicine incorporates basic and clinical sciences while also providing community dental care through teaching clinics and faculty practices. Its students serve over 20,000 local residents each year, logging nearly 9,600 service hours.
Contact: +1 215-898-5000
Address: Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
Conclusion on the Dental Schools in Philadelphia
Following dental school, a dentist’s typical career path is determined by whether they want to specialize in a specific area of dentistry or practice general dentistry.
Some dentists choose specializations such as pediatrics, orthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, and other dental specialties, which necessitate additional education and a distinct career path.
Most general dentists choose to work in a solo private practice, in collaboration with other dentists in private practice, or for a national dental service organization (DSO), where they are employed as a dentist by a larger corporation.
Dentists can also choose to work in public health dentistry, which involves working in federally funded facilities such as prisons or the armed forces.
Some general dentists work in hospitals with other hospital physicians to treat patients with specific medical needs, but they should typically be trained in emergency dentistry or surgical dentistry before pursuing this career path.
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