Dental Education and Training

- Dental schools in the United States require at least three years of undergraduate education.
- Most dental schools require a bachelor's degree, but it does not have to be in a science-related field.
- Predental courses include general biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, English, and higher-level mathematics.
- Some dental schools have additional requirements such as psychology, sociology, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology.
- The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required for potential dental students and is usually taken during the spring semester of the junior year.
- Dental school in the United States is four academic years in duration.
- The first two years focus on basic medical and dental sciences.
- The last two years involve clinical training and continued didactic coursework.
- Dental students must pass the National Board Dental Examination Part I and II (NBDE I & II) before graduating.
- After graduation, dentists can choose to enter practice or pursue further training through residency programs.

Degrees and Licensing

- In the United States, both the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degrees are considered equivalent.
- The majority of dental schools award the DDS degree, while some award the DMD degree.
- The degrees are awarded upon graduation from dental school and qualify a professional for licensure.
- Harvard University was the first dental school to award the DMD degree.
- The DMD degree was created due to the Latin translation of DDS initials not matching the English term.
- To practice dentistry, a dentist must pass a licensing examination administered by a state or regional board.
- Some states have independent dental licensing examinations, while others accept regional board examinations.
- The Northeast Regional Board (NERB), Western Regional Board (WREB), and other agencies administer licensing examinations.
- Dentists must also pass an ethics/jurisprudence examination before a license is granted.
- Continuing Dental Education (CDE) courses are required to maintain a dental license.

Dental Specialties in the United States

- Dentists can choose to specialize in various dental fields after completing their dental degree.
- Some dental specialties in the United States include orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery.
- Specialization requires additional postgraduate study and training.
- Dental specialists often work in private practice or academic and research settings.
- The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties in total.
- 12 dental specialties are recognized in the United States.
- Becoming a specialist requires training in a residency or advanced graduate training program.
- Specialty programs may have optional or required advanced degrees such as masters or doctoral degrees.
- Specialty training programs grant a certificate of specialty training.
- Specialty-trained dentists are designated registrable and can use exclusive titles.

Dental Education in Other Countries

- Many universities in China offer dental degrees.
- Undergraduate degree is Bachelor of Medicine with a major in stomatology or dental surgery.
- Postgraduate degree is Master of Medicine in stomatology or Master of Stomatological Medicine.
- Program includes comprehensive syllabus in respective specialties, clinical practice, and research potential.
- Branches of dentistry are similar to American universities.
- Education in dentistry is through a 5.5-year Licenciate of Dental Medicine course in Finland.
- Offered by four universities: University of Helsinki, University of Turku, University of Oulu, and University of Eastern Finland.
- Training includes preclinical and clinical phases.
- Doctor of Philosophy research is encouraged alongside postgraduate training.
- Annual intake of dentists is 160 students.
- Israel has two dental schools: Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine and Tel Aviv University School of Dental Medicine.
- Both schools offer a six-year program and grant the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree.
- Students may also be eligible for the Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree.
- Many universities award BDS degrees in the UK, including University of Sheffield, University of Bristol, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, and more.
- University College Cork awards BDS degrees in Ireland.
- University of Leeds awards BChD and MChD degrees.
- Royal College of Surgeons of England, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Ireland award LDS degrees.
- Different universities offer different dental degrees in the UK and Ireland.
- Many universities in Nigeria award BDS and BChD degrees.
- Dental training is a six-year course with preclinical and clinical training.
- Internship or housemanship is required before entering clinical practice.
- Some graduates pursue specialty training through residency programs.
- 11 dental schools in Nigeria, including University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and more.

Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition and Other Information

- Australia and New Zealand recognize educational and professional qualifications.
- Grant professional licenses via reciprocity.
- Identical to the United States and Canada.
- United Kingdom General Dental Council recognized Australian and New Zealand dental qualifications as registrable degrees until 2000.
- Graduates applying for dental license registration in the UK now have to sit the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE).
- ORE is a three-part examination.
- Dental faculties of the University of the Western Cape and Stellenbosch University merged.
- University of the Western Cape is currently the largest dental school in Africa.
- Specialization options include Master of Dentistry and certifications offered by the College of Dentistry.
- Research degrees available: MSc(Dent)/MDS and PhD(Dent).
- Dental education in South Africa has undergone changes.
- Special needs dentistry requires 3 years of training.
- Geriatric dentistry ranges from a weekend course to a 2-year masters course.
- Cosmetic dentistry ranges from a weekend course to a 1-year course.
- Dentists completing accredited specialty training in these fields can use exclusive titles.
- Exclusive titles include anesthesiologist, orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, endodontist, pedodontist, periodontist, or prosthodontist.