Dentistry

A dentist is a healthcare professional specializing in oral health, including the teeth, gums, and related structures of the mouth. They diagnose, treat, and prevent dental diseases and abnormalities, while also promoting good oral hygiene. Dentists perform a wide range of services, from routine checkups and cleanings to more complex procedures like fillings, extractions, and cosmetic treatments.  Specialties include general dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, periodontistry, prosthodontist, pediatric dentistry, and more.

In order to become a dentist, an individual must earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, DDS, or a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, DMD. For specialized dental fields, a residency and additional training may be required, such as orthodontics. A residency is not required to practice as a general dentist.

To qualify for dental school admission students must take the necessary prerequisites for each school; a bachelor's degree is also expected and strongly preferred.

Degrees and Coursework

What major should I select at UNT for a pre-dental path?

Popular majors among pre-dental students at UNT:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology, College of Science
  • Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry, College of Science
  • Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, College of Science
    • Option III would be the best fit for pre-health students 

For more information about each major, please visit the UNT Catalog and select 'majors, minors, certificates' that is found beneath the link to ‘Catalog Home'.

What courses do I need for dental school?

Please refer to our Pre-Dental Packet for a list of Texas dental school prerequisites. To review prerequisites for dental programs outside of Texas, please refer to each individual school's website. 

Applying to Dental School

What makes a competitive application to dental school?

 Admission to dental schools is very competitive and students should create a strategic plan well in advance. Below you will find typical categories of a competitive application. Please contact our advisors in the UNT Office of Health Professions to further explore each competitive characteristic and to create your pre-dental plan. 

Recommendations for a Competitive Application:

  • Overall and Math/Science GPAs - 3.68 (average admitted GPAs vary by school)
  • DAT Perceptual -  430 (20.2 on old DAT scale)
  • DAT Academic Avg. - 440 (20.9 on old DAT scale)
  • Shadowing/Observation - 100+ Hours
  • Volunteering - 100+ Hours 
  • Various Extracurricular Activities, On or Off Campus

Core Competencies for Healthcare

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) came up with a set of skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics that they believe are essential for future physicians called the pre-med core competencies. Because of its relevance to all healthcare professions, many other health professional schools have embraced the core competencies as well.  Since many, if not most, health professional schools evaluate applicants based on these competencies, we recommend that students develop proficiency in them.  More information on the AAMC Core Competencies can be found here.

Using this handout, your pre-health advisor can help you evaluate your progress on becoming a competitive applicant to optometry school. 

How do I apply to dental school?

The majority of dental schools in the United States use one online application service called AADSAS (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service), with the exception of Texas, which uses the TMDSAS (Texas Medical & Dental School Application Service).  Please note that there are fees associated with using these services.

When should I apply to dental school?

Students must apply to dental schools one year before entering a program. On the traditional four-year path, students will apply in May or June of their junior year of college, complete their bachelor's degree at the end of their senior year, and enter dental school the following fall semester. However, each student's timeline is different and your UNT Health Professions Advisor is committed to helping create a plan and timeline that accommodates each student’s individual goals and circumstances.

Do dental schools require an entrance exam?

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) must be taken before applying to dental school. We strongly recommend that you not take the DAT until after most of your prerequisites are complete.  For more information about the DAT, including new scoring standards, please visit the official ADA webpage. 

Additional Resources for Students

Are there any pre-health scholarships available to pre-dental students?

Yes, pre-dental students can apply for the following pre-health scholarships using the College of Science general scholarship application:

Dr. Charles and Mabel Saunders Pre-Dental Scholarship
To qualify, a student must be a pre-dental student, must have 60 hours of pre-dental courses and must demonstrate academic excellence.  For more information about this scholarship, please contact Todd Lang.

The Dr. Charles D. and Vernil Mitchell Endowed Scholarship
To be considered, a student must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in any degree-granting major in the College of Science and be a graduate of any high school in Dallas ISD. For more information, please contact us at healthcareers@unt.edu. 

What are some additional resources for pre-dental students at UNT?

You can find a list of health-related student organizations at UNT here.  You can search for other student clubs and organizations on OrgSync.

If you are a current student, join our canvas course to receive important announcements and view resources related to your pre-optometry journey.

How can I get started with creating a pre-dental plan?

If you are a current student at UNT, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with one of our pre-health advisors using the following link: https://unt.navigate.eab.com/. If you are a prospective student, interested in enrolling at UNT in the future, and have any questions about "pre-optometry" at UNT, please feel free to contact us at healthcareers@unt.edu.