Becoming a dentist?

Alright I want to be a dentist. I went to an appointment a month ago and everything seemed cool. My dentist has a private practice and he seems very happy and I think what he does is really cool and I want to be one. Its not because of money or whatever. I still plan on playing music gigs too. I love the tenor sax but I want to be really a dentist. I have a 94.667 GPA and am in the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I'm wondering what you need as an average GPA and what do I need to take in college to get into dental school? I'm also wondering if I will get screwed up bad with tuition and how long it takes to be a dentist? Any help would be appreciated.

Becoming a dentist?
From the American Dental Association website_





While in high school take math and science courses, enroll in chemistry, biology and algebra and consider taking AP (Advanced Placement) science courses. Find out everything you can about dentistry to discover if dentistry is a good fit for you and to demonstrate your interest in the profession.





How? Job shadow or volunteer at your family dentist's office, orthodontist or pediatric dentist's office.Contact a local practicing dentist to answer your questions. If there isn’t a mentor program in your area to pursue job shadowing or volunteering, contact the nearest dental society.





Find out if there are any dental camps or other programs for high school students at nearby dental schools.





Does your high school have health careers clubs? HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) is a national organization with high school chapters offering health profession career information and Learning for Life (Exploring) offers students 14-20 years old programs to explore careers.





Mentoring Program





Would you like to talk with a dentist in your community, ask questions and possibly observe first-hand (job shadow) a dental professional at work? Mentors can help you understand dentistry from the other side of the chair and provide guidance about pursuing dentistry as a career as well as dental team careers.





Learn more about mentoring or find out how to contact the mentor coordinator for your area in the mentoring section of this site.





Join American Student Dental Association (ASDA)





Here’s what some ASDA members say about the benefits of membership:





“Changing the way the laws work and protecting dental students is truly the greatest benefit.”





“The Mouth and other ASDA publications help me understand what life as a dental student is all about.”





“As a high school student I found out just what I need to get prepared for dental school.”





ASDA helps you prepare for dental school by sharing current issues important to dental students and dentistry. ASDA publications are written by dental students and include these free publications





Getting into Dental School: ASDA’s Guide for Predental Students,


ASDA News (monthly newsletter)


Mouth (quarterly journal)


Visit www.asdanet.org/members/join or call 800-621-8099 to become a member





As far as debt goes!!!!


Over 93% of dental students graduate with debt—owing an average of more than $162,155 THOUGH the site also says


Great income (in the $185,940 per year range)





Dental School Program





Earning a doctoral degree in dentistry usually requires four academic years of study. Dental schools award the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). The four years of study leading to the DDS or DMD degree progress as follows:





Years One and Two





Classroom and laboratory instruction in basic health sciences (including anatomy, biochemistry, histology, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology), with an emphasis on dental aspects


Basic principles of oral diagnosis and treatment, may practice on manikins and models, and may begin treating patients later in the second year


Years Three and Four





Students treat patients under the supervision of licensed dental faculty. Procedures cover the broad scope of general dentistry and include opportunities to work in a variety of settings, e.g., community clinics, hospitals and outpatient clinics.


Practice management courses include instruction in effective communication skills, the use of allied dental personnel and business management





If you intend to specialize you need to plan on up to another 2 years after the 4 for the DDS (if you want to be an orthodonist, oral surgeon, etc)





Here is some admission advice-


Dental School Admissions





Prerequisites





Students should contact individual dental schools for specific prerequisite information. Required courses generally include:





8 hours Biology with lab


8 hours Physics


8 hours English


8 hours General Chemistry with lab


8 hours Organic Chemistry with lab


Majoring in science is not a must, but completion of predental science requirements is necessary.





A college undergraduate degree is recommended in preparation for dental school. Most dental students have completed four years of college.





Dental Admissions Test (DAT)





Take the DAT at least a year prior to seeking admission to dental school. This computerized test measures general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information and perceptual ability. Completion of at least one year of college level courses in biology and general and organic chemistry is recommended before taking the DAT.





Applying





Admissions committees review credentials such as academic qualifications, the results from the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), grade point average (GPA), letters of recommendation, personal interviews and dental office shadowing experiences. Admission requirements can vary from school to school.





Most dental schools require personal interviews with candidates to assess qualities such as desire to help people, self-confidence, ability to meet challenges, ability to get along with people and capacity to work independently. The personal interview also provides an opportunity to ask about the school.





Apply for admission at least a year in advance of the planned enrollment date. Most dental schools participate in the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). For a fee, students can subscribe to this service and complete a single application to apply to multiple dental schools. An online application to the schools participating in AADSAS can be completed at http://www.adea.org/aadsas/ . The AADSAS toll-free number is 800-353-2237








Hope that helps!


JAMRDH -a dental hygienist