Required: Biology with Lab; Inorganic Chemistry with Lab; Organic Chemistry with Lab; Physics with Lab; An English class with a writing focus Recommended: Anatomy; Biochemistry; Psychology; Mathematics Unrelated courses that make you a stronger candidate: Business; A foreign language; humanities or social science courses
Freshman year: Biology, Inorganic Chemistry, and general electives Sophomore year: Organic Chemistry, Biology electives, Math, and general electives Summer before Junior year: Take the Dental Admission Exam Junior year: Physics, English, and general electives Senior year: Biochemistry and general electives
Survey of Natural Sciences: You have 90 minutes to answer 40 Biology, 30 Inorganic Chemistry, and 30 Organic Chemistry short answer questions. PAT: You have 60 minutes to answer questions testing your spatial ability and logic. The 90 questions cover angle discrimination, cube counting, view recognition, 3D for development, and paper folding. Reading Comprehension: You have 60 minutes to answer 50 questions testing your ability to pull information from 3 different writing passages. Quantitative Reasoning: You have 40 minutes to answer 40 questions testing your knowledge of algebra, word problems, data analysis, quantitative comparison, and probability and statistics.
The online practice test costs $37 as of 2015, and the print format practice test costs $27 + tax and shipping. You can purchase practice exams as often as you’d like throughout the studying process to see how you’re improving.
Note that the content of the Quantitative Reasoning section changed significantly in 2015. [6] X Research source Used or outdated guides from before 2015 will prepare you for information that is no longer on the exam, and will not prepare you for information that is now included in that section.
Create a study schedule for yourself. If you just say that you’ll study when you have spare time, you’ll find you suddenly have no time to spare! Set aside at least an hour every weekday to study for the test. You should study at the same time every Monday, and every Tuesday, etc. Set aside more time on the weekends.
Test registration costs $25 if you register 31+ business days (excludes weekends and holidays) before the requested date. It costs $60 if you register 6-30 businesses days before the date, and $100 if you register 1-5 days before the test date.
The test computer allows you to “Mark” questions you’re not sure about to come back to them. Answer all the questions you’re confident about first to make sure you get all the points you can. Return to the harder questions after that. [11] X Research source Make good use of the break you’ll be given at the half-way point. Eat a snack to re-energize yourself, and stretch your legs and back. Four hours is a long time to sit in one place! You can take the DAT up to 3 times, total, waiting 90 days between each exam. If you want to retake the exam to try for a higher score, just get back to studying and redouble your efforts.
DAT scores GPA Letters of recommendation Personal statement[15] X Research source Interview — find out if your university’s career center offers mock interviews to prepare for the interview process. [16] X Research source Experience shadowing at a dental office
As soon as you know where you’re going, contact the program’s financial aid office to begin the application process for financial aid. [18] X Research source In many cases, financial aid works on a first-come-first-serve basis.
NBDE I: You will answer 400 questions on Anatomic Sciences; Biochemistry-Physiology; Microbiology-Pathology; and Dental Anatomy and Occlusion. [22] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source NBDE II, Day 1: You will answer 400 questions on . Endodontics; Operative Dentistry; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pain Control; Oral Diagnosis; Orthodontics/Pediatric Dentistry; Patient Management; Periodontics; Pharmacology; and Prosthodontics NBDE II, Day 2: You will answer 100 case-based questions about what to do with actual patients. The exam will provide a summary of the patient’s health and history; dental chart; diagnostic radiographs, and clinical photographs. From that information you must interpret the information; make a diagnosis; select materials, technique and armamentarium; treat the patient; evaluate his/her progress and complications; and establish procedures for prevention and maintenance. [23] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source
Postdoctoral programs will ask for your undergraduate and dental school transcripts, National Board Dental Exam scores, three or more letters of recommendation, work experience, and a personal statement of career goals. [27] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source
Contact your state’s dental board to find out which license(s) you need before you can begin your practice. [28] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source Find out what you need to qualify for a license. In most cases, you will need dental school transcripts, a passing score from a national or regional dental board exam, and completion of an orthodontic residency.
Once you pass the licensing exam, you can legally practice as an orthodontist in the state. If you move to a different state, you will have to repeat the licensing process. Some states will exempt you from the licensing exam if you passed it in another state, though.
You will have to take and pass an exam of 240 written questions, as well as a clinical exam. Certification expires every ten years. You must take and pass a renewal exam every decade to prove you are still able to practice at a high standard.
