PREDENTISTRY

Dentistry is devoted not only to the repair of teeth but also to the treatment and health maintenance of all the oral tissues. Most dentists engage in general practice. However, about 10% take additional training beyond the D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree to enter one of the eight recognized specialties: dental public health, endodontics, oral pathology, oral surgery, orthodontics, pedodontics, periodontics, or prosthodontics. A few enter the field of dental education or research. The Medical College of Georgia has Georgia’s only school of dentistry.

APPLICATION TO DENTAL SCHOOL

A candidate must take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) the spring or fall before the year of prospective dental school admission. The DAT covers one’s knowledge of biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Therefore, these courses must be completed before the senior year. Quantitative reasoning ability and two- and three-dimensional spatial perception are also included on the DAT. Applications to dental school should be submitted during the summer before the senior year and should be in by early fall. The student should see the preprofessional adviser and other appropriate individuals early in the fall semester of the senior year to arrange letters of recommendation.