As May approaches, pre-dental hopefuls everywhere are getting ready to create a stellar application to send off to their dream schools. But which schools should you apply to? To avoid paying unnecessary application fees or keep yourself to turning to strangers on the internet, here are some tips on how to choose a dental school for you.
The first thing is, don't be intimated by students sharing their impressive stats on the internet. Stop yourself from going down the rabbit hole of Facebook Group posts and discussion forums. The average dental student has a pretty good chance of getting an interview. The reality is, many students end up picking a school based on location or tuition.
When looking at potential schools and locations, it's important that you could see yourself living in that city for the next four years. Once you have a general idea of where you'd like to go, start a spreadsheet with information and statistics like science GPA, acceptance rate, and average DAT score. The ADEA Guide to schools has a very condensed version of this that can save you a lot of time and research. Start early and update often.
See if you can get in contact with current students and alumni to ask them questions. Some good ones would be:
- Could you start a practice in this area?
- Do the faculty readily offer help?
- Are you able to hang out with your classmates outside of school?
- What are your clinical requirements for graduation? And do students have trouble meeting the requirements? (Higher requirements can tell you how busy the students are in clinic.)
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Sunday, December 22, 2019
So You're Thinking of Specializing?
The age-old stressful question for dental students. You really can't know until it's time whether you'll be qualified or passionate enough to pick a field to specialize in. Many students enter dental school with one vision for their future and leave falling in love with something else. before you apply to a residency [rogra,, make sure that you can see yourself staying in that field for your whole career, and make sure that you will enjoy it. (Clue: if you hated the lectures and didactic part of it because you found it boring, it may not be for you.) And if you want to receive more training as a general practitioner so that you can develop various skills, an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program might be for you.
The first step is deciding which program, and then figuring out the requirements for that program. The ADEA PASS Search Engine allows you to look at program profiles, deadline dates, contact information, and the program requirements. Most programs (over 130) require the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT), a 4.5-hour long test that covers Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry, Principles of Ethics and Patient Management. Other programs require the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test, which covers Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery also requires passing the National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (NBME CBSE).
Another important part of applying to residency programs is the externship. They are typically a week or a few days that the applicant spends with the faculty and residents to get a feel for the program. It allows the admissions committee the opportunity to get to know you better - think of it as a pre-interview. They externship may require you to rearrange your schedule and patients to attend.
The first step is deciding which program, and then figuring out the requirements for that program. The ADEA PASS Search Engine allows you to look at program profiles, deadline dates, contact information, and the program requirements. Most programs (over 130) require the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT), a 4.5-hour long test that covers Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry, Principles of Ethics and Patient Management. Other programs require the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test, which covers Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery also requires passing the National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (NBME CBSE).
Another important part of applying to residency programs is the externship. They are typically a week or a few days that the applicant spends with the faculty and residents to get a feel for the program. It allows the admissions committee the opportunity to get to know you better - think of it as a pre-interview. They externship may require you to rearrange your schedule and patients to attend.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Dental Anatomy: Primary Dentition and parts of a tooth
Dental Anatomy is one of the most important classes of your first year. If you came into dental school knowing nothing about teeth like I did, then this is where you learn the basics of dentistry. It's important to have a strong foundation in this to pass your boards, do well in pre-clinical simulation lab, and to be a competent dentist!
I'm just going to go over the main sections here in case you were curious or just want a refresher.
Primary Dentition:
- Deciduous, meaning it is meant to shed
- Considered the dentition of kids from 0 - 6 years old
- Starting at the most upper right tooth, which is a primary second molar, you number / letter that tooth 'A', then the tooth next to it which is a primary first molar, is 'B' and so on until you get to the most upper left primary second molar, which is 'J.'
- The two maxillary central incisors (two front teeth) are E & F.
- Then, continuing from J, you drop down t the opposing tooth of the upper left molar - the lower left primary second molar. That tooth is 'K'. Then you continue across the arch until you get to the lower right primary second molar, which is T.
- This system is referred to as Universal Numbering. Helpful hint: I always use my fingers when I'm counting!
- Another system that we don't use that often in the US is the FDI system (also known as the International Dental Federation system). For Primary teeth, you would start at the midline (between the maxillary central incisors). The right incisor tooth is '51' and you count up until you reach the right second molar, which would be '55.' Then you start back at the midline, and the left incisor tooth is '61', and you count up until you reach the left second molar, which would be '65'. The bottom teeth order in a similar way, except you start with '71' on the lower left and '81' on the lower right.
- The last system you should know is the Palmer Notation System. This is more similar to the Universal System, but instead uses only 5 letters and indicates the location of the tooth with markings shaped like L's.
Parts of a Tooth:
A: Apex (Plural apices) or the root tip(s)
AF- Apical Foramen
SC - Supplementary canal
B- Bone
C- Cementum
PM: Periodontal Ligament
PC: Pulp Canal
G - Gingiva
GC- Gingival Crevice
GM - Gingival Margin
PCH: Pulp Chamber
D: Dentin
E: Enamel
CR: Crown
CEJ: Cementoenamel junction. Separates the enamel of the crown from the cementum of the root and is where the gums start
PH: Pulp Horn
F: Fissure
CU: Cusp
BI: Bifurcation of roots
I'm just going to go over the main sections here in case you were curious or just want a refresher.
Primary Dentition:
- Deciduous, meaning it is meant to shed- Considered the dentition of kids from 0 - 6 years old
- Starting at the most upper right tooth, which is a primary second molar, you number / letter that tooth 'A', then the tooth next to it which is a primary first molar, is 'B' and so on until you get to the most upper left primary second molar, which is 'J.'
- The two maxillary central incisors (two front teeth) are E & F.
- Then, continuing from J, you drop down t the opposing tooth of the upper left molar - the lower left primary second molar. That tooth is 'K'. Then you continue across the arch until you get to the lower right primary second molar, which is T.
- This system is referred to as Universal Numbering. Helpful hint: I always use my fingers when I'm counting!
Parts of a Tooth:
A: Apex (Plural apices) or the root tip(s)
AF- Apical Foramen
SC - Supplementary canal
B- Bone
C- Cementum
PM: Periodontal Ligament
PC: Pulp Canal
G - Gingiva
GC- Gingival Crevice
GM - Gingival Margin
PCH: Pulp Chamber
D: Dentin
E: Enamel
CR: Crown
CEJ: Cementoenamel junction. Separates the enamel of the crown from the cementum of the root and is where the gums start
PH: Pulp Horn
F: Fissure
CU: Cusp
BI: Bifurcation of roots
Monday, November 25, 2019
Out of State School Stats
Percentage of Out of State Students by Dental School:
1. Howard: 94%
2. Harvard: 89%
3. New England: 84%
4. Pennsylvania: 83%
5. Creighton: 81%
6. Midwest AZ: 76%
7. Tufts: 76%
8. Arizona: 74%
9. Meharry: 72%
10. Missouri: 71%
11. Touro: 71%
12. Columbia: 70%
13. Roseman: 70%
14. Midwestern Illinois: 65%
15. Louisville: 64%
16. Boston University: 62%
17. Case Western: 61%
18. Nevada: 56%
19. Tennessee: 53%
20. NYU: 50%
21: Marquette: 50%
22. Kentucky: 48%
23. LECOM: 47%
24. Maryland: 47%
25. Pittsburgh: 45%
26. Oregon: 43%
27. Western: 42%
28. Temple: 42%
29. Loma Linda: 39%
30. Michigan: 39%
31. Missouri KC: 39%
32. Utah: 37%
33. Minnesota: 36%
34. Colorado: 35%
35. Connecticut: 35%
36: Virginia: 35%
37. Alabama: 32%
38. Indiana: 31%
39. Nebraska: 31%
40. Oklahoma: 31%
41. Rutgers: 30%
42. NOVA: 29%
43. Iowa: 29%
44. South Carolina: 28%
45. Mercy: 27%
46. UCSF: 18%
47. USC: 17%
48. UOP: 16%
49. North Carolina: 15%
50. Buffalo: 11%
51. Ohio: 11%
52. Washington: 11%
53. West Virginia: 10%
54. Stony Brook: 9%
55. UCLA: 8%
56. Georgia: 8%
57. Baylor: 8%
58. Louisiana: 6%
59. Puerto Rico: 5%
60. UT-SA: 5%
61. South Illinois: 4%
62. Illinois: 4%
63. Florida: 2%
64. UT Houston: 2%
65. Mississippi: 0%
66. East Carolina: 0%
Thursday, August 22, 2019
GPR vs AEGD
So after graduation, it is strongly recommended that dentists complete a residency program. There are many benefits, including:
1. Learning to work with an assistant
2. Discover what you really like doing and what you'd rather refer out
3. Increase speed and efficiency
4. Work on time management
5. You'll get experience under your belt so that patients will be more comfortable with you
GPR: Treat medically complex patients
Location: Typically in a hospital setting
Trains you on how to work with patients who are medically compromised and have limitations on the type of dental work they can receive. This is good for preparing you how to treat any patient that comes to you. You may do rotations (anesthesiology) or have to be on call.
AEGD : Advanced training as general practitioner
Location: typically associated with a dental school
Basically a fifth year of dental school where you do more challenging procedures and focus on comprehensive care and improve your hand skills. Usually no rotations and rarely on call.
In order to apply for most residencies, you'll have to take the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) - a 4.5 hour test with 4 subjects:
1. Biomedical Sciences
2. Clinical Sciences
3. Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry
4. Principles of Ethics and Patient Management
Other residencies may require the GRE test, which tests verbal reasoning, analytical writing, and qualitative reasoning.
Another step during the application to residency is doing an externship there to get to know the program and people there.
Residencies are looking for team players hat step up when it gets busy, for humble students who are still eager to learn, and those willing to give their time and b devoted to improving patient lives.
If you have more questions about specific residencies. igniteDDS has a comprehensive guide about what dental residencies require and consist of.
1. Learning to work with an assistant
2. Discover what you really like doing and what you'd rather refer out
3. Increase speed and efficiency
4. Work on time management
5. You'll get experience under your belt so that patients will be more comfortable with you
GPR: Treat medically complex patients
Location: Typically in a hospital setting
Trains you on how to work with patients who are medically compromised and have limitations on the type of dental work they can receive. This is good for preparing you how to treat any patient that comes to you. You may do rotations (anesthesiology) or have to be on call.
AEGD : Advanced training as general practitioner
Location: typically associated with a dental school
Basically a fifth year of dental school where you do more challenging procedures and focus on comprehensive care and improve your hand skills. Usually no rotations and rarely on call.
In order to apply for most residencies, you'll have to take the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) - a 4.5 hour test with 4 subjects:
1. Biomedical Sciences
2. Clinical Sciences
3. Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry
4. Principles of Ethics and Patient Management
Other residencies may require the GRE test, which tests verbal reasoning, analytical writing, and qualitative reasoning.
Another step during the application to residency is doing an externship there to get to know the program and people there.
Residencies are looking for team players hat step up when it gets busy, for humble students who are still eager to learn, and those willing to give their time and b devoted to improving patient lives.
If you have more questions about specific residencies. igniteDDS has a comprehensive guide about what dental residencies require and consist of.
Dental School Statistics
It's so extremely important to do your research on schools before you begin applying! If you haven't had the chance to ask the Admissions committee your questions, or haven't scoured the Internet looking for statistics of the dental school you want to attend, take a look below for a pretty good estimate of what you need to know.
The spreadsheet is color-coded, with green being easy to attain and red being on the harder side to attain. (Click the pictures to make them bigger!)
Update: It looks like Tufts University requires Physics 1&2 now.
The information isn't the most recent for 2019, but you can get that from ADEA.
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