5 of the Best Dental Schools in the US

Best Dental Schools in the US – Overview

Dentists have one of the most satisfying and growing career outlooks. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 6% growth in employment for dentists from 2021 to 2031. Tens of thousands of aspiring dentists get admission into reputed dental schools in the US and begin their journey. According to the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, around 68 accredited dental schools in the United States offer degrees.

Becoming a full-fledged dentist typically requires a minimum of 8 years of education, including 4 years to earn an undergraduate degree and an additional 4 years of dental school to earn a DDS or DMD degree.

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To achieve this, it is important to establish a strong foundation by gaining admission to a reputable dental school in the United States.

What Does a Dentist Do?

A dentist is a medical practitioner who is qualified and certified to diagnose and treat dental problems. The American Dental Education Association defines dentistry (or oral medicine) as the healthcare field focused on maintaining the health of a person’s teeth, gums, and overall mouth.

What does a Dentist do?

A dentist usually works to:

Evaluate patients and advise them about oral hygiene and dental care
Perform dental procedures, such as oral exams, fillings, corrective surgeries, etc.
Identify, diagnose, and treat oral conditions
Perform general dentistry

The nine dental specialties are as follows:

Endodontics – Focus on the study and treatment of the dental pulp and tissues surrounding the root of a tooth
Orthodontics / Dentofacial Orthopedics – Teeth straightening and correcting facial deformities
Pediatric dentistry – Provide dental care to infants, children and teenagers
Periodontics – Focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gums
Prosthodontics – Perform restorative dental procedures
Oral / Maxillofacial Pathology – Focus on diseases that affect oral and maxillofacial regions
Oral / Maxillofacial Radiology – Focus on analyzing X-ray images of tissues in the maxillofacial region
Oral / Maxillofacial Surgery – Perform surgery on teeth, gums, jaw and face
Dental Public Health – Focus on preventing and treating dental diseases and promoting dental health in communities

Once you have chosen the dental specialty, it is time to select the best dental school in the US.

How to Choose the Best Dental School in the US?

Deciding to be a dentist is a significant step in life. As with any important decision, it is important to make sure you select the best resources. Dental schools are the foundation of your future dental career and must be chosen carefully.

There are several factors to consider before selecting the best dental school, such as:

Location—Your ideal choice should be a school that is easy to access. If you can commute, consider keeping the distance short to avoid wasting valuable time traveling back and forth to the school. On the other hand, if you plan on living on or near the campus, make sure to choose the dental school that offers dorms to students.
Student body – The performance of alumni from the past matters when selecting a dental school. Make sure to choose one whose students have graduated and become renowned in dentistry.
Curriculum—It is also crucial to check the type of curriculum taught at a dental school. For instance, some schools focus on teaching basic science, while others may combine clinical rotations to help students apply their knowledge in real-life settings. On the other hand, certain curriculums require pre-clinical training for students before starting clinical work.
Experience provided—Some dental schools focus on providing hands-on clinical experience to students while they learn the theories in the classrooms. These experiences are usually provided in clinical settings or community health centers.

5 Best Dental Schools in the US

To help you make the best choice easily we have listed the top-ranked dental schools in the US:

1 – University of Michigan School of Dentistry

For several reasons, the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry tops our list of the best dental schools in the US. The university not only has a large network of clinics, but it also provides students with several opportunities to gain clinical experience and expertise. The dental school at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor offers 15 different dental programs taught by 120 full-time, highly credentialed faculty members.

Why choose the University of Michigan School of Dentistry:

Here are the highlighting reasons why you should choose the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry:

Acceptance score of 26%
An average ACT score of 33 is required (AC score is Subject to change and can vary among applicants and admitted students. Consult the school’s admissions office for the most current requirements)
An average SAT score of 1432 is required
An average DAT score of 22 is required
Average GPA of 3.73 required
Around 66% of students get aid for education
Class size of only 108 students
A four-year dental degree costs around $120,000 to $424,000.

To learn more details, such as specific admission criteria and process, you can visit the official website of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry here https://dent.umich.edu/.

2 – Harvard School of Dental Medicine

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston is among the oldest and most prestigious dental schools in the United States. Situated in the Longwood Medical area, the School of Medicine at Harvard focuses on providing practical experience to students with frequent clinical rotations.

Harvard Dental is the perfect training ground for aspiring students to learn from the best. Some coursework for dental students is also taught to Harvard Medical students too.

Why choose Harvard School of Dental Medicine?

Check out the factors that make Harvard School of Dental Medicine one of the top-sought dental schools in the US:

The average acceptance rate is only 5%
An average ACT score of 34 is required
The average SAT score is 1520
An average GPA score of 3.82 is required
An average DAT score of 22 is required
The class has only 35 students
The four-year dental degree can cost around USD 464,971

To find out more details about applying to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, visit the official website at https://hsdm.harvard.edu/.

3 – The University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry

The Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina (UNC) ranks third on our list of the best dental schools in the US for several reasons. Situated in Chapel Hill, the Adams School of Dentistry has constantly ranked at the top of the list of dental schools. The school offers a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) program with a curriculum that follows the ACT (Advocate-Clinician-Thinker) ideology. Here, aspiring dentists are trained not just to serve patients but also to advocate for their best.

At UNC Adams School of Dentistry, students work in 50 rotation sites across North Carolina and get extensive clinical experience. In addition, two student-managed free dental clinics help students practice their dental skills. These students provide extensive dental services to more than 90,000 patients over a year.

Why choose the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry?

Here are the top reasons to choose the UNC Adams School of Dentistry if you want to become a successful dentist:

Acceptance rate of 25%
An average ACT score of 31 is required
The average SAT score for admission is 1385
An average GAP score of 3.6 is required
An average DAT score of 22 is required
Over 64% of students receive educational aid
The class has only 82 students
A four-year dental degree costs around USD 330,805

If you want to learn about admission criteria and the admission process at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, you can visit their official website at https://dentistry.unc.edu/.

4 – University of California (Los Angeles) School of Dentistry

The School of Dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, is another top choice among the best dental schools in the US. The school helps over 100 aspiring dentists graduate yearly with a four-year Doctor of Dentistry degree.

Students get hands-on experience from the second year with extensive clinical rotations at prestigious dental clinics and hospitals. Most who graduate from this school choose to continue their education with a post-graduate or advanced degree in oral biology.

Why choose the University of California School of Dentistry?

Some of the top reasons why students choose the University of California (Los Angeles) School of Dentistry are:

The acceptance rate is 14%
An average GPA score of 3.72 is required
An average DAT score of 22 is required
Around 73% of students receive financial aid
Around USD 15,460 on average as financial aid per student
The class contains only 88 students
A four-year dental degree costs around USD 378,673

To find more details about getting admission into the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry, you can check out their official website here https://dentistry.ucla.edu/.

5 – University of Washington School of Dentistry

The University of Washington School of Dentistry also ranks on our list of the best dental schools in the US. It is renowned for its extensive clinical exposure to students, which involves improving communication and interpersonal skills, especially with patients with severe disabilities. Students also train to work at the mobile geriatric clinic for added experience in dental care.

Why choose the University of Washington School of Dentistry?

Check out the top reasons why you should choose the University of Washington School of Dentistry to get your dental degree:

Acceptance rate of 56%
An average ACT score of 30 is required
Average SAT score for admission in 1327
Average DAT score of 20.9 required
The average GPA required is 3.5
Around 56% of students receive financial aid for education
The class contains only 63 students
A four-year dental degree costs around USD 391,361

If you want more details about getting admission into the University of Washington School of Dentistry, you can check out their official website here https://dental.washington.edu/.

Conclusion

This is our list of the best dental schools in the US. These schools are ranked based on their versatility of curriculum, clinical exposure, cost of education, availability of financial aid, and other factors.

Every dental school has different admission criteria and processes. Before applying for admission into a dental degree course, make sure to check the individual admission process for the school you choose.

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5 of the Top Dental Schools in the US