Dentists do not need to go to medical school to complete their degrees. They can complete their training at a dental school after completing their graduation.
Do Dentists Go to Medical School?
It is not necessary for someone to go to medical school to become a dentist. A dentist needs to complete their training and certification from a dental school. The primary focus of a dentist is to increase awareness about the importance of oral health and hygiene. They generally deal with problems related to the mouth, jaw, and teeth.
Sometimes they can perform surgery on teeth, gum, or bone as well. Every person should go for a regular dental checkup to maintain their oral health and prevent them from developing any dental problems.
A dentist can only deal with mouth and teeth-related problems. A person can study human body parts in medical school. To study and learn more about oral health and hygiene, they need to complete their training at a dental school.
Therefore, there is no need for a dentist to go to medical school at any point. Though, the syllabus of the first year is quite similar in med schools and dental schools. Second year onwards the area of study is very different in both schools.
What Education and Training Are Necessary to Become a Dentist?
Do Dentists Go to Medical School – Education and Training to Become a Dentist
You must complete a four-year bachelor’s degree to apply for dental school. To meet the requirement, you may want to do a major in any science-related subject. Some dental schools also offer a pre-dental curriculum. You can study physics, biology, chemistry, physiology, and human genetics under this program.
After completing the bachelor’s degree, you need to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). When choosing a school, you must be sure that your school is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA). It takes around four years to complete the degree from a dental school.
A dental school offers two degrees, a Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree (DMD) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). You can choose any of them to become a dentist.
Can a Dentist Go to Medical School?
Though there are a few similarities between medical school and dental, they have very different work areas.
Usually, there is no need for a dentist to go to medical school. After completing their graduation, they can be admitted to a dental school. It takes around eight years to complete university and dental schooling. After becoming a dentist, if someone wants to pursue any specific dental field (for example, orthodontics, endodontics, etc.), they can study further.
On the other hand, aspiring doctors need to attend medical school after university to complete their studies. They also have to do an internship to receive their degrees on any specific subject of their interest and competence.
But after becoming a dentist, if someone wants to be an expert in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral medicine, they can always join a medical school. They can enroll themself in an MD-integrated program after completing their dentistry degree to receive a further degree in medical (MD).
Therefore, a dentist does not need to go to medical school to complete their dentistry degree. But if they want to pursue a medical degree in any specific area of oral medicine and surgery, they can always apply for med school after completing their dentistry.
Can Dentistry Be Considered a Medical Field?
Dentistry is an entirely new and separate form of the medical field. Health and dental are two different sectors of work. The training system of a dentist and a doctor is entirely different.
Therefore, dentistry cannot be considered a medical field. Though there may be certain similarities in their first year of college, the focus of these two professions is quite different. The only common aim in these professions is to serve human beings.
Where Do You Need to Study to Become an Oral Surgeon?
It is not necessary for an oral surgeon to join any medical school. A dentist can take four to six years of residency training from a hospital after completing their dentistry degree. During this period, they can learn about different techniques of dental surgery.
They also learn how to find the appropriate solutions in case of any complications during dental surgery. This way, they can gather experience under the supervision of the hospital and complete their degree at the same time.
But sometimes, an oral surgeon can go to a medical school for advanced education and training after graduating from dental school.
Conclusion
Doctors and dentists are two different professions and both have different roles and responsibilities. A dentist does not need to go to a medical school to complete their degree. But if a dentist wants to study further and receive advanced training in surgery or medicine, they can be admitted to a medical school after completing their dentistry degree.
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