Pre-Dental
Dentistry is the branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to maintaining oral health. Dentists enjoy excellent compensation and the high demand for dental care is likely to continue in the future. Dentists are trained to treat all patients, adults and children, in many different treatment facilities and settings. In doing so, a general dentist may:
- Restore and replace teeth damaged by decay, lost from trauma or disease with newly developed dental materials, implants, and crown and bridge techniques.
- Perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease.
- Eliminate pain arising from oral diseases, conditions and trauma, making use of prescriptive medicines to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Correct mal-positioned teeth to improve chewing, speech, digestion of food and appearance.
- Provide instruction and advice on oral health care and preventive measures.
Approximately 80% of all dentists are general dentists. Additional experience, training or education beyond a DMD or DDS allows general dentists to further specialize in the following fields: endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, dental public health, and oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, and surgery.
Pre-Dental is considered a designation at Texas Tech University; it is not a major. Pre-Dental students take the required courses in order to apply to dental school. Pre-Dental students have the option to major in any area they choose as long as they take the prerequisite courses required to enter dental school along with the courses needed to earn a degree at Texas Tech University.
Most dental schools require the following courses:
| Texas Tech University | Texas Common Course Numbering System |
|---|---|
| CHEMISTRY I 1307 | CHEMISTRY 1311, 1411 |
| CHEMISTRY I 1107 (laboratory) | CHEMISTRY 1111, 1411 |
| CHEMISTRY II 1308 | CHEMISTRY 1312, 1412, 1414 |
| CHEMISTRY II 1108 (laboratory) | CHEMISTRY 1112, 1412, 1414 |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 3305 | |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 3105 (laboratory) | |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 3306 | |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 3106 (laboratory) | |
| MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY 3310 | |
| BIOLOGY I 1403 | BIOLOGY 1406, 1106, 1306 |
| BIOLOGY II 1404 | BIOLOGY 1407, 1107, 1307 |
| 6 HOURS OF ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ARE REQUIRED BY MOST DENTAL SCHOOLS. (Beginning entry year of 2014 UT Houston will require 3 hours of Microbiology for science majors) | |
| PHYSICS 1403 | PHYSICS 1401, 1101, 1301 |
| PHYSICS 1404 | PHYSICS 1402, 1102, 1302 |
| ENGLISH 1301 | ENGLISH 1301 |
| ENGLISH 1302 | ENGLISH 1302 |
| MATHEMATICS 2300 ( Effective entry year 2012 all 3 Texas dental schools will require 3 semester hours of Statistics) | MATHEMATICS 1342, 1442, 2342, 2442 |
Dental school entry requirements:
A minimum of 90 undergraduate semester hours completed at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university before the anticipated date of enrollment. All candidates are required to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
Dental schools in Texas:
- Baylor College of Dentistry
- University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston
- University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio
Other related websites:
- Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
- Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)
- American Dental Association (Dental Admission Test)
For application information, please contact each professional program and check their websites frequently.