Required courses
View a list of required courses for pre-professional programs in the Course Catalog
Pre-dental
Related Names and Titles: DMD, DDS, Dentist, Periodontist, Orthodontist, Endodontist
Dentists examine patients’ teeth and mouth and correct dental problems. Most dentists are general practitioners. This means they handle a wide variety of dental problems. They examine teeth, gums and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays or other diagnostic equipment. They evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments. They advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
Pre-dental timeline
- Meet with a pre-professional peer advisor
- Begin basic science courses (pre-calculus, general chemistry, introductory biology, etc.)
- Join campus student organizations (i.e. Nevada Pre-Dental Society)
- Get tutoring if you need it!
- Seek and begin volunteer/ community experience (and continue throughout your undergraduate years)
- Choose a major, if you haven't already done so
- Explore all health career options
- Start becoming familiar with requirements for various programs
- Seek summer internships, research experience, shadowing hours, and/or other opportunities (i.e. UNLV ADEA Pre-Dental Summer Simulation Course)
- Research schools in which you are interested (utilize ADEA “Official Guide to Dental Schools,” “Dental School Explore” and the information provided on the “Deciding Where to Apply” webpage to start)
- Attend the University Professional and Graduate School Fair
- Make a list of schools you are interested in and research them thoroughly
- Find out the earliest date to submit an application
- Prepare for and Take DAT (Dental Admissions Test – make sure BIOL and CHEM sequences are already completed prior to DAT)
- Reality check: What are your chances? GPA? Experience? Personal attributes?
- Apply to schools (anytime from late spring through mid fall)
- Consider taking valuable electives: biochemistry, genetics, communication, microbiology, ethics, foreign language
- Ask people to write letters of recommendation
- Retake DAT, if necessary
- Confirm that you meet graduation requirements
- Ask people to write letters of recommendation
- Complete secondary applications if necessary
- Prepare for interviews
- Confirm your commitment
- Seek honors & scholarships for graduate school
- Send appropriate people thank you notes and inform them of your success or future plans