Pediatric Dentists

High School

If you are considering a career as a pediatric dentist, be sure to study biology, chemistry, physics, health, and mathematics in high school, preferably in an honors or advanced placement curriculum. English and foreign language courses are also important for meeting college entrance requirements and developing good communications skills. Participation in extracurricular activities will also enhance your background because it provides opportunities to develop interpersonal skills. Learning a foreign language such as Spanish will improve communication with patients and parents who do not speak English as a first language.

Postsecondary Education

The dental profession is selective, and standards are high. Your college grades and the amount of college education you have completed at the time of application are carefully considered in the admissions process for dental school. In addition, all dental schools approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) require applicants to pass the Dental Admissions Test, which gauges a student’s prospects of success or failure in dental school. Information on tests and testing centers may be obtained from the Council on Dental Education and Licensure of the ADA.

Dental schools require at least two years of college-level predental education. However, about 80 percent of students entering dental schools have already earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Professional training in a dental school generally requires four academic years. Many dental schools have an interdisciplinary curriculum in which the dental student studies basic science with students of medicine, pharmacy, and other health professions. Clinical training is frequently begun in the second year. Most schools now feature a department of community dentistry, which involves a study of communities, urban problems, and sociology, and includes treatment of patients from the community. Generally the degree of doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) is granted upon graduation, although some schools give the degree of doctor of dental medicine (D.D.M. or D.M.D.).

Dental students who wish to become pediatric dentists should plan on postgraduate study that typically ranges from 24 to 36 months. The average program length is 25 months, according to the ADA. There are more than 85 postgraduate pediatric dental programs in the United States and Canada. A dentist may obtain further training as a dental intern or resident in an approved hospital. Dentists must continually keep abreast of developments in the profession by reading professional magazines and journals, taking short-term graduate courses, and participating in seminars.

Other Education or Training

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers continuing education courses and seminars for members on topics such as current and emerging practice issues, pediatric emergencies, and practice management. The American Dental Association provides seminars, online classes, and other continuing education opportunities for dentists. Contact these organizations for more information.