Things I Wish I Knew:Things I Wish I Knew:Introduction to being Introduction to being

Pre-Dental at PennPre-Dental at Penn

Penn Pre-Dental ASDAPenn Pre-Dental ASDA

October 4, 2007October 4, 2007

What is Dentistry?What is Dentistry? Definition:Definition:

““Dentistry is defined as Dentistry is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, the evaluation, diagnosis,

prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or

related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or

conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or

the adjacent and associated structures and their the adjacent and associated structures and their

impact on the human bodyimpact on the human body; provided by a dentist, within ; provided by a dentist, within

the scope of his/her education, training and experience, in the scope of his/her education, training and experience, in

accordance with the ethics of the profession and applicable accordance with the ethics of the profession and applicable

law. “ law. “ (www.ada.org)(www.ada.org)

What is Dentistry?What is Dentistry?

http://www.drbaradaranperio.com/media/trea/3DI.gifhttp://www.drbaradaranperio.com/media/trea/3DI.gif

What is DentistryWhat is Dentistry

Also involves systemic health!Also involves systemic health!– Individuals with diabetes are at greater risk for Individuals with diabetes are at greater risk for

periodontal diseasesperiodontal diseases– Correlation between quality of life and healthy smileCorrelation between quality of life and healthy smile– A dentist can make a preliminary diagnosis of A dentist can make a preliminary diagnosis of

systemic disease because many systemic diseases systemic disease because many systemic diseases and conditions have oral manifestations (ex. bulimia, and conditions have oral manifestations (ex. bulimia, drug use, cancer)drug use, cancer)

US Department of Health and Human Services. US Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General-- Executive Summarythe Surgeon General-- Executive Summary. Rockville, MD: US Department of . Rockville, MD: US Department of

Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial

Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.

What career options are What career options are available to a DDS/DMD?available to a DDS/DMD?

Private Practice Private Practice (Majority of Graduates)(Majority of Graduates) Specialties Specialties (ex: Oral and Maxillofacial (ex: Oral and Maxillofacial

Surgery, Endodontics, more!; ~20% Surgery, Endodontics, more!; ~20% Graduates)Graduates)

Academic Dentistry/ResearchAcademic Dentistry/Research Public Health DentistryPublic Health Dentistry

Get Dental Experience!Get Dental Experience! Most important in helping you decide on your Most important in helping you decide on your

career! career! Important to see a range of general dentists and Important to see a range of general dentists and

specialists to get a broad view of the professionspecialists to get a broad view of the profession Contact your dentist, local dentists, county dental Contact your dentist, local dentists, county dental

societies to find a dentist to shadowsocieties to find a dentist to shadow Penn Smiles Van Penn Smiles Van Try to assist if you can!Try to assist if you can! Finally, some schools require shadowing hours or a Finally, some schools require shadowing hours or a

letter of recommendation from a dentist (eg. Tufts)letter of recommendation from a dentist (eg. Tufts)

Required Undergraduate Required Undergraduate CoursesCourses

You can major in whatever you want, but you must You can major in whatever you want, but you must complete pre-req’s:complete pre-req’s:– One Year of Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics One Year of Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics

(all with lab)(all with lab)– One Year of EnglishOne Year of English– One Year of Math (must be at least one semester of One Year of Math (must be at least one semester of

Calculus)Calculus)– Humanities Classes Humanities Classes

These may be completed in any order, but it is most These may be completed in any order, but it is most helpful to have taken the Organic Chemistry lecture helpful to have taken the Organic Chemistry lecture before or during your junior year—I’ll explainbefore or during your junior year—I’ll explain

You may take Orgo Lab (Chem 245) and Physics your You may take Orgo Lab (Chem 245) and Physics your senior year, although it is “safer” to finish your senior year, although it is “safer” to finish your prereq’s before senior year—I’ll explainprereq’s before senior year—I’ll explain

More on CoursesMore on Courses

Many Dental schools have additional pre-req’s Many Dental schools have additional pre-req’s that are not listedthat are not listed

If you decide you want to apply, check with If you decide you want to apply, check with schools as early as possible for specific pre-schools as early as possible for specific pre-req’sreq’s

Biochemistry is becoming an “unofficial” pre-Biochemistry is becoming an “unofficial” pre-reqreq

Business classes now will help you with practice Business classes now will help you with practice management later—but are not requiredmanagement later—but are not required

Study what you’re interested in!!!Study what you’re interested in!!!

The Dental Admissions TestThe Dental Admissions Test(DAT)(DAT)

Multiple choice, computer basedMultiple choice, computer based 4 hour 15 mins, plus optional 15 min break4 hour 15 mins, plus optional 15 min break Sections:Sections:

– Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS)Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS) Biology (40 q), General Chemistry (30 q), Organic Chemistry (30 Biology (40 q), General Chemistry (30 q), Organic Chemistry (30

q)q)– Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) (90 q)Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) (90 q)– Reading Comprehension (50 q)Reading Comprehension (50 q)– Quantative Reasoning (40 q)Quantative Reasoning (40 q)– Academic AverageAcademic Average

Each section and sub-section is put on a 1-30 curveEach section and sub-section is put on a 1-30 curve Some schools care about some sections more/less Some schools care about some sections more/less

than other schools than other schools (ex: Penn and the PAT)(ex: Penn and the PAT) No penalty for guessing (not like the SAT or MCAT)No penalty for guessing (not like the SAT or MCAT) Only allowed to take 3x (new ADA rule!)Only allowed to take 3x (new ADA rule!)

The “Numbers” QuestionThe “Numbers” Question

GPA National Mean GPA’s of 2005 Entering GPA National Mean GPA’s of 2005 Entering Class First Year EnrolleesClass First Year Enrollees– Overall: 3.49Overall: 3.49– Science: 3.41Science: 3.41

National Mean DAT Scores of 2005 National Mean DAT Scores of 2005 Entering Class First Year EnrolleesEntering Class First Year Enrollees– Academic Average: 18.9Academic Average: 18.9– Total Science: 18.4Total Science: 18.4– PAT: 17.4PAT: 17.4

((http://http://www.adea.org/webdocs/AADSAS/DentistryUpdate.pdfwww.adea.org/webdocs/AADSAS/DentistryUpdate.pdf))

More on “Numbers”More on “Numbers”

There is about a ½ chance of getting into dental There is about a ½ chance of getting into dental school, nationally (fluctuates with number of school, nationally (fluctuates with number of applicants per year)applicants per year)

However, for individual schools, the number of However, for individual schools, the number of applicants/seat varies from about 3 to 40 applicants/seat varies from about 3 to 40 (Penn ~16)(Penn ~16)

www.adea.orgwww.adea.org

The Application ProcessThe Application Process 55 US ADA Accredited Schools 55 US ADA Accredited Schools One ADA Accredited School in Puerto Rico—Hard to One ADA Accredited School in Puerto Rico—Hard to

get intoget into Each school has its strengths and weaknesses, and Each school has its strengths and weaknesses, and

each person has individual preferences… (ex: cost of each person has individual preferences… (ex: cost of tuition)tuition)Do your research!Do your research!

Application ServicesApplication Services– American Association of Dental Schools Application Service—American Association of Dental Schools Application Service—

AADSAS AADSAS – Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service—TMDSAS Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service—TMDSAS – Handful of schools do not use either of these central servicesHandful of schools do not use either of these central services

More on ApplyingMore on Applying

Career Services: Career Services: – Mandatory workshopMandatory workshop– ““Health Profession Advisory Board (HPAB) Packet”Health Profession Advisory Board (HPAB) Packet”

Committee LetterCommittee Letter At least 3 letters of recommendation: 2 should be scienceAt least 3 letters of recommendation: 2 should be science

– Personal Statement HelpPersonal Statement Help– Strict guidelines to help you get everything in on Strict guidelines to help you get everything in on

timetime

Timing is everything when applying to Timing is everything when applying to Dental School! (May 15Dental School! (May 15thth))

The InterviewThe Interview

Show yourself off!Show yourself off! Talk about your Talk about your

extracurricularsextracurricularsand dental experienceand dental experience

Show off your people Show off your people skillsskills

You’re interviewing the You’re interviewing the school as well!school as well!

You’re Finally In!You’re Finally In! First round of acceptances go out Dec. 1, First round of acceptances go out Dec. 1,

rolling after rolling after Basic Dental School Curriculum:Basic Dental School Curriculum:

– First two years are didactic and not so much First two years are didactic and not so much clinicalclinical

– Last two years are mostly clinicalLast two years are mostly clinical– University of the PacificUniversity of the Pacific3 year program3 year program

National Boards: National Boards: Part I after 2Part I after 2ndnd Year and Part II after 3 Year and Part II after 3rdrd Year Year

Residency only required to practice in some Residency only required to practice in some statesstates

Any Questions??Any Questions??

Feel free to e-mail the board any Feel free to e-mail the board any additional questions:additional questions:preasda@dolphin.upenn.edupreasda@dolphin.upenn.edu

Check the links on the web site:Check the links on the web site:http://http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~preasdadolphin.upenn.edu/~preasda

Stay tuned for the Dental Sibling Stay tuned for the Dental Sibling Mixer event and for updates on the Mixer event and for updates on the Penn Smiles Van!!!Penn Smiles Van!!!

Thanks for

Coming!