How many years does dental school take?

Typically, dental school requires four years of graduate study after a student obtains an undergraduate degree. Usually, graduating dentists receive either a Doctor of Dental Medicine or a Doctor of Dental Surgery.

To be accepted to a dental school, a bachelor's degree and a passing score on the Dental Admissions Test is required. Additional factors may be considered, such as extracurricular activities, essays, grades and recommendations. Volunteering or working in a dentist's office while in high school and college may help a candidate get admission to dental school. Additionally, many college-level science classes, such as biochemistry, biology, physics and organic chemistry, may be prerequisites.