Dentistry

In the United States, unlike India, dental study usually begins after four years of undergraduate study. Universities do not have undergraduate programs in dentistry; students planning to study dentistry can major in any subject, but should have a minimum number of prerequisite undergraduate courses in the biological sciences, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, as well as in the humanities and the behavioral and social sciences.

First Professional Degree
The first professional degree in dentistry, titled either the doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) or the doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.) degree, requires four years of study — two years emphasizing the basic medical sciences, and two years providing a clinical orientation. To practice, graduates must also meet requirements of the state in which they plan to see patients, including satisfactory scores on the National Board Dental Examination and a state clinical examination.

Admission to a U.S. dental school is highly competitive, with about twice as many applicants as positions available. Although anyone is eligible to apply, foreign nationals rarely gain admission to a U.S. school of dentistry without having completed at least two years of post secondary study at a U.S. institution. In one recent year, out of 4,268 first-year dental students, 342 were foreign nationals. Chances of obtaining admission to private dental schools are somewhat higher than those of admission to state-supported dental schools, because public institutions generally give admissions preference to the state residents whose taxes support their programs. The American Dental Education Association publishes an annual guide to dental schools that includes useful information and statistics on admission requirements.

Application requirements for dental school include a strong undergraduate academic record, proficiency in the English language, and a score on the Dental Admission Test (DAT) judged satisfactory by the individual dental school. The DAT examines proficiency in mathematics, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, reading, and perceptual motor abilities. It is regularly offered in the United States. Occasionally, it can be scheduled in other countries — a U.S. admissions officer or pre-dental adviser must request such administration at least three months before a scheduled test date.

Postgraduate Training
After receiving the D.D.S. or equivalent, dentists may apply for postgraduate training at hospitals or dental schools. Some programs lead to a master's degree, and doctoral study may also be available. These degree programs typically prepare graduates for teaching or research careers.

A university or a hospital may sponsor non-degree residency programs with a clinical focus. General practice residencies are highly competitive, and typically only about 4 percent of the students enrolled are foreign nationals. Specialty residencies tend to admit a considerably larger proportion of internationally educated dentists. These residencies offer training in dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, or prosthodontics.

No one process exists to qualify internationally trained dentists seeking to study in the United States. One common requirement is that applicants must pass one or both parts of the National Board Dental Examination. Some specialty areas, such as oral surgery and periodontics, require that dentists complete at least the last two years of professional study at a U.S. university and earn a first professional
degree at a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association. (About half of U.S. dental schools offer admission at an advanced level for internationally educated dentists wishing to complete a U.S. first professional degree.) State licensure and national board certification may also be required in some cases. Dental schools are more likely than hospitals to consider international applicants who do not have a U.S. license.

Short-term Educational Opportunities
Dental schools and hospitals frequently offer postgraduate continuing education courses lasting from a few days to a few weeks. These courses provide updates on specific topics and are open to international dentists. A few schools will arrange special programs for visiting internationally educated dentists.

To know more about dentistry as a career in the United States click here

American Dental Education Association

As the sole national organization representing academic dentistry, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is the voice of dental education in the United States. ADEA members are more than 16,000 students, faculty, staff, and administrators from all of the U.S. and Canadian dental schools, many allied, predoctoral and postdoctoral education programs, and numerous corporations working in oral health education.

Dental education is a broad and varied field that trains people as general dentists, specialists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians. ADEA membership mirrors this diversity. 

ADEA provides advocacy, professional development, and a wealth of expert information and resources. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. ADEA’s activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings, and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services AADSAS and PASS.

The ADEA has served the dental education community in the United States for almost 85 years now. The organization was founded under the name "American Association of Dental Schools" (AADS) on January 23, 1923, in Omaha, Nebraska. At that time, AADS had 44 active members and three associate members, nearly all of them dental schools within universities.

ADEA members come together to advocate effectively for public policy issues essential to dental educators and researchers, especially access to dental care, a necessary element to improved oral health.

Since its founding in 1923, ADEA has existed to serve the curious youngster wondering how to become a dentist, the hardworking educator training the dental professionals of the future, and those striving for scientific or public policy improvements in oral health care.

Today, there are 57 dental schools in the United States (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) and 10 in Canada. Every U.S. and Canadian dental school is an ADEA member, along with more than 100 allied dental education programs and almost 350 advanced education programs.  These dental education programs - allied, predoctoral, and postdoctoral - include more than 46,000 students and almost 12,000 faculty.

Application procedure for BDS students from India

The  first step you need to take is to contact the state board of dentistry in the U.S. state where you want to be licensed to find out the licensure requirements. Requirements vary from state to state, especially for graduates from dental schools outside the United States or Canada. So, you must know exactly what is required for licensure in the state where you wish to practice, including information on clinical examination requirements. This will save a lot of time, money and energy. The next step will be to contact the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (ADA JCNDE) to get information about the written National Board Dental Examinations.

Sitting for and passing the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE) is an important thing you will need to do to begin the process of  becoming licensed in the United States. This examination is a licensure requirement in all states in the United  States of America. It is also a requirement for admission to a dental education program if you are accepted into a dental school with advanced standing, an advanced general dentistry or a specialty education program.

The next point of contact is ECE. To be eligible to take the NBDE, International Dental Graduates (graduates from dental schools not accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada) must have their dental course transcripts verified by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). The Joint Commission will process an application to take the National Board Dental Examinations only after it receives the ECE Evaluation Report.

Now you need to prepare a list of dental schools where you can obtain additional education in an accredited dental or advanced dental education program. Most states require that graduates of dental schools in other countries obtain additional education in an accredited dental education program. Find out from the state board of dentistry what education is required of foreign dental graduates so you can be sure to meet its requirements. States vary on the type of education that is required for licensure. Most states require candidates to complete additional education in general dentistry while some others will also accept completion of education in a specialty program.

If you become licensed in a state that accepts specialty education, and you later choose to move to another state that requires education in general dentistry, it is possible that you will have to go back for additional education in general dentistry in order to obtain a dental license in that state. You must successfully complete the clinical examination required in the state where you wish to obtain a license. All states require successful completion of a clinical examination to obtain a dental license in addition to the educational requirement and successful completion of the written National Board Dental Examinations.

Clinical examinations can be administered by an individual state board or one of four regional examining boards. Most states participate in one or more regional examinations. Individual states contract with a regional examining board that will administer the clinical exam required for those states. The regional testing agencies do not have the authority to license  individuals and should not be confused with state boards of dentistry. You need to contact the state board of dentistry in the state where you wish to practice for information about which examination is required.

The final step is to apply for a license through the state board of dentistry where licensure is desired. Once you have successfully completed the written National Dental Board Examinations, met the educational requirement and successfully completed the appropriate clinical examination for the state where you wish to practice, the next step is to apply for licensure.

You must contact the state board of dentistry for an application. You will then be informed whether there are any additional requirements specific to that state.

Several states have other requirements for all applicants. Some common requirements are:

• A pass in the written test on the state Dental Practice Act and Regulations
  
• Be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  
• Proof of having malpractice insurance.

Wanna to know more about what Dental Education in America is exactly like. Hear it straight from the horse's mouth click here

Some relevant links:

ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools in USA (2008 edition)

World Dental School Directory 2008

Click here for ADEA international student page 

Click here for ADA international student page

Dental Hygiene

In order to practice in the U.S. as a dental hygienist, foreign-educated Hygienists and Dentists must obtain a license. To obtain such a license, you must be a graduate of an accredited U.S dental hygiene program, take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and pass a state or regional clinical licensure exam. Specifically, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from a dental hygiene education program accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA).
  
• Successful completion of the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) administered by the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE).
  
• Successful completion of the Clinical State or Regional Board Examination.
  
• Upon completion of the above items, one must then apply for licensure in the state where he/she wishes to practice and successfully complete a state jurisprudence examination.
  

Dental hygienists and dentists who have not graduated from an
ADA CDA accredited program may not take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination without first submitting evidence to the JCNDE that the program attended is equivalent to an accredited program. In such instances, the following information is usually requested:

• Copies of transcripts and curricula from the educational program attended.
  
• A letter in English on school stationary from the dean of the educational program attended stating the degree earned, dates attended, and date of graduation.
  
• The transcripts, curricula, and letter from the dean for review to one of the following persons: a dean of an accredited dental school, the program director of an accredited dental hygiene education program, or the secretary of a state board of dentistry. If the reviewer certifies that the program attended is equivalent to a US accredited program, he/she will provide a letter of verification.
  
• Submit this letter of verification and the letter from your program’s dean, along with a request for an application packet, to the JCNDE, 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Il 60611. Telephone: (312) 440-2678.
  
• Graduates of accredited Canadian dental hygiene programs are considered the equivalent of US accredited programs. However, it is possible that many of the states may not recognize your education as equivalent to that obtained in the US if you have received your education in another country.
  

Should you decide to study dental hygiene in the United States, you should begin to think about the type of degree you wish to earn and the type of dental hygiene program to attend. A listing of all accredited dental hygiene programs in the United States can be found here.

Dental hygiene programs can be between 2-4 years in length and are located in Universities, Community Colleges and
Technical schools. Graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs may be awarded a certificate, associate or baccalaureate degree.

Community colleges may require that you be a resident of the district in which the school is located in order to be eligible to enroll.

The state universities that offer dental hygiene programs will often have a state residency requirement. For students who enrol who are from out-of-state, the tuition is usually higher.

Colleges and Universities that accept students from outside the United States require a Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL test. TOEFL requirements will also vary from school to school. There are also private schools that offer dental hygiene as a major course of study. These usually do not have residency requirements; however, you should check with each school to inquire about its admissions policy.

All dental hygiene programs will require some type of prerequisites, typically courses with an emphasis on science such as chemistry or biology in addition to other college level courses. Any courses taken outside of the U.S., such as those taken in your professional course of study; will probably need to be evaluated by a transcript service to ensure that they are compatible with courses offered here. The dental hygiene programs will then decide whether these previous courses may be accepted toward the degree offered at their school.