Dentistry in the United States
Encyclopedia
The practice of dentistry in the United States is overseen by several agencies including the American Dental Association
, the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the regional boards. Ultimate licensure is the responsibility of individual states. There are roughly 150,000 practicing dentists in the United States.
The first 2 years of dental school consist mostly of didactic education as well as simulation courses. The last two years generally involve direct patient care under supervision. There tends to be much overlap in most schools' curricula; the didactic years may have some clinical components while the last two years still have significant didactic coursework.
During dental school, students must take and successfully pass Part I and Part II of the National Board Dental Examination (also known as "the Boards"), which is administered by the ADA. Part I is usually taken after the second year of dental school, while Part II is usually taken sometime in the fourth year.
The first step in practicing dentistry in the United States is graduating from an accredited dental degree
program in the United States, Australia, or Canada. By reciprocal agreement, programs that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, and the Australian Dental Council are recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, and vice versa. There are 57 approved dental schools in the U.S.
Regional Boards
Most states require candidates to pass a regional board exam. Regional boards are agencies which are contracted to test graduating dental students on clinical skills for a specific region of the country. These exams usually have several components, both written and clinical, and the latter is performed on live patients. The different boards include the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners
(usually referred to as the "NERB"), Western Regional Examining Board
(usually referred to as the "WREB"), Central Regional Dental Testing Service
(CRDTS) and the Southern Regional Testing Agency
(SRTA). California, Connecticut and Minnesota are states which allow candidates to complete a 1-year General Practice Residency (GPR) or an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) in lieu of a regional board exam. As of 2007, New York no longer accepted the NERB and has since required all graduates to complete a GPR or AEGD.
Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination
Many states further require licensees to successfully pass a Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination which tests candidates on states laws, regulations and ethics issues.
Currently, the American Dental Association formally recognizes 9 specialties:
and SCHIP.
American Dental Association
The American Dental Association is an American professional association established in 1859 which has more than 155,000 members. Based in Chicago, the ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association and promotes good oral health to the public while representing the dental...
, the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the regional boards. Ultimate licensure is the responsibility of individual states. There are roughly 150,000 practicing dentists in the United States.
Dental Education
In order to be accepted to an American dental school, most candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's degree as well as the pre-requisite courses.The first 2 years of dental school consist mostly of didactic education as well as simulation courses. The last two years generally involve direct patient care under supervision. There tends to be much overlap in most schools' curricula; the didactic years may have some clinical components while the last two years still have significant didactic coursework.
During dental school, students must take and successfully pass Part I and Part II of the National Board Dental Examination (also known as "the Boards"), which is administered by the ADA. Part I is usually taken after the second year of dental school, while Part II is usually taken sometime in the fourth year.
Licensure
Graduation from an Accredited ProgramThe first step in practicing dentistry in the United States is graduating from an accredited dental degree
Dental degree
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
program in the United States, Australia, or Canada. By reciprocal agreement, programs that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, and the Australian Dental Council are recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, and vice versa. There are 57 approved dental schools in the U.S.
Regional Boards
Most states require candidates to pass a regional board exam. Regional boards are agencies which are contracted to test graduating dental students on clinical skills for a specific region of the country. These exams usually have several components, both written and clinical, and the latter is performed on live patients. The different boards include the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners
Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners
North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners is one of four examination agencies for dentists in the United States. The other examination agencies are the Western Regional Examining Board, the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, and the Southern Regional Testing Agency...
(usually referred to as the "NERB"), Western Regional Examining Board
Western Regional Examining Board
The Western Regional Examining Board is one of four examination agencies for dentists and dental hygienists in the United States. The other examination agencies are, Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners, Southern Regional Testing Agency...
(usually referred to as the "WREB"), Central Regional Dental Testing Service
Central Regional Dental Testing Service
Central Regional Dental Testing Service is one of four examination agencies for dentists in the United States. The other examination agencies are, West Regional Examining Board, Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners, Southern Regional Testing Agency...
(CRDTS) and the Southern Regional Testing Agency
Southern Regional Testing Agency
Southern Regional Testing Agency is one of four examination agencies for dentistry in the United States. The other examination agencies are, Western Regional Examining Board, Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners...
(SRTA). California, Connecticut and Minnesota are states which allow candidates to complete a 1-year General Practice Residency (GPR) or an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) in lieu of a regional board exam. As of 2007, New York no longer accepted the NERB and has since required all graduates to complete a GPR or AEGD.
Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination
Many states further require licensees to successfully pass a Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination which tests candidates on states laws, regulations and ethics issues.
Specialty Training
Dental graduates have the option of pursuing specialty training.Currently, the American Dental Association formally recognizes 9 specialties:
- Dental Public HealthDental public healthDental public health is a non-clinical speciality of dentistry.Dental public health is involved in the assessment of dental health needs and improving the dental health of populations rather than individuals....
- EndodonticsEndodonticsEndodontics is one of the dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, and deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth...
- Pediatric DentistryPediatric DentistryPediatric dentistry Pediatric dentistry Pediatric dentistry (formerly pedodontics (American English) or paedodontics (Commonwealth English) is the branch of dentistry dealing with childrenfrom birth through adolescence...
- Periodontics
- ProsthodonticsProsthodonticsProsthodontics, also known as dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry, is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons...
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Oral and Maxillofacial RadiologyOral and maxillofacial radiologyOral and Maxillofacial Radiology AKA is that specialty of Dentistry concerned with performance and interpretation of diagnostic imaging used for examining the craniofacial, dental and adjacent structures...
- Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryOral and maxillofacial surgeryOral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty...
- OrthodonticsOrthodonticsOrthodontics, orthodontia, or orthodonture is the first specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions , which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both...
State Regulation
Every state has a regulatory body that oversees the practice of dentistry and is usually referred to as the dental board of that state.- Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama
- Alaska Board of Dental Examiners
- Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners
- Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners
- Dental Board of California
- Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners
- Connecticut Department of Health
- Delaware State Board of Dental Examiners
- District of Columbia Board of Dentistry
- Florida Board of Dentistry
- Georgia Board of Dentistry
- Hawaii State Board of Dental Examiners
- Idaho State Board of Dental Examiners
- Illinois State Board of Dentistry
- Indiana State Board of Dentistry
- Iowa Board of Dental Examiners
- Kansas Dental Board
- Kentucky Board of Dentistry
- Louisiana State Board of Dentistry
- Maine Board of Dental Examiners
- Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners
- Massachusetts Board of Dentistry
- Michigan Board of Dentistry
- Minnesota Board of Dentistry
- Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners
- Missouri Dental Board
- Montana Board of Dentistry
- Nebraska Board of Dentistry
- Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners
- New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners
- New Jersey State Board of Dentistry
- New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care
- New York State Board of Dentistry (Office of the Professions)
- North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners
- North Dakota State Board of Dental Eaxminers
- Ohio State Dental Board
- Oklahoma Board of Dentistry
- Oregon Board of Dentistry
- Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry
- Rhode Island State Board of Examiners in Dentistry
- South Carolina Board of Dentistry
- South Dakota State Board of Dentistry
- Tennessee Board of Dentistry
- Texas Board of Dental Examiners
- Utah Board of Dentists and Dental Hygienists
- Vermont Board of Dental Examiners
- Virginia Board of Dentistry
- Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission
- West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners
- Wisconsin Dental Examining Board
- Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners
Dental Economics
Until the late 20th century, most of dentistry was paid directly by patients. Today funding for dentistry includes self-payment, private insurance, employer-sponsored insurance, MedicaidMedicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
and SCHIP.