Dentist School in Iowa - IA

By RSWiese, allied health world contributing writer
Published: October, 31 2010

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Admission into an accredited dental school in Iowa is highly competitive. Although no specific undergraduate major is required, courses in biology, chemistry and physics, including courses with laboratory sections are pre-requisites. Most students complete a four-year bachelor’s degree prior to attending dental school. A pre-dentistry undergraduate program would be beneficial, but is not mandatory. Students must also take the Dental Admissions Test at least one year prior to admission into dental school.

Once accepted into a dental school, students will spend four years learning the basic sciences of dentistry, technique, and patient care. Many schools include practical experience at each level of learning, from caring for patients through preventive dentistry experiences in the first year to full comprehensive dental care in a simulated office setting in the fourth year. After earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, dentists in Iowa must pass the national board examination as well as take a Jurisprudence Examination given by the state. Once dentists have received a license to practice, they must renew their license every two years by completing at least 30 hours of continuing education courses that relate to the practice of dentistry or patient care. Acceptable topics include clinical information on advances in the practice of dentistry, OSHA and HIPAA regulations, patient record keeping, and risk management, in addition to attendance at annual dental conventions.