Doctor of Dental Surgery-D.D.S

About the Program

The D.D.S. program is a four-year program that prepares students with the skills necessary to become a general dentist at graduation.

Cost

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are enrolled in the prescribed courses and to pay tuition and fees at the time designated by the Bursar's Office. Details regarding tuition/fee charges and collection are available from the Bursar's Office.

Application Materials

Step 1: Submit to AADSAS:

The following items are submitted to AADSAS according to their instructions:

• AADSAS Dental School Application - The 2023 AADSAS Dental School Application is available beginning June 1, 2023.
• Official Transcript(s) - Official transcripts from each college or university attended showing all coursework attempted and completed.
• Letters of Recommendation (All letters must be on letterhead)

1. A letter from a dentist.
2. A recommendation uploaded directly from your institution's Pre-professional Advisory Committee is preferred. In lieu of a committee recommendation, two letters of recommendation from science instructors are acceptable.
3. ¹It's advisable to submit your application by the first week of September 2023. You do not need to wait on your letters of recommendation or DAT exam to upload prior to submitting your application. Transcript(s) need time to upload and be verified.
4. Application deadline is September 30, 2023.

Step 2: Submit to OU College of Dentistry:

• On-line Application Supplement and Fee
• Dental Admission Test Scores - DAT Scores- Designate OU College of Dentistry to receive your scores. Indicate planned DAT exam date if it is in the future or if you are planning on retaking. We will accept the unofficial Exam Report you received the day of your exam and you must email those to Heidi-Martin@ouhsc.edu.

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If you have any updates to observation hours or changes in your contact information, please email Heidi Martin in our Admissions office.

International Students

Any persons (applicants) born outside the U.S., this may include U.S. Territories and/or where English is considered a second language, may be required to provide additional information with their application:

• Acceptable TOEFL scores are required of all applicants from countries where English is the second language. This requirement pertains to any person born outside the United States and includes Permanent Residents of the U.S. (green card holders) and Naturalized U.S. Citizens. The applicant may request a waiver through the OUHSC application. The College of Dentistry may waive TOEFL scores if the applicant provides evidence of a diploma from an English-speaking high school or a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution. An official score report must be received by OUHSC Admissions and Records directly from Educational Testing Service.

The minimum test scores for applicants to the Doctor of Dental Surgery program are as follows:

Paper Based TOEFL: 587
Computer Based TOEFL: 240
Internet Based TOEFL: 88

• Transcript Evaluations by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

All applicants with foreign credentials are required to submit official documents to ECE for a course-by-course evaluation.

More information regarding International admission is available at OUHSC Admissions and then clicking on "Prospective Students."

Preparing to Apply (D.D.S.)

The training that leads to a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree is a combination of didactic (theoretical) and applied coursework together with a progressive experience in patient treatment in a clinical environment. The four-year D.D.S. program is widely known as one of the top leaders in pre-clinical and clinical education.

Application Timeline

• Mid May – ADEA AADSAS application opens
• Early June – Able to submit AADSAS application
• August – Interview invitations begin going out
• September 30 – Application deadline
• September – November – Interviews Conducted
• December 15 – Acceptances communicated

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
First Summer		Hours
CELLD 7195	Human Structure for Dental Students	5
	Hours	5
Fall Semester
BIOCD 7194	Biochemistry	4
DMS 7191	Introductory Principles of Materials Science	1
DSA 7592	Behavioral Sciences I	2
DSA 7791	Introduction to Ethics	1
DSA 7891	Community Dentistry	1
OCCL 7101	Dental Morphology Lecture	1
OCCL 7215	Dental Morphology Lab	1.5
OD 7191	Oral Radiology	1
OD 7291	Cariology and Fluorides	1
PERI 7194		4
PHYOD 7196	Human Physiology	6
	Hours	23.5
Spring Semester
CELLD 7425	General Histology	2.5
CELLD 7525	Oral Histology	2.5
DMS 7291	Applied Dental Materials I	1
DSA 7991	Evidence-based Dentistry	1
OCCL 7225	Articulation and Occlusion	2.5
OD 7225	Radiographic Techniques and Interpretation	2.5
OD 7393	Oral Diagnosis	3
OPDT 7192	Operative Dentistry I - Preclinical Theory	2
OPDT 7293	Operative Dentistry I Laboratory Course	3
PERI 7305	Oral Prophylaxis Clinical	0.5
	Hours	20.5
Year 2
First Summer
DMS 7391	Applied Dental Materials II	1
MID 7135	Microbiology and Immunology for Dental Students	0
OD 7405	Adult Preventive Clinic	0.5
OP 7192	General Pathology for Dental Students	2
OPDT 7491	Operative Dentistry II Preclinical Theory	0
OPDT 7591	Operative Dentistry II Preclinical Laboratory	0
RD 7105	Alginate Impressions and Study Cast Fabrication	0.5
RD 7205	Digital Dental Technology I	0.5
	Hours	4.5
Fall Semester
ENDO 7115	Endodontics I, Pre-Clinical Lecture Series	0
ENDO 7225	Endodontics I, Pre-Clinical Laboratory	0
FPRO 7125	Fixed Prosthodontics I	2.5
MID 7135	Microbiology and Immunology for Dental Students	3.5
OD 7625	Patient Contact	0
OD 7891	Radiographic Interpretation Seminars	0
OP 7293	Systemic Pathology for Dental Students	3
OPDT 7491	Operative Dentistry II Preclinical Theory	1
OPDT 7591	Operative Dentistry II Preclinical Laboratory	1
OS 7192	Comprehensive Control of Pain and Anxiety	2
OS 8291	Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office	1
PERI 7592	Clinical Periodontics I	0
PHARMD 7194	Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Dentistry	4
RP 7125	Removable Prosthodontics	2.5
	Hours	20.5
Spring Semester
ENDO 7115	Endodontics I, Pre-Clinical Lecture Series	1
ENDO 7225	Endodontics I, Pre-Clinical Laboratory	1.5
FPRO 7293	Fixed Prosthodontics II	3
OCCL 7305	Clinical Occlusion I	0.5
OD 7625	Patient Contact	2.5
OD 7891	Radiographic Interpretation Seminars	1
OP 7292	Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology I	2
OPDT 7391	Operative Clinic I	1
ORTH 7225	Developmental Dentistry Orthodontics	2.5
OS 7292	Principles of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery I	2
PEDO 7192	Basic Pediatric Dentistry	2
PERI 7592	Clinical Periodontics I	2
PERI 7491	Periodontics I	1
RP 7392	Removable Partial Prosthodontics	2
	Hours	24
Year 3
First Summer
ENDO 8191	Endodontics II	1
FPRO 8215	Clinical Fixed Prosthodontics I	0
OD 8105	Treatment Planning I	0.5
OD 8115	Clinical Oral Diagnosis I	0
OP 8292	Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology II	2
OPDT 8193	Operative Dentistry Clinic II	0
PERI 8105	Periodontics II	0.5
PERI 8292	Clinical Periodontics II	0
PHARMD 8191	Special Subjects in Pharmacology and Therapeutics	1
RD 8320	Digital Dental Technology II	2
RP 8191	Immediate Dentures	1
RP 8291	Clinical Removable Prosthodontics	0
	Hours	8
Fall Semester
DSA 8105	Clinical Record Keeping and Patient Management I	0.5
ENDO 8291	Clinical Endodontics I	0
FPRO 8215	Clinical Fixed Prosthodontics I	0
IMPL 8192	Oral Implantology I	2
OD 7505	Alchohol and Drug Education	0.5
OD 8115	Clinical Oral Diagnosis I	1.5
OD 8292	Oral Medicine and Therapeutics	2
OPDT 8193	Operative Dentistry Clinic II	0
ORTH 8191	Orthodontics Lectures I	1
ORTH 8291	Clinical Orthodontics I	1
OS 8205	Clinical Oral Surgery I	0.5
PEDO 8191	Applied Pediatric Dentistry I	1
PEDO 8291	Clinical Pediatric Dentistry I	1
PERI 8292	Clinical Periodontics II	0
RD 8191	Restorative Lectures I	1
RP 8291	Clinical Removable Prosthodontics	0
	Hours	12
Spring Semester
DSA 8291	Introduction to Practice Management	1
DSA 8305	Clinical Record Keeping And Patient Management II	0.5
DSA 8691	Psychological Basis For Dental Practice	1
ENDO 8291	Clinical Endodontics I	0
FPRO 8215	Clinical Fixed Prosthodontics I	1.5
OCCL 8105	Clinical Occlusion II	0.5
OD 8215	Clinical Oral Diagnosis II	1.5
OD 8491	Geriatric Dentistry	1
OPDT 8193	Operative Dentistry Clinic II	3
ORTH 8391	Orthodontics Lectures II	1
ORTH 8491	Clinical Orthodontics II	1
OS 8391	Principles of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery II	1
OS 8405	Clinical Oral Surgery II	0.5
OS 8591	Hospital Clerkship	1
PEDO 8391	Applied Pediatric Dentistry II	1
PEDO 8491	Clinical Pediatric Dentistry II	1
PERI 8191	Periodontics III	1
PERI 8292	Clinical Periodontics II	2
RP 8291	Clinical Removable Prosthodontics	1
	Hours	20.5
Year 4
First Summer
DSA 9345	Senior Externship	0
ENDO 8291	Clinical Endodontics I	0
ENDO 9191	Endodontics III	1
IMPL 9105	Oral Implantology II	0
ORTH 9305	Clinical Orthodontics III	0.5
OS 9205	Clinical Oral Surgery III	0.5
PEDO 9105	Clinical Pediatric Dentistry III	0.5
PERI 9105	Periodontics IV	0.5
RD 8291	Restorative Lectures II	1
RD 9265	Comprehensive Care	6.5
	Hours	10.5
Fall Semester
DSA 8592	Advanced Practice Management	2
DSA 9105	Clinical Record Keeping and Patient Management III	0.5
DSA 9291	Ethical and Legal Aspects of Dentistry	1
DSA 9345	Senior Externship	0
ENDO 8291	Clinical Endodontics I	1
IMPL 9105	Oral Implantology II	0
OD 9193	Correlation Seminar	3
ORTH 9105	Clinical Orthodontics IV	0.5
PEDO 9191	Clinical Pediatric Dentistry IV	1
RD 9265	Comprehensive Care	11.5
	Hours	20.5
Spring Semester
DSA 9505	Clinical Record Keeping and Patient Management IV	0.5
DSA 9345	Senior Externship	4.5
ENDO 9215	Clinical Endodontics II	1.5
IMPL 9105	Oral Implantology II	.5
OS 9305	Introduction to Surgical Implantology	0.5
PEDO 9205	Clinical Pediatric Dentistry V	0.5
RD 9265	Comprehensive Care	12
	Hours	20
	Total Hours	189.5

Admissions Requirements

Academics

• A minimum of 90 semester hours of course work from any accredited college or university.
• A minimum of 75 semester hours of course work prior to application.
• All eligible applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and a minimum DAT score of 16. However, these scores are not considered competitive.
• Recommended 2.5 math and science GPA for all college level work attempted. 
• Applicants who have completed their bachelor’s degree more than two years before expected dental school attendance are advised to pursue academic activities or employment in the oral health field.

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

• Competitive scores for entering students have averaged between 19-21 in recent years.
• Highest score is accepted
• Exam score is valid for 3 years from the date of the exam

Subjective Criteria

• Hours should reflect more than 2 offices and a variety of specialties and dental environments
• Minimum of 100 hours of dental shadowing
• Minimum of 100 hours of community service
• Demonstrates quality communication and problem-solving skills, time management, personal character, and motivation

Prerequisites

Dentistry Programs Prerequisites

Course	Credits
Biology (with labs)	16 semester/24 quarterly
Chemistry, inorganic/general (with labs)	8 semester/12 quarterly
Chemistry, organic (with labs)	8 semester/12 quarterly
Biochemistry	3 semester/5 quarterly
Physics (with labs)	8 semester/12 quarterly
General Psycology	3 semester/5 quarterly
English (composition or writing intensive)	6 semester/10 quarterly

• All labs must be taken in person. We will accept an online Physics Lab up through the 2025 entrance cycle (class of 2029). Beginning with the 2026 entrance cycle (class of 2030) all labs are required to be taken in person.
• Use this chart for information regarding specific prerequisite requirements. OU and OSU course listings are for guidance only, use these lists to help choose appropriate courses at your institution.

American Dental Education Association Competencies for the new General Dentist

The general dentist is the primary oral health care provider, supported by dental specialists, allied dental professionals, and other health care providers. The general dentist will address health care issues beyond traditional oral health care and must be able to independently and collaboratively practice evidence-based comprehensive dentistry with the ultimate goal of improving the health of society. The general dentist must have a broad biomedical and clinical education and be able to demonstrate professional and ethical behavior as well as effective communication and interpersonal skills. In addition, he/she must have the ability to evaluate and utilize emerging technologies, continuing professional development opportunities and problem-solving and critical thinking skills to effectively address current and future issues in health care.

university of oklahoma college of dentistry technical standards of performance

The College recognizes the unique cognitive, technical, and attitudinal aspects of the profession and its curricula. Students must possess the skills and abilities that will allow them to successfully complete the course of study and receive the full benefit of the educational program. The student is required to direct or perform treatment on the patients of the College as part of the curriculum. The College has responsibility for ensuring the safety of patients and student clinicians. This includes the completion of treatment safely and within a reasonable amount of time. The student must be able to meet or perform the following elements that are fundamental to the nature of the program.

Sensory and Observation
Students must be able to observe patients, in clinic or in simulations, in order to gain information to be used in diagnosis. Students must possess vision, hearing and physical abilities sufficient to obtain a patient history, perform a physical examination and provide patient care. Additionally, students must have sufficient dexterity to manipulate dental and dental hygiene equipment appropriately and to perform in class, clinic and laboratory settings for extended periods of time.

Cognitive
Students must be able to solve problems using the ability to understand and retain knowledge derived from readings, lectures and demonstrations. Students must be able to use reasoning to analyze and integrate learned material and apply principles to new problems.

Motor Skills
Students ordinarily should have motor function sufficient to enable them to execute movements required to provide general care for and treatment of patients in routine and emergency situations. It is required that a student possess the motor skills necessary to directly perform palpation, percussion, auscultation and other diagnostic maneuvers, basic laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional uses of the senses of touch, vision and smell. Students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress.

Communication
Students must be able to communicate effectively with patients; convey or exchange information at a level allowing development of a health history; identify problems presented; explain alternative solutions; and give directions during treatment and post treatment. Communication includes speech and writing. Students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team. Students must have sufficient facility with English in order to retrieve information from texts and lectures and communicate concepts on written exams and patient charts; elicit patient backgrounds; describe patient changes in moods, activity and posture; and coordinate patient care with all members of the health care team. In any case where a student’s ability to communicate through these sensory modalities is compromised, the student must demonstrate acceptable alternative means and/or ability to acquire and demonstrate the essential information conveyed in this fashion.

Behavioral Skills
Students must possess the emotional health required for all utilization of the intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients.