Pre-Dentistry Program
The pre-dental program is the course of study for students who plan to enter the dentistry field. PUC has a reputation for its excellent pre-dentistry program and very high acceptance rates to dental school for its graduates.
Fast Facts
- There are over 200,000 professionally active dentists in the United States as of 2024.
- The national dentist-to-population ratio is approximately 59.5 dentists per 100,000 people.
- Dentist supply varies widely by state, with about 40.2 dentists per 100,000 people in Arkansas and approximately 103.2 per 100,000 in Washington, D.C.
- Rural areas generally have a much lower supply of dentists compared with urban areas.
- Nearly two in five U.S. dentists are female as of 2024.
- The female share of the dental workforce has more than doubled since 2001, increasing from roughly 16% to about 39%.
- Among dentists age 35 and younger, approximately half are female.
- The dental workforce is becoming younger as many older, baby boomer dentists retire.
- A surge in retirements among older dentists has been observed.
- About one-third of U.S. dentists practice in solo practices, while younger dentists increasingly choose group practices.
- Dental Support Organization (DSO) affiliation has more than doubled since 2015, with 16.1% of dentists affiliated in 2024.
- In some states, more than one in four dentists within 10 years of graduation are affiliated with a DSO.
- Approximately 78.8% of dentists are general practitioners.
- Pediatric dentistry has experienced substantial growth, and orthodontics is the most common specialty among non-general practitioners.
- Dentist incomes have declined recently due to rising practice expenses and flat or declining revenues.
- The income gap between male and female general practitioners has narrowed, though male dentists still earn more on average.
- Dentists are working slightly more hours, often due to increased non-clinical responsibilities.
- Dental school graduations reached record highs in 2024, and at least half of recent graduates have been female since 2019.
- Approximately 39.6% of dentists were female in 2024.
- About 21.2% of dentists report practicing in an ADA-recognized specialty.
- Age distribution in 2024 was approximately 17.3% under 35, 26.0% ages 35–44, 22.6% ages 45–54, 18.7% ages 55–64, and 15.5% age 65 or older.
Careers
As a health-related professional career, dentistry offers a variety of challenging roles to today's practitioners. Each brings the satisfaction of providing preventive and restorative oral health care to a population with ever-changing needs. The arenas of dental practice include the armed services, dental education, hospital practice, private practice, and public health. Advanced training programs are also available in dental anesthesiology, dental public health, endodontics, esthetic dentistry, implant dentistry, oral surgery, oral pathology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics.
- The average annual net income for general practice dentists in private practice in 2024 was about $207,980 (according to the U.S. Department of Labor).
- The overall supply of dentists is projected to increase through 2040, driven in part by new dental schools and workforce inflows.
- The average retirement age for dentists in 2024 was about 68.7 years, with an average career span of approximately 41.3 years.
- As of 2022, approximately 214,700 dental hygienists and 363,880 dental assistants were working in the United States.
For current dentistry-related statistics see the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Curriculum
Preparatory Coursework
Specific to LLU School of Dentistry, but most dental schools have a similar prerequisites.
| Natural Science | |
|---|---|
| Biological Foundations with laboratory | BIOL 121, 122,123 |
| General Chemistry with laboratory | CHEM 111, 112, 113 |
| Organic Chemistry with laboratory | CHEM 371, 372, 373 |
| General Physics with laboratory | PHYS 111, 112, 113 |
| Biochemistry I and II CHEM 481 and 482 OR Biochemistry I CHEM 481 and Cell and Molecular Biology BIOL 320 | |
| Communication | |
|---|---|
| English Composition | ENGL 101, 102 |
| Recommended Courses | |
|---|---|
| Recommended Science Courses (listed in order of priority) | Other Recommended Courses |
| BIOL 426 Histology (5) | MGMT 160 Small Business Management (3) |
| BIOL 101 Human Anatomy or BIOL 422 Advanced Human Anatomy | MGMT 261 Intro to Management (3) |
| BIOL 348 Systems Physiology | ARTF 222 Ceramics (2) |
| MICR 134 General Microbiology or BIOL 366 Medical Microbiology | BUAD 325 Business Law I (3) |
| BIOL 320 Cell and Molecular Biology | ACCT 121 Financial Accounting (3) |
| BIOL 469 Immunology | GNRL 204/204L Intro to Dentistry (2) |
| BIOL 430 Neuroscience | PSYC 234 Human Development (4) |
| BIOL 354 Genetics | MKTG 351 Marketing (4) |
| CHEM 482-483 Biochemistry II-III | ARTF 218 Sculpture I (2) |
| COMM 223 Interpersonal Communication (3) | |
| Religion |
|---|
| 4 quarter hours per year of attendance at a church-related college |
A minimum of a three-year pre-dentistry curriculum (144 quarter units) in an accredited college is required for acceptance. Students with a baccalaureate degree or on track to complete a degree are given preference.
Typical Schedule
As indicated in the predental course requirements listing, there are four science sequences of one year (Biological Foundations, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and General Physics) and two additional quarters of Biochemistry I and II OR Biochemistry I and Cell and Molecular Biology required. English 101 and 102 are also required for matriculation into the dental school. A sample schedule is shown below. Note that "other" in this case means major requirements, GE requirements, or electives with emphasis in that order. When choosing electives, consult the courses LLU recommends.
In order to take Biochemistry I CHEM 481, Biochemistry II CHEM 482, Cell and Molecular Biology BIOL 320, and certain recommended courses (e.g., Histology BIOL 426), a student must finish the Biological Foundations, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry sequences. This requires doubling up on science classes at least one year. Also, most classes have prerequisites: General Chemistry requires College Algebra (may be concurrently enrolled) or equivalent; Organic Chemistry requires General Chemistry; Biochemistry I and II require Organic Chemistry; Cell and Molecular Biology requires Biological Foundations and Biochemistry; and Histology requires Cell and Molecular Biology. Finishing these required science courses in four years requires that you chart out your class schedule several years in advance.
Finally, some skills (notably math and English) are required for success in any area and therefore should be mastered early on. Generally a student is recommended to take only one major science course the first quarter of their freshman year. For Biology majors, it is best to begin with Biological Foundations. For other science and non-science majors, General Chemistry is one class that can be started as a freshman and, because it must be taken in sequence starting with first quarter, all students except those without sufficient mathematical preparation or who are majoring in biology are strongly encouraged to enroll in General Chemistry their first quarter. Biological Foundations is unique in that the ordering of the sequence is not important. Therefore, if a student does well taking General Chemistry their first quarter, it is recommended that Biological Foundations be added their second quarter (along with General Chemistry).
In the second year, a Biology major will take General Chemistry while other science and non-science majors will take Organic Chemistry. Pre-dent students will want to have the core sciences (Biological Foundations, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry) completed by the end of his or her junior year. This will ensure adequate preparation for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) that is typically taken in the summer following the junior year. A student must complete the other science requirements (General Physics, Biochemistry I, Biochemistry II and/or Cell and Molecular Biology) by the end of their senior year.Typical Class Schedule - Biology Major
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | BIOL 121 MATH 106 (if needed) ENGL 101 Other |
BIOL 122 ENGL 102 Other |
BIOL 123 MATH 130 Other |
| Sophomore | CHEM 111 Other |
CHEM 112 Other |
CHEM 113 Other |
| Junior | CHEM 371 Other |
CHEM 372 BIOL 320 Other |
CHEM 373 Other |
| Senior | CHEM 481 PHYS 111 Other |
PHYS 112 Other |
PHYS 113 Other |
Typical Class Schedule - Science and non-Science Majors
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | CHEM 111 MATH 106 (if needed) ENGL 101 Other |
CHEM 112 ENGL 102 Other |
CHEM 113 MATH 130 Other |
| Sophomore | BIOL 112 CHEM 371 Other |
BIOL 111 CHEM 372 Other |
BIOL 113 CHEM 373 Other |
| Junior | CHEM 481 PHYS 111** Other |
CHEM 482 or BIOL 320 PHYS 112 Other |
PHYS 113 Other |
| Senior | Other | Other | Other |
Information & Requirements
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
Application Timeline
| Target Date | Process |
|---|---|
| Spring T-1 | Contact teachers/advisors/religious leaders to request recommendation letters: one personal recommendation and one committee letter (the preference of most dental schools) OR four personal recommendations. Contact the Academic Dean's office for a pre-professional recommendation letter request form (x 6234). |
| June, T-1 | Work on the on-line AADSAS application. Be sure to carefully craft your personal statement and have it reviewed by reliable sources. Apply to take the DAT. |
| By September 1, T-1 | Send in completed AADSAS application with official transcripts including any summer school classes. It is to your advantage to apply as close to the application opening date (June 1) as possible. |
| By late September T-1 | Receive secondary application from the School of Dentistry. Request official transcripts (mailed directly from all colleges) and letters of recommendation be sent. |
| Early October, T-1 (or before) | Return secondary application to School of Dentistry. |
| November, T-1 | Select applicants invited to interview with School of Dentistry representative when they visit PUC. |
| December, T-1 through March, T | Acceptances sent to applicants. |
| September, T | Enter LLU School of Dentistry! |
| Follow-up: Call the Admissions Office, (800) 422-4558 opt. 3 or (909) 824-4621, and ask about your application. Do not assume that everything is OK without checking. | |
| DAT review source: Preparing for the DAT, Betz Publishing Co., (800) 634-4365. | |
Process:
- Apply through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
- LLU screens application and sends Supplementary Application to eligible applicants.
- LLU screens completed Supplementary Application and sends invitation for interviews to selected applicants.
- Interview on campus (here at PUC during November visit).
- Completed applicant file is reviewed by Admissions Committee and acceptance letter is sent to selected applicant.
Dental Admissions Test (DAT) User’s Manual
Pre-Dental Recommendations
In March of the year in which you apply for dental school, you need to also turn in a request for a recommendation from PUC. The Pre-Health Professions Recommendation Committee begins meeting in early April so you must turn in your application within the last few weeks of winter quarter. The application is available at Pre-Health Professions: Pre-dent Canvas page. Please note that you may request a committee recommendation at the beginning of fall quarter but this will reduce your chances for admission as LLUSD and many other dental schools practice rolling admissions. It will be to your benefit if you are well known to the individuals on the Pre-Health Professions Recommendation Committee and if you provide ample information on your recommendation request to aid us in our evaluation. The individuals on the Professional Recommendation Committee are:
| Committee Member | Department |
|---|---|
| Aimee Wyrick (chair) | Biology (Pre-Dental advisor) |
| John Duncan | Biology (Pre-Medical advisor) |
| Marie Pak | Chemistry (Pre-Medical advisor) |
| Aimee Wyrick | Biology (Pre-Dental advisor) |
| Robert Wilson | Chemistry (Pre-Dental advisor) |
| Kent Davis | Chemistry (Pre-Pharmacy and Pre-Medical advisor) |
| James Robertson | Physics (Pre-Dental advisor) |
| Keith Neergaard | Business (Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental advisor) |
| Abram Fisher | Business (Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental advisor) |
| Tammy McGuire | Communication (Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental advisor) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to have a college degree before I can get accepted into dental school?
No, a four-year degree is not required, typically. However, the vast majority of successful candidates have a 4-year baccalaureate degree when they matriculate to dental school. It not only makes your application stronger, but also places you in a good position educationally, if you are not accepted or decide to go another direction professionally.
Roughly 80% of the dental students at LLU have an undergraduate degree, and another 10% have 4+ years of college without a degree. Getting a college degree is strongly encouraged because it gives you a fall-back position in case something goes wrong in dental school (e.g., you find that dentistry isn't what you want to do with your life, a family emergency requires you to drop out of school, you cannot afford dental school, you do not have the dexterity required for dentistry, etc.).
2. What is the deadline for submitting my application?
Deadlines are set by each dental school and can be found by accessing each school's website. It is strongly recommended that applicants apply early, soon after the AADSAS process opens in June of the year preceding anticipated matriculation. Some schools actually have deadlines in January or February of the actual year of matriculation, but the admissions evaluation process usually begins in the fall of the preceding year. (Sometimes an Admissions Committee member may question the motivation and commitment of an applicant who waited until the "last minute" to submit their application. APPLY EARLY!!
3. Should I wait until after I take the DAT to submit my application through AADSAS?
No, the application process through AADSAS is not connected to or dependent on the DAT. Again, submit your application early.
4. When should I get recommendations? Who do I need recommendations from?
First, ask prospective recommenders well in advance of the time you intend to have your application completed. When you receive their permission, submit their name and contact information to AADSAS. Since this process will be occurring in June or July (a common vacation time for most people), the actual recommendations may not be submitted immediately upon the request from AADSAS via email. Give the recommenders a reasonable amount of time to submit their recommendations before emailing them a "gentle" reminder. It is your responsibility to make sure that each recommender provides their evaluation in a timely manner.
It is very important for you to obtain recommendations from individuals who know you well. You should have established relationships with numerous prospective recommenders during your first three years in college. Unless the dental schools to which you are applying specify otherwise, it is recommended that you request one or two evaluations from science faculty, perhaps one from an employer, and one from a dental health professional. Most dental schools prefer a recommendation from a faculty committee.
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry requires an evaluation from PUC's Pre-Health Professions Recommendations Committee. Fill out the online form posted on the Pre-Health Professions Recommendation Letter Canvas site. You will be given complete an online a questionnaire and asked to provide information to the Committee. Please be complete and provide the document in a timely manner. The Committee usually begins its work for dental applicants in the 2nd week of spring quarter each year and continues until all requests have been fulfilled (usually in late November). Preference is given to requests submitted early and for those who have earlier deadlines from the dental schools to which they are applying.
5. What is the minimum GPA to get accepted into LLU School of Dentistry?
Dental schools may actually list a "minimum" GPA on their website; however, this is usually well-below the average GPA of successful applicants. For the dental school at Loma Linda University the average overall GPA of successful applicants has been about 3.5 for several years (including the freshman class of 2009). The average science GPA has been very close to this same value. Since some applicants may have very high GPA's (3.7 and above), it stands to reason that some applicants are accepted with less than a 3.5. Applicants with lower GPA's usually have very strong DAT scores and an academic record that has shown considerable improvement in the last year or two of college work.
6. What is the minimum DAT score to get accepted into LLU School of Dentistry?
There is no "official" minimum score. A score of 420 or 430 in most sections is competitive. For applicants whose first language is not English, the Reading Comprehension score is especially important. Even when the academic and perceptual scores are high, a low Reading Comprehension score (<390) can pose a significant problem for acceptance. Be sure to talk with a pre-dental advisor if you have any concerns about this issue.
7. Does going to an Adventist college make a difference in getting accepted into LLU School of Dentistry?
Because the Seventh-day Adventist Church owns and operates Loma Linda University, preference is given to qualified dental applicants who are members of the Church. The choice of one's undergraduate institution is a personal one and may involve many factors, including the majors available at a church college/university and the family financial situation. Attendance at one of the Church's institutions demonstrates a certain financial and philosophical commitment to the value of a Christian and Seventh-day Adventist education. Unless it can be demonstrated that there in an inconsistent interest in a Christ-centered education, there should be no prejudice toward anyone not enrolled in an Adventist college/university.
8. What is special about LLU School of Dentistry?
LLU School of Dentistry is committed to providing a high-quality education in a "Christ-Centered" context. It is the only dental school in the United States that advertises itself as a "Christian" school and recognizes the need for a holistic approach to health care that includes spiritual values.
Historically LLUSD offers (and requires) more clinical experience than most dental schools in the United States. Upon completion of the four-year program, most graduates are ready to begin practicing general dentistry immediately.
LLUSD is well-known and respected, not just in the US, but also around the world. One of the more recent innovations in the educational program is the very significant use of computer software in the learning process. Other dental schools are looking to LLU as a vanguard in this regard.
9. What classes besides the required ones should I take to prepare for dental school?
The recommended courses are listed in another section of this website. There are at least two schools of thought with regard to electives. (1) Take courses which will help you most directly in dental school, especially the first year or two. Since you will be taking courses that are mostly very intensive in dental school, any exposure in college should help make life a bit easier during the first term or year. (2) Take some courses that will be directly helpful in dental school, but also take some that will prepare you for the practical aspects of practicing dentistry, such as business courses. College is also the last time for most people of taking subjects just because they are of interest or will be "fun". Once you begin dental school and then establish a practice, the time for investigating other subjects is seriously reduced.
10. I've been accepted! What should I do now?
When you are accepted they will tell you to relax during the summer and collect teeth from local dentists. Take them seriously! Work hard at relaxing because it's going to be four years until you have another opportunity to relax.