13 Best Dentistry Schools in the World

Attending the best and top-ranking Dentistry Schools in the world will give you a head start in becoming a Dentist. Although, dentists are now in high demand, top dentist clinics fill their vacancies with top graduates from the best dentistry schools in the world.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for dentists will increase much faster than in other professions. And, to become a dentist, you will need a bachelor’s degree in any field. A doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) is also a requisite.

In the United States, 64 universities offer advanced degrees in dentistry. The dental schools listed below have a solid reputation, excellent facilities, and excellent teachers.

But before we go deep into giving you a full rundown of the best dental schools in the world, this article will enlighten you on how to become a dentist.

How Do I Become a Dentist?

Just as doctors and lawyers must complete years of education beyond their undergraduate courses, dentists must complete four years of dental education.

The dentist’s requirements go beyond graduate training. All dentists must pass a series of tests and complete even more training before working with patients.

Although the path to becoming a general dentist or dental specialist is long, it is a long journey worth it in the end. In 2016, U.S. News and World Report ranked the dentist as the second-best career in the United States, with the orthodontist at the top of the list.

The publication analyzed salary, work-life balance, and challenges to determine the best careers. The subsequent headings will now state what it takes to be a Dentist.

What Kind of Training Is Required to Become a Dentist?

Deciding to be a dentist is a good professional decision: the hours are good, and the money is even better. However, the training required to be qualified can be long and rigorous.

In the United States, for example, you must complete a three-year degree followed by four years of dental school. While in the United Kingdom, you will spend at least five years studying.

Also, Dentists are trained in graduate school, usually through a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dentistry (DMD) program. The DDS and DMD programs have no distinctive differences. Both offer the same level of preparation.

Applicants from dental school must have high marks in the prerequisite courses, such as biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry. Dental schools are also looking for candidates who have scored high on the dental admission test.

Meanwhile, students in the DDS and DMD programs take courses on topics such as dental anatomy, physiology, pathology, molecular biology, oral microbiology, neuroscience, radiology, pharmacology, and dental anesthesiology.

Finally, throughout their program, dental students complete clinical placements and rotations that allow them to observe dentists and work with real patients to put their learning into practice.

You can read this: Easiest Dental Schools to get into in 2024 | Expert Guide

How Long Does it Take to Become a Dentist?

Now that you know what it takes to become a dentist, I know you are wondering how long it takes to become a dentist.

Well, becoming a dentist usually takes 8 years, but it may vary by specialty. Once you have completed your 4-year undergraduate program, you still have to study for 4 years in dental school. If you choose additional specialties, the time required may increase.

Those who do not complete a bachelor’s degree first or who complete a combined bachelor’s and doctoral program may take less time to complete their studies. Once a dentist graduates and obtains a state license, he can start seeing patients.

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Dentist?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that dental jobs will increase by nineteen percent until 2026, which is much faster growth than other occupations.

This may be due to the increasing availability of information on medical care, and the aging of the baby-boom population increases the demand for better care.

Whether you want to become an orthodontist, prosthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or general dentist, there will always be a lot of job security once you have completed your studies and you have got your license.

For four years, a dental student can expect to pay from $151,508 (state, public school) to $268,348 (private school) and more. It isn’t very comforting to address these costs if you go from college to dental school.

But according to BLS, the average salary of a dentist is $156,240, and the best workers earn more than $208,000 a year.

There are also many options to pay for dental schools. Specialized loans, grants, scholarships, and affordable programs can make payment easier and more automatic.

The cost of dental school will vary depending on where you study. Tuition fees differ from one institution to another, and the price of books, food, housing, and supplies is equally variable.

Best and Top Dentistry Schools in the World

Indeed, it is helpful if you are in a college or university that stands out in dentistry and can make the whole process more bearable. There are a good number of Dental Schools in the world, but knowing the best is what really matters.

To help you find one, we have compiled a list of the world’s top and best Dentistry Schools. And we will state in full detail of our 2024 ranking criteria.

Ranking Methodology

In selecting the best dentistry schools in the world, we will be considering several factors. They include:

Number of Programs: We consider these as one crucial criterion for ranking the best schools for dentistry. Because some of these schools can have a good number of programs they offer.

Accreditation: This criterion is very important because a school can be cheap yet not have quality.

So we consider the accreditation and certification body for each of these schools before ranking them. Whether they fall in the category of regional or national accreditation.

Acceptance Rate: This is one aspect that is considered important because the lower the acceptance rate the better the school.

Graduation & Employment Rate: Here, we consider if these schools have a high tendency to graduate their students. Some can get enrolled but get stuck at the end.

Also, we put into consideration whether school graduates are employable by great institutions. These factors are equally very much important.

List of 13 Best Dentistry Schools in the World

We have compiled a list of the top and best Dentistry Schools in the world. And we will be listing a full detail of our 2024 ranking criteria.

So here is a list of the Best Dentistry schools in the world, with their acceptance rate, graduation rate, and the number of programs they offer.

• #1. Harvard University
• #2. King’s College London
• #3. University of Michigan
• #4. University College London (UCL)
• #5. University of Washington
• #6. University of Pennsylvania
• #7. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• #8. University of California, Los Angeles
• #9. University of Hong Kong
• #10. New York University
• #11. University of Florida
• #12. University of Pittsburgh
• #13. McGill University

#1. University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg offers a bachelor’s and Ph.D. program in dentistry. It’s not a dental school located in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. UOG dentistry school is currently the highest-ranked in the world.

QS and Shanghai rank The Institute of Odontology of the University of Gothenburg as one of the best. It offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of dentistry that can earn you a bachelor’s and/or Ph.D. degree.

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Check this: Best Medical Schools in Texas | 2024

#2. Harvard University

When it comes to university classifications, it seems that, whatever the subject, Harvard is a world leader. Dentistry is no different. The Boston-based Harvard School of Dental Medicine offers many postgraduate courses, including the DMD program.

As part of the ongoing curriculum, which fully uses Harvard’s unique teaching methods, students will learn to develop and complete a research project during their second, third, and fourth years, closely complementing the existing interdisciplinary approach.

Tuition fees are set at around $85,070 (£64,350) per year, although this does not include living expenses, travel, and other personal allowances.

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#3. King’s College London

Grouped under the auspices of the University of London, King’s College is a research-based institution with the largest dental school in the United Kingdom, which trains about 150 dentists annually.

Unlike UCL, it offers a five-year BDS program and offers students the opportunity to gain clinical experience in several world-class hospitals.

The UK government limits tuition fees for UK applicants to £9,250 (around $12,280) per year. While international students look at £43,500 (around $57.720) per year. (These costs do not include life or personal costs, additional travel, graduation, and safety assessment costs).

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#4. University of Michigan

Despite its reputation for athletic ability, the University of Michigan is also one of the leading scientific research universities in the country. Not surprisingly, his dental school, located on the picturesque Ann Arbor campus, benefits from this success.

There are many graduate programs available, and the main course of dentistry is after the DDS program. While tuition fees for non-Michigan residents are set at around $68,370 (£51,720) per year (excluding living expenses) and personal).

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#5. University College London (UCL)

While there is no doubt about the potential of a joke here about the British and the teeth, UCL represents the first of the two British entries on this list.

In fact, the University’s Eastman Dental Institute, adjacent to the Eastman Dental Hospital it is affiliated with, houses one of the best dental research groups in the world.

Perhaps oddly enough, the school does not offer undergraduate courses in dentistry; However, its range of specialized certificates, postgraduate programs, and research opportunities make it a more than worthy inclusion.

Tuition fees vary depending on the course choice, where you come from, and the funds you are eligible for, but generally, they are consistent with most other British universities.

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#6. University of Washington

Headquartered in the fashion metropolis northwest of Seattle, the University of Washington School of Dentistry (UWSOD) offers students world-class dental education. On the other hand, the school is, in a way, a closed shop.

According to university admission statistics, UWSOD receives approximately 1,000 applications per year for 63 places, And a low acceptance rate of approximately 6.3%, with Washington and, to a lesser extent, WICHE residents occupying the vast majority of these places.

Suppose you are one of the few lucky non-residents to enter (and some places are reserved for international students).

In that case, you can expect to pay tuition fees of around $102,000 (£77,160) per year, without counting personal and living expenses.

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Also read this: 13 Best Dental Schools In North Carolina NC | 2024

#7. University of Pennsylvania

As an Ivy League institution that offers academic excellence in many fields, it is not surprising that the University of Pennsylvania or UPenn appears on this list.

The university is also interested in making the most of this academic diversity, with double degree options (perfect for those looking to combine their clinical training with their business objectives).

Add opportunities for hospital internships abroad, student research programs, and summer scholarships, and UPenn becomes a highly desirable destination.

Tuition fees are around $95,000 (£71,860) per year, although this does not include living expenses or personal costs.

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#8. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or UNC-Chapel Hill, is a public university known for its dental and dental hygiene programs and, particularly, its cutting-edge facilities.

Basically, the University’s Center for Oral Health Sciences, which opened in 2012, is equipped with some of the best technologies in the world.

Applicants must have completed a four-year college degree (as well as several pre-dental courses). While tuition fees for non-North Carolina residents start at $83,790 (£63,380) per year.

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#9. University of California, Los Angeles

Given the obsession with the image in Los Angeles, it may not be surprising that there are many opportunities in dentistry.

The University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA, as most commonly abbreviated, offers a four-year DDS program that begins in the laboratory before diversifying into clinical settings.

With only 88 students in the course, admission to the school is very competitive. According to the official UCLA admissions site, the overall average for the current class is 3.80, with 21 graduate students.

Meanwhile, tuition fees are just over $78,500 (£59,380) per year for non-California residents, although that does not include personal and living expenses.

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#10. University of Hong Kong

The school is one of the top-ranked Asian universities on this list (part of the prestigious Tokyo School of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Melbourne).

Meanwhile, students of the six-year BDS degree program at the University of Hong Kong can expect advanced education facilities. And also an impeccable postgraduate employment rate and an education aimed at internationally renowned students.

Fortunately, the entire course is also taught in English, although students must take additional Chinese and Cantonese lessons to interact with patients.

In 2018-2019, tuition fees for “ non-local ” students (in other words, those who require a visa to be in Hong Kong) were around $20,500 (£15,500) per year, including a deposit Admission of $10,250 (£7,750).

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#11. New York University

The New York University School of Dentistry trains approximately 350 DDS students annually. Students take courses in various biomedical, behavioral, and clinical areas.

Extensive clinical practice is a hallmark of the program, and NYU is proud of the diversity of its patient base. Students gain real-world experience during their four years of education and work closely with their directors and group practice teachers.

The NYU dental school is the largest in the country, and almost 10% of all dentists in the United States have received training there.

The school receives approximately 300,000 patient visits per year, so the breadth and depth of opportunities are hard to match.

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#12. University of Florida

The UF School of Dentistry is located at the southern end of the main campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville. Many hospitals, clinics, and other health-focused programs dominate this section of the campus.

The school receives almost 100 DMD students each year, and the program includes clinical placements in the second year, followed by more advanced clinical experiences in the third and fourth years.

The UF health system has a range of dental facilities in the Gainesville area, including those focused on pediatric dentistry, periodontics, general dentistry, and orthodontics.

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Read also: Top 10 Cheapest Dental Schools In The World | UPDATED

#13. University of Pittsburgh

Located on the main campus, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry has existed since 1896. Like most schools on this list, Pitt recognizes that medical education is not limited to the classroom.

The school encourages community service and research, and dental students benefit from practical experience at the WISER center, with its simulation-based training center. Pitt Dental students will also serve as patients to each other while honing their clinical skills.

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#14. McGill University

The McGill School of Dentistry offers undergraduate and graduate programs for students in a dynamic and diverse environment. Students will have the opportunity to attend one of the world’s largest and most research-oriented dental schools.

The Faculty has the largest general medicine residency program in the country, with headquarters in three teaching hospitals.

In addition, 95% of dental graduate students enroll in residency programs in Canada and the United States each year, and 30% continue with a specialized program.

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Best Dentistry Schools in the World in 2024 FAQs

Conclusion

As you can see, there are high-level options for studying dentistry worldwide. Although when choosing a university, you should always look at what is best for you, not for everyone.

However, if you are unsure which to choose between medicine and dentistry, why not check out our list of the best medical schools in the world.

Meanwhile, where do you plan to study? Let us know in the comments section below!

References

• careeraddict.com – The 10 Best Dental Schools in the World (2024)
• thoughtco.com – Best Dental Schools in the U.S
• howtobecome.com – How to Become a Dentist

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