Dental Medicine in Glendale

Fast Facts

Degree

Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)

General Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.75
• For the 2009-2010 application cycle, a minimum science and overall GPA of 2.75 will be required
• Approximately 50 semester hours of prerequisite course work
• DAT academic average score of 18 or higher desired
• Three letters of recommendation

Length of Program

4 years, full-time

Class Size

110

2009 Class Profile

• Female: 38%
• Male: 62%
• Average Age: 25
• Average Overall GPA: 3.48
• Class Size: 111
• Top Home States: Arizona (21%), California, Utah

Curriculum

• Basic, behavioral, and clinical sciences
• Preclinical simulation studies
• Practical clinical dentistry
• Community clinical rotations

Career Opportunities

• General dental practice
• Graduate education in any of the dental specialties
• Armed services (military)
• Public Health Service or Indian Health Service
• Dental industry
• Dental education
• Administration

US Employment Projections through 2014

• For every three dentists who retire, only two dentists enter the profession
• Demand for dental care will be strong as generations age while retaining their teeth longer, which increases demand for complex dental work and preventive care

Median Salary (2003)

• General Dentist: $177,340
• Specialist: $300,200

Admission Requirements

To be competitive, an applicant should have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must possess both a science (biology, chemistry and physics - BCP) and a total GPA over 2.75 (although 3.20 will be generally competitively necessary) on a 4.00 scale. A minimum science and overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale is required to receive a supplemental application from the College.

1. Complete prerequisite courses.
2. Submit competitive scores on the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). Scores in the area of 18 or higher will be expected for the Academic Average, Reading Comprehension, and Perceptual Ability sections. The DAT test must have been taken no more than 3 years prior to application. Scores from the Canadian DAT will not be accepted.
3. Submit three letters of recommendation. One must be from either a pre-dental advisory committee or a science professor. The others, preferentially, should be from either someone with a DO/MD, DDS/DMD degree and/or someone who can testify to the integrity and ethical standards of the applicant. Letters written by immediate family members will not be accepted. All letters of evaluation must be submitted directly from the evaluators. The Office of Admissions will not accept letters submitted by students.
4. Demonstrate a sincere understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of health care and particularly dental medicine.
5. Reflect a people/service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
6. Reflect proper motivation for, and commitment to, health care as demonstrated by previous salaried work, volunteer work, or other life experience.
7. Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
8. Agree to abide by Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
9. Pass the Midwestern University criminal background check.

Application Deadline

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applicants are required to submit their application to AADSAS by January 1st. Students may access the
online application via the Midwestern University website or through the AADSAS website. Students are advised to complete their application files as
early as possible to ensure timely consideration.

Additional Application Information

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Program Description

The College of Dental Medicine – Arizona will graduate its inaugural class of 110 students in May 2012. The Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) program is based on concepts of a humanistic culture of mutual respect, a focus on general dentistry, and preparation for licensure and practice of general dentistry upon graduation. Its contemporary curriculum features integrated, systems-based basic sciences; integrated, simulation-based preclinical oral health sciences; and integrated, patient-based clinical dentistry sciences. Learning is case-based and grounded in scientific evidence. The core curriculum is supplemented with course sequences in ethics and professionalism, practice management, advanced clinical dentistry, and community service.

College of Dental Medicine-Arizona Goals and Values

In pursuit of its mission, the CDMA is guided by this set of abiding and unchanging core values:

• Maintaining a student-friendly environment
• Encouraging diversity in all aspects
• Advocating collegiality and teamwork
• Integrating multidisciplinary coursework
• Focusing on a general dentistry curriculum
• Assuring competence for general practice
• Basing decisions on scientific evidence
• Delivering ethical, patient-centered care
• Engaging the university community
• Serving the profession and the public

Mission

The mission of the Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona is to graduate well-qualified general dentists and to improve oral health through research, scholarly activity, and service to the public.

Program Updates

Updates

The Dental Institute opened its doors to a second class of dental students in June 2011.

With the addition of 10 new clinical faculty members, the dental clinics are now fully operational.

Dr. Alexander Carroll was named Director of Clinical Care Coordinators.

With the matriculation of the Class of 2015 in August 2011, the CDMA will for the first time be fully enrolled with four dental classes participating in coursework on the Glendale campus.

Accreditation

The Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been granted the accreditation status of "initial accreditation." CODA, which operates under the auspices of the American Dental Assocation (ADA), is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the national accrediting body for dental education programs at the post-secondary level in the United States.

For further information, please contact the American Dental Association, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611; 800/621-8099. The web address is: http://www.ada.org/117.aspx.

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413

Related Links

Dental Medicine as a Career

American Dental Association (ADA)

American Dental Education Association (ADEA)

Arizona Dental Association Student Chapter (AzDA)