how to prepare for dental school

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sexychic

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So got into dental school, graduated from undergrad, still have 6 months left. I am thinking about to learn Spanish and prepare for dental school. My question is what kind of courses/books should I use? Anyone have any idea which course is really challenging at the beginning in dental school in general? thanks a lot!
 
Congratulations on getting in! You have a long road ahead and a lot to look forward to. The first year focuses on sciences and an introduction to dental anatomy and materials. I was a psych major so i found it helpful to take biochemistry over the summer. I would find a dentist willing to spend some time and talk about dentistry with you. Perhaps you can shadow a dentist and at the same time get a head start on dental procedures, terminology, and materials that you will come across in dental school. Good luck to you!
 
stlouisdds said:
Congratulations on getting in! You have a long road ahead and a lot to look forward to. The first year focuses on sciences and an introduction to dental anatomy and materials. I was a psych major so i found it helpful to take biochemistry over the summer. I would find a dentist willing to spend some time and talk about dentistry with you. Perhaps you can shadow a dentist and at the same time get a head start on dental procedures, terminology, and materials that you will come across in dental school. Good luck to you!
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Gracias! Good luck to u too!
 
http://www.livemocha.com/
I've been thinking about joining this for a while to aid in learning a language. Sounds like a pretty legit/fun way to learn a language while social networking. Cheers!
 
The dentist I work for suggested studying some gross anatomy before dental school. I think that makes sense, since it's mostly just rote memorization. Having some kind of foundation will probably ease some of the stress of the first year.

Congrats!
 
Mtd0588 said:
The dentist I work for suggested studying some gross anatomy before dental school. I think that makes sense, since it's mostly just rote memorization. Having some kind of foundation will probably ease some of the stress of the first year.

Congrats!
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this is what I am doing right now, memorizing all of head and neck (literally EVERYTHING). about 30 minutes - 1 hour every day.
 
A good friend of one of my family members attended a Spanish immersion program in Mexico. They lived near the beach in Mexico for about a month. This would be a great way to learn Spanish and relax by the beach before you start your 4-year marathon.
 
dentalWorks said:
this is what I am doing right now, memorizing all of head and neck (literally EVERYTHING). about 30 minutes - 1 hour every day.
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What book did you pick up? I am looking at Netters, McMinn's, or Thieme.
 
youknowthedrill said:
A good friend of one of my family members attended a Spanish immersion program in Mexico. They lived near the beach in Mexico for about a month. This would be a great way to learn Spanish and relax by the beach before you start your 4-year marathon.
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What program was this?
 
flabernak said:
What book did you pick up? I am looking at Netters, McMinn's, or Thieme.
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Netters is really good. I very much suggest getting the Board Review Series for Gross Anatomy. Really good book and super cheap too. They also have a head and neck edition.
 
Thank you all for those valuable suggestions!!!!!!!!! good luck to u all!
 
im really glad you asked this question because I have some free time till sept when dental school starts and I really wanna make the most of this time. and I want to make sure Im covering all areas and will not regret wasting my time later on. I think I will make some flashcards for the anatomy head and neck. That sounds like a good idea. Any more ideas would be appreciated.

Especially dental students now.. if you had a chance to redo something during your free time before school started, what would it be?
 
dent555 said:
sfkhan7797 said:
Especially dental students now.. if you had a chance to redo something during your free time before school started, what would it be?[/QUOTE]

bump
Click to expand...

Not a dental student yet, but I'll probably end up trying to learn some Spanish via rosetta stone. If I go to school in southern california I think it would be very useful to know some spanish. I am also planning on trying to pick up another job to save some money.
Click to expand...
 
sexychic said:
So got into dental school, graduated from undergrad, still have 6 months left. I am thinking about to learn Spanish and prepare for dental school. My question is what kind of courses/books should I use? Anyone have any idea which course is really challenging at the beginning in dental school in general? thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

A school I interviewed at specifically said it would be smart to review some A and P as and Biochemistry before hand since students traditionally do the worst in these classes. However, they also suggested getting some well deserved rest and to enjoy the time you have off since your unlikely to have much free time in the next 4 years. Good luck!
 
There is only 1 way to prepare for dental schools... if you don't do it right, don't bother trying.

Get a book of Biochemistry, Histology, Gross Anatomy, Something psychology related, Dental Anatomy (good one = Concise Dental Anatomy and Morphology), and... okay fine I'll stop its first sememster.

Now for the next 4 weeks, master ALL the following topics (cause you'll have a mid-term)

Now, for biochem, master enzyme chapters (big over-view stuff, don't go into too much details), and proteins (structure / function / enzematic activity) and hit up all of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentos-P-pathway, and some genetic disorders related to all 3 cycles.

For histology, cover the begining chapters about H&E, organells, basement membranes, then do the chapters on.... Epithelial cells and Connective tissue,

For whatever psychology you picked up, know the first 7-8 chapters.

For Gross anatomy (this one sucks), my school started us off with memorizing every bone / bone structure in the body on the first day (160 PPT slide) ~ excluding head bones (thats next term). Then follow it up with all the back muscles, and just 1 nerve innervation for each back muscle (and 1 major blood supply). Then cover the breast, and chest muscles (attachment points, medial & lateral nerve, and 1-2 major blood supply).... and I think thats it.

For Dental anatomy, learn and master the first 4 chapters of that book, this will include ALL the anteriors. All their structures, functions, morphologies, and how they relate to one another (example: the lingual fossa of the maxillary lateral is bigger than the one found on max. central ~ haha if you have Kilgore teeth, thats NOT the case, yep all of us got that one wrong on the quiz)

Once you master this stuff in 4 weeks, expect to have a test, if you can answer 70% of questions right, then your on the right track.

By the way, that was about 70% of 4 weeks of a light-dental semester. The other 30% is lab works, ethics course, etc....
 
dentalWorks said:
There is only 1 way to prepare for dental schools... if you don't do it right, don't bother trying.

Get a book of Biochemistry, Histology, Gross Anatomy, Something psychology related, Dental Anatomy (good one = Concise Dental Anatomy and Morphology), and... okay fine I'll stop its first sememster.

Now for the next 4 weeks, master ALL the following topics (cause you'll have a mid-term)

Now, for biochem, master enzyme chapters (big over-view stuff, don't go into too much details), and proteins (structure / function / enzematic activity) and hit up all of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentos-P-pathway, and some genetic disorders related to all 3 cycles.

For histology, cover the begining chapters about H&E, organells, basement membranes, then do the chapters on.... Epithelial cells and Connective tissue,

For whatever psychology you picked up, know the first 7-8 chapters.

For Gross anatomy (this one sucks), my school started us off with memorizing every bone / bone structure in the body on the first day (160 PPT slide) ~ excluding head bones (thats next term). Then follow it up with all the back muscles, and just 1 nerve innervation for each back muscle (and 1 major blood supply). Then cover the breast, and chest muscles (attachment points, medial & lateral nerve, and 1-2 major blood supply).... and I think thats it.

For Dental anatomy, learn and master the first 4 chapters of that book, this will include ALL the anteriors. All their structures, functions, morphologies, and how they relate to one another (example: the lingual fossa of the maxillary lateral is bigger than the one found on max. central ~ haha if you have Kilgore teeth, thats NOT the case, yep all of us got that one wrong on the quiz)

Once you master this stuff in 4 weeks, expect to have a test, if you can answer 70% of questions right, then your on the right track.

By the way, that was about 70% of 4 weeks of a light-dental semester. The other 30% is lab works, ethics course, etc....
Click to expand...


😱😱😱😱😱:barf:
 
dentalWorks said:
There is only 1 way to prepare for dental schools... if you don't do it right, don't bother trying.

Get a book of Biochemistry, Histology, Gross Anatomy, Something psychology related, Dental Anatomy (good one = Concise Dental Anatomy and Morphology), and... okay fine I'll stop its first sememster.

Now for the next 4 weeks, master ALL the following topics (cause you'll have a mid-term)

Now, for biochem, master enzyme chapters (big over-view stuff, don't go into too much details), and proteins (structure / function / enzematic activity) and hit up all of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentos-P-pathway, and some genetic disorders related to all 3 cycles.

For histology, cover the begining chapters about H&E, organells, basement membranes, then do the chapters on.... Epithelial cells and Connective tissue,

For whatever psychology you picked up, know the first 7-8 chapters.

For Gross anatomy (this one sucks), my school started us off with memorizing every bone / bone structure in the body on the first day (160 PPT slide) ~ excluding head bones (thats next term). Then follow it up with all the back muscles, and just 1 nerve innervation for each back muscle (and 1 major blood supply). Then cover the breast, and chest muscles (attachment points, medial & lateral nerve, and 1-2 major blood supply).... and I think thats it.

For Dental anatomy, learn and master the first 4 chapters of that book, this will include ALL the anteriors. All their structures, functions, morphologies, and how they relate to one another (example: the lingual fossa of the maxillary lateral is bigger than the one found on max. central ~ haha if you have Kilgore teeth, thats NOT the case, yep all of us got that one wrong on the quiz)

Once you master this stuff in 4 weeks, expect to have a test, if you can answer 70% of questions right, then your on the right track.

By the way, that was about 70% of 4 weeks of a light-dental semester. The other 30% is lab works, ethics course, etc....
Click to expand...

You should probably throw out the psychology. That's so variable and not every school will cover the same topics or even the subject at all.
 
took a peep into an anatomy book for the first time..... holy Latin
 
wzhu said:
took a peep into an anatomy book for the first time..... holy Latin
Click to expand...

Never taken anatomy before? Sign up for undergrad human anatomy next semester if you still can. It will help ALOT.
 
wzhu said:
took a peep into an anatomy book for the first time..... holy Latin
Click to expand...

You pretty much said it. I took a look and ****, I should learn latin just for that class lol
 
AwesomeTeeth said:
Never taken anatomy before? Sign up for undergrad human anatomy next semester if you still can. It will help ALOT.
Click to expand...

I signed up for A&P for that very reason lol 👍
 
AwesomeTeeth said:
You should probably throw out the psychology. That's so variable and not every school will cover the same topics or even the subject at all.
Click to expand...
You can throw out psychology... but you need something annoying to replace... something that takes up your free time.

wzhu said:
took a peep into an anatomy book for the first time..... holy Latin
Click to expand...

Like others suggested, sigh up for an anatomy course AND MAKE SURE THERE IS CADAVER LAB (anatomy without lab is worthless). Everyone in dental school rocks out 80s and 90s in the multiple choice anatomy tests (you don't need any undergrad background for it)... but we struggle with the gross practicals, hence undergrad cadaver lab = best preparation before dental school
 
wired202808 said:
😱😱😱😱😱:barf:
Click to expand...
actually that wasn't too bad... you can master that stuff in about 10 days (assuming you don't have a job / school).

Its a different story when you spent 30-40 hours in school (between driving and actually sitting in school) and then coming home for that.

Don't worry, everyone adjusts quickly
 
Just finished off 2 semesters of A&P. I'm sure a chunk has left my brain already, but I hope it will make it just a tiny bit easier in dental school.

A helpful class I took during my first semester of anatomy was Latin and Greek Roots in Bio-scientific Terminology. People thought I was ******ed, but it helped a lot. And it certainly spans more than just anatomy.
 
LOL, I googled how to prep for dental school and came across this thread. Now I know A&P stands for Anatomy and Physiology. 🙂
 
bump

looking for suggestions on what basic anatomy/physio book i should pick up!
 
Dent_Dent said:
what is A&P ?
Click to expand...
nick-young-confused-face-300x256_nqlyaa.png
 
dancer17 said:
bump

looking for suggestions on what basic anatomy/physio book i should pick up!
Click to expand...
I might take the online course offered by BYU. I tried signing up at my local CC since I've already graduated but they gave me the worst enrollment period and the classes were filled up weeks before my turn even came.
 
If your school offered Primate Skeletal Anatomy and Human Skeletal Biology - which would you take? The former is actually taught in a lecture/lab setting with a good professor and goes over primate dentition and tooth morphology. The latter is you get an actual skull and have to find about 5 pages of anatomical landmarks. Other assignments in each class of course, but I'm having a hard time deciding what will be most useful.
 
hopefuldentist123 said:
If your school offered Primate Skeletal Anatomy and Human Skeletal Biology - which would you take? The former is actually taught in a lecture/lab setting with a good professor and goes over primate dentition and tooth morphology. The latter is you get an actual skull and have to find about 5 pages of anatomical landmarks. Other assignments in each class of course, but I'm having a hard time deciding what will be most useful.
Click to expand...
I would take the first option (primates)
 
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