Elcid,
It truly depends on your situation. Leaving a PhD program isn't necessarily a huge blemish; however, the surrounding issues may be. If you went into your PhD hastily and then abruptly decided to quit; it demonstrates that you are someone who makes decisions quickly and changes them often. Many professional/grad school admission officers don't like to see this characteristic among their applicants----as you have eluded to. Obviously they are looking for determined, motivated and informed applicants that desire to become whatever their degree program offers. (ie DDS, MD, PhD). They shy away from someone that could possibly take the seat of another applicant and then leave 1 yr later----leaving not only a vacant seat, but a mark on the school's ability to retain their students----which is a nasty reflection in the school's eyes. Moreover, they depend on a certain amount of tuition from each class so they are out your tuition as well!
So you must personally meet the admission's director and face to face explain your situation----everyone changes their minds----everyone sooner-or-later realizes what they want to do the rest of their lives--------and you better than most realize it is not in your PhD field. Explain yourself, be confident, kick butt on the DAT, make sure you have some dental experience (volunteer, assist etc...) and good luck.
RRB
