regarding the 2yr qualifying program for foreign trained dentists

[playarf]

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Hi, i'd be greatful if anyone can address these questions...
1. I am a Cdn citizen and just finished my 2nd year undergrad at UofT, and was planning onto attending UNIBE's dentistry program (UNIBE is located in the Dominican Republic). I am contemplating whether i should go right now, or after the degree...what do y'all suggest? does a BSC matter much after getting a DDS? will it be important coz i want to come back and do the qualifying program (if necessary, refer to q2).
2. On the NDEB website, it says that all NON N.American grads must do a two year qualifying program (which is quite costly itself, lol)...anyhow, I was wondering if the Dominican Republic is counted as part of N.A? because, technically, it IS a part of N.A. on the map...please correct me If I am wrong, and N.A. only applies to U.S. and Canada?
3. How will I go about specializing in any of the dentistry fields...i really wanna try to get into maxillo-facial surgery after my DDS, how would I go about doing that. Is the process similar to getting a medical school residency?
Sorry, I am new to this, and need a LOT of guidance...hence, any sort of help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time 🙂

 

[Henna]

Hi,
Try the pre-dental forum as well, you might get a good feedback there. Regarding doing a BSC, yes it helps if you are planning to do an OMFS program in the future.

 

[Meggs]

3. How will I go about specializing in any of the dentistry fields...i really wanna try to get into maxillo-facial surgery after my DDS, how would I go about doing that. Is the process similar to getting a medical school residency?

Most (if not all) OMFS are reserved for US graduates (or accredited graduates that is).

ADA accredited schools are only US and Canadian schools.

Sorry, I am new to this, and need a LOT of guidance...hence, any sort of help will be greatly appreciated.

Yes, you do. Read the FAQ thread and also read the "Links of interest" thread. It will help you.

 

[playarf]

thanks for the quick reply...heh

I was wondering, is BDS the same as DDS? kinda like MBBS in Europe/Aus and MD in U.S. Canada? 🙂

 

[playarf]

yeah, thanks for you reply...I understand that it will be a long and tedious process, but I ight have to do that If i dont get into U.S. dental schools.
do you think I have a shot at any U.S. dental school with a 3.0 GPA for the first two years? I will be working my ass off for the next two years and finish my H.BSC, but my undergrad program is quite tough (I am specializing in Nutritional sciences and its designed for grad school, and the higher level courses in the program are taught by the faculty of medicine, and are research oriented...so its rediculously hard to get A's in those courses...gah!)
As for DAT, the prep starts tonight!
I understand that U.S. students are given preference over Cdns for U.S. dental schools, so, what kind of a GPA should a CDN applicant have just to be competitive? or does it depend on the individual school?
Thanks for your help... 🙂

 

[Meggs]

yeah, thanks for you reply...I understand that it will be a long and tedious process, but I ight have to do that If i dont get into U.S. dental schools.
do you think I have a shot at any U.S. dental school with a 3.0 GPA for the first two years? I will be working my ass off for the next two years and finish my H.BSC, but my undergrad program is quite tough (I am specializing in Nutritional sciences and its designed for grad school, and the higher level courses in the program are taught by the faculty of medicine, and are research oriented...so its rediculously hard to get A's in those courses...gah!)
As for DAT, the prep starts tonight!
I understand that U.S. students are given preference over Cdns for U.S. dental schools, so, what kind of a GPA should a CDN applicant have just to be competitive? or does it depend on the individual school?
Thanks for your help... 🙂

You're better off with this question on the Pre-Dental forum.

Btw, does your username has anything to do with the fact that you want to go to school in the Caribbean? j/k 😛 😀

 

[gryffindor]

Bad plan. If you want to ultimately practice in the USA or Canada, you're better of with getting your DDS here. North America means USA and Canada, a degree from the Dominican will not be recognized here. You would have to complete a 2 or 3 year international dentist program at a US or Canadian dental school that offers this program after your training in the Dominican in order to practice here. If you want to pursue oral surgery (as you indicated), again, you're better off going to dental school here b/c you have to graduate at the top of your American/Canadian dental school class to even have a realistic shot at getting into an oral surgery residency.

Go look at the threads on the pre-dental forum such as 2004 Applicant STATS page and The Under 3.0 Club and STATS PAGE - 2003 Applicants. These threads will give you some idea of the GPAs & Stats applicants who got in had.

Do whatever you must to bring your GPA up - study harder, change majors or don't take such difficult classes. Dental schools won't really look at the fact that your classes were taught by med school professors, etc. It's the grade/GPA that's gonna matter.

Go over to the pre-dental forum. There are a number of Canadian students who will be attending USA dental schools that can help you out.