Dentistry is fast becoming a popular profession for undegraduate science students. Like medical schools, dental schools look for well rounded students with outstanding academic and personal profiles. Admission is competitive so prepare early.
In general, most Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Biochemistry provide you with the pre-requisites for dental school but you should check the websites of the schools that interest you to make sure that you are prepared. Your first year physics, chemistry and biology courses are usually included in pre-requisites, and the material covered also helps prepare you for your DAT exams.
For more information and specific details, visit the links below for the ten dental schools in Canada:
University of Alberta - http://www.dent.ualberta.ca
University of British Columbia - http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca
Dalhousie University - http://www.dentistry.dal.ca
University of Manitoba - http://umanitoba.ca/dentistry/
McGill University - http://www.mcgill.ca/dentistry
University of Saskatchewan - http://www.usask.ca/dentistry
University Toronto - http://www.utoronto.ca/dentistry
University of Western Ontario - http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/dentistry
If you are interested in studying dentistry in French, there are two school which offer a completely French program:
Université de Montréal - http://www.medent.umontreal.ca (French only)
Université Laval - http://www.fmd.ulaval.ca (French only)
Admission Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada
Alberta
2 semesters of biology
2 semesters of chemistry
2 semesters of physics
2 semesters of organic chemistry
1 semester of biochemistry
2 semesters of English
1 semester of statistics
Cut off GPA = 3.0
Manual Dexterity score required
British Columbia
2 semesters of biology
2 semesters of chemistry
2 semesters of physics
2 semesters of organic chemistry
2 semesters of English
Cut off GPA = 2.8
Lowest academic year dropped from calculation if 4 or more years completed
Manitoba
2 semesters of biology
2 semesters of chemistry
2 semesters of physics
2 semesters of organic chemistry
2 semesters of English
2 semesters of biochemistry
2 semesters of humanities/social sciences
GPA is adjusted
Manual Dexterity score required
Dalhousie
2 semesters of biology w/ labs
2 semesters of chemistry w/labs
2 semesters of physics w/labs
2 semesters of organic chemistry w/labs
1 semester each of biochemistry, microbiology, vertebrate physiology
2 semesters of English
4 semesters of humanities/social sciences
GPA is calculated using last two years
Toronto
2 semesters of biochemistry
2 semesters of human/mammalian physiology
4 semesters of life sciences
2 semesters of humanities/social sciences
Cut off GPA = 3.0
Academic Average & Perceptual Ability Test scores considered
Western
1 semester of organic chemistry w/labs
1 semester of biochemistry w/labs
2 semesters of human/mammalian physiology
Cut off GPA = 3.7
McGill
2 semesters of biology w/labs
1 semester of chemistry w/ labs
2 semesters of physics w/labs
1 semester of organic chemistry w/labs
1 semester of biochemistry & physiology are recommended
DAT score not required
Saskatchewan
2 semesters of biology w/ labs
1 semester of chemistry w/labs
2 semesters of physics w/labs
1 semester of organic chemistry w/labs
2 semesters of social sciences
1 semester each of molecular biochemistry & metabolic biochemistry
2 semesters of human physiology
Cut off GPA = 2.7