Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Program

The goal of the program is to graduate dentists who have a foundation in the scientific and biologic basis of dentistry, who are sensitive to the needs, values, and attitudes of the individual patient and to the community at large, and who possess a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic, and health promotion skills for the delivery of patient care.

This goal is accomplished by a patient-centered educational approach in which biomedical, clinical and behavioral sciences provide the basis for the application of knowledge and skills to patient care.

Academic Policies Handbook

*Handbook is subject to change based on ongoing review.

Admissions Process Overview

  1. Fulfill all academic prerequisites
  2. Take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and send scores directly from the Dental Association (either American or Canadian)
  3. AADSAS Application: Apply through the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) including submission of all official transcripts, DAT scores and letters of recommendation. Once your AADSAS application is received by the Office of Dental Admissions, an acknowledgement will be sent to you via email
  4. Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry Supplemental Application: Submit a passport size (2"x2") photo with your signature on the back (for identification purposes), and a supplemental non-refundable application fee of $125.00 (U.S. funds), made payable to "Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry" by money order or certified check.
  5. Contact the Office of Dental Admissions to follow up on your application.

Please send all admission questions to: dental@udmercy.edu

Admission Process Details

Academic Prerequisites

Biology:

Physics:

English:

Biochemistry:

Microbiology:

The dental admissions committee reserves the right to modify the prerequisites when additional courses are necessary to an applicant's preparation for dental school. Grades of C or higher are expected in prerequisite courses; however, high B grades or higher are truly more competitive.

Courses in sociology and psychology, especially human behavior are highly recommended, as are business courses. If a student wishes to strengthen his/her academic credentials, he or she should consult with predental advisors at their present college/university regarding the proper course of action. When possible, the director of Dental Admissions may be available to offer specific guidance to prospective applicants; however, all applicants are strongly advised to consult with advisors at their schools.

Academic Achievement

A minimum GPA in science courses of 3.0 is recommended, but GPAs of 3.5 or higher are considered more competitive. A full-time academic load (15-18 semester hours) of three or four science courses each term is encouraged, particularly during the junior and senior undergraduate years.

Note - Canadian Students:

Ontario Residents:

Application

The School of Dentistry utilizes the Associated American Dental Schools Application Services (AADSAS). This service is available to all students applying to dental schools participating in the application service. When you use AADSAS, you complete just one application. Applications are available from June through January 15 of each year. Simply visit the American Dental Education Association's (ADEA) website to submit your electronic application. A non-refundable supplemental application fee of $125.00 USD is due at the time of application and should be paid electronically. Applicants will also be asked to upload a picture of themselves. By agreement among American dental schools, the earliest date of acceptance is December 1. For up-to-date information, please see the American Dental Education Association’s (ADEA) application website. Applicants are accepted from December 1 until the class is filled. Note - Canadian Students Canadian students will complete the I-20 process within the first week of classes with the Office of Admissions.

Dental Admission Test (DAT)

All applicants for admission are required to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT), a national standardized test. Scores from the DAT are an important component to one's application to dental school and should be recognized as such by the student. Members of an admissions committee frequently use the DAT to predict a student's success or potential failure in the school's curriculum. Additional information about the DAT can be obtained by visiting the American Dental Association's (ADA) website. Students are advised to take the DAT only after basic requirements in chemistry and biology have been completed. An applicant should try to achieve competitive scores of 20 or higher in each section. Retaking the DAT, with the goal of achieving more competitive scores is encouraged. DAT scores older than two years from the time of the test are not acceptable. The Canadian DAT is acceptable for applicants attending Canadian universities or colleges. DAT scores after December 31 st will not be accepted.

Letters of Recommendation

A composite letter of recommendation is required from the applicant's college/university preprofessional advisory committee. If no such committee exists, a minimum of two letters from science faculty within non-plant or non-environmental disciplines of biology, chemistry or physics--by whom the candidate has been instructed and earned a grade --are required. Applicants are encouraged to spend time in a dental office and are also required to have a letter from a dentist attesting to the applicant having spent a reasonable amount of time with the practitioner exploring the dental profession. An applicant who feels that the application did not allow explanations of certain aspects of scholastic history may submit a written personal statement directly to the Office of Dental Admissions. General Guidelines for Letters of Recommendations: Letters of recommendation must appear on official college/university or business (dental office) letterhead. Professionally, they must include an original signature with typewritten name beneath the signature as well as professional title. Faculty should ensure the course (code, title and term) for which you were enrolled and they instructed is conveyed within the content of their letter. It is highly recommended that letters of recommendation from TAs, graduate student instructors or PhD candidates be cosigned by the course director or department chairperson.

Selection Factors

The director of Dental Admissions reviews all completed applications and together with the Dental Admissions Committee selects applicants for admission to the School of Dentistry. Selection is based upon various components of a dental school application which may include cognitive and non-cognitive components of an application: difficulty of an undergraduate curriculum, academic performance in undergraduate studies, DAT scores, and personal characteristics and potential for success as determined by letters of recommendation, personal statements, and personal interviews, to name a few. The dental admissions committee requests an interview for the purpose of gaining information not readily gained from the application; interviews are by invitation only to academically qualified applicants.

Reapplication Requirements and Suggestions

Submit your application early. American dental schools operate on a rolling admission cycle; applicants are accepted from December 1st until the class is filled. With numerous applications being received by dental schools each year, and an increased quality in those applications, dental schools have been filling their incoming classes earlier and earlier. Continue to enroll FULL-TIME in upper-division (graduate) biologically-based science courses (non-plant or non- environmental). If you have already obtained your BS degree, it is suggested you begin working toward a master's degree (preferably in an area of biology, basic medical sciences, or public health). Submit new letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be submitted from current professors each year you apply.

Program Costs & Financial Aid

Estimated Program Costs

Program Costs

The following is an estimate of program costs for a dental student based upon 2023-2024 tuition and fees. Tuition and other fees are subject to annual increases and must be paid by the first Friday of each academic term. Students should anticipate annual increases in the order of four percent. *Financial aid, scholarships, and other funding can be used towards payment of tuition and fees.

2023 - 2024 Academic Year

Program Costs (In-State and Out-of-State Residents)

Living Expenses

TOTAL EXPENSES (Tuition, Fees & Housing)

First-, second-, and third-year students attend year round, from August-August. Fourth-year students attend August-May. The costs listed above are for the Fall and Winter Semesters. Students do not accrue any tuition costs or fees for the Summer Semester. All students must have health insurance coverage or must enroll in the University plan provided through Aetna Health Insurance. Fees are subject to change without notice. It is anticipated that the costs of tuition and books will increase commensurate with inflation, budget needs, or similar affecting factors. Current costs are available upon request.

Financial Aid

Students may be eligible to receive Financial Aid while enrolled in this program. A select number of donor-funded scholarships are available annually at the School of Dentistry as well as several scholarships offered upon acceptance to the Doctor of Dental Surgery program. No application is necessary for scholarships offered at acceptance; application details for donor-funded scholarships are shared annually in the Fall Term.

Doctor of Dental Surgery Program Required Curriculum (188.5 Credits)

First Year

First Year

**Curriculum is subject to change based on accreditation requirements and ongoing review.

Fall Term

Winter Term

Second Year

Second Year

**Curriculum is subject to change based on accreditation requirements and ongoing review.

Summer Term

Fall Term

Winter Term

Third Year

Third Year

**Curriculum is subject to change based on accreditation requirements and ongoing review.

Summer Term

Fall Term

Winter Term

Fourth Year

Fourth Year

Summer Term

Fall Term

Winter Term