Dentistry (Pre)

Dentists enjoy a challenging and creative profession improving people’s quality of life through their oral health.

Dentistry is a rewarding career for those who feel passionate about helping maintain and educate people on their oral health. Dentistry involves hands-on precision work combined with personable communication and critical-thinking skills that allows for a stable career and a flexible life schedule. Dentists often use new, cutting-edge technology to help diagnose and treat patients, staying at the forefront of current scientific advances. You’ll find dentistry both demanding and personally fulfilling as you help people maintain their health and appearance.

WNCC’s Pre-Dentistry Program can provide you the coursework needed for the first two years toward getting your required bachelor’s degree before entering a college of dentistry.

Award Types

Associate of Science in Dentistry (Pre)

About the Program

Program Objectives

Provide the knowledge and skills required for a student to continue upper division pre-dental studies at a four-year college or university.
Provide coursework basic to a variety of curricula. Students can change their educational goals to other areas, especially in the life sciences, with little or no lost time.

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Becoming a dentist will take years of education and WNCC’s Pre-Dentistry program will give you the foundation needed to transfer to a four-year institution in Pre-Dentistry and eventually pursue a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. As a dentist, you may choose to work as a general practitioner, diagnosing and treating various oral health issues with a focus on preventative care, or you may choose to specialize in orthodontics, oral surgery, oral pathology, and more. Once established, you can choose to work with nonprofits assisting low-income children and families with their dental health.

Becoming a dentist isn’t for everyone and receiving the education you’ll need to become licensed is very expensive. We recommend talking with those close to you and a financial advisor to ensure you have researched all of the financial options available to you in order to get your degree. Completing scholarship applications and applying for financial aid is highly recommended at all stages of your pre-dental and dental school education.

It’s important to be prepared not only financially, but mentally and physically too as this is a demanding career requiring you to work in a confined space for most of your day. If you feel passionate in your desire to help others with their dental health, being a dentist is a wonderful career, requiring you to also being compassionate, empathetic, and willing to listen to your patients.

For more information on any of these career options, contact Career Pathways & Advising at pathways@wncc.edu .