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Exercise Science - Dentist

Dentists play a vital role in improving overall health by preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases of the mouth and surrounding structures. They combine science, technology, and hands-on clinical care to restore oral health, educate patients, and detect health conditions that may first appear in the mouth. Dentistry offers a challenging and rewarding career with opportunities to practice general dentistry or specialize in a variety of fields

What Does a Dentist Do?
  • Diagnose and treat oral disease
  • Perform restorative procedures
  • Detect systemic health conditions
  • Educate patients on prevention
  • Improve oral health and quality of life

Career Paths
  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Endodontics
  • Periodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Oral Surgery
  • Dental Anesthesiology
  • Oral Medicine
  • Public Health

Prepare for Dental School

Become a Competitive Applicant
  • Strong GPA
  • Complete prerequisites
  • Clinical experience
  • Shadow dentists
  • Leadership
  • Community service
  • Join Pre-Dental Society
  • Strong letters of recommendation
  • Well-written application
  • On-time application

Dental School Requirements
Suggested Coursework:
  • Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physics
  • English
  • 100+ Shadowing hours
    • Chair-side assistant
    • Front desk
    • Volunteer experiences
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Personal Statement
  • Dental Admission Test
Requirements vary by program. Applicants are responsible for reviewing each school's admission requirements and selecting programs that best fit their qualifications and experiences.

Rutgers Opportunities

Network + Get Involved
Networking Tips:
  • Shadow dentists and oral surgeons
  • Attend healthcare career events
  • Connect with dental students and practicing dentists
  • Build relationships with faculty and advisors
  • Research programs before contacting admissions staff

 Helpful Links

 Career Sheets

These career sheets are short, prBrainpower Pathways Logo Collectionactical guides that help students explore different careers and understand what it takes to get started. Each sheet provides an overview of the career, the skills and education that may be helpful, and possible next steps.

Students should use the sheets as a starting point for exploration—not as a definitive guide or a requirement to follow a particular path. They can review sheets for careers that interest them, compare different options, and use the suggested resources and next steps to learn more, identify opportunities, and begin building a plan for their own career journey.

Exercise Science Careers
    Athletic Training
    Chiropractor
    Dentist
    Occupational Therapy
    Physician Assistant
    Physical Therapy		 Sport Management Careers
     Administration & Events
     Agent & Law
     Coaching
     Marketing & Revenue