Complete coursework at a dental school. When you go to dental school, you will receive a doctorate degree. A standard program is four years, which includes coursework and clinicals. You can get a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD). These are the same degree. The only difference is the name. The dental school you go to will give out one or the other.
You can also become a specialist, which will take a few years longer.
- The most important thing to make sure that you do is choose a program accredited by a dental organization, like the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
