Pre-Dentistry Experience

The UMKC School of Dentistry suggests candidates observe for a minimum of 80 hours in at least five different dental offices. They give preference to candidates who have worked in a dental office.

You can begin by arranging an informational interviews your own dentist and with those listed in the yellow pages. Ask what they do, what they like about their jobs, what they don't like about their jobs, and what advice they have for people interested in entering the profession. You may also want to arrange to job shadow for a few days. 

Most of our candidates gain more substantial experience by working as an assistant in a dental office or lab. The folks in University Career Center, 864-3624, 110 Burge Union, www.kucareerhawk.com, can help you put together a resume. Then, look up all the local offices in a phone book. Introduce yourself, and leave a resume that they can keep on file. Check back every month or two to let offices know you are still interested. Also, let your friends and family know  you're looking for a job as a dental assistant. The KU Pre-Dentistry Club has been a very helpful network for learning about job opportunities.

There are many other ways to gain experience. The UMKC School of Dentistry has extended a standing invitation to shadow dental students in their clinic. To make a reservation, call 1-800-776-8652.

In addition to dentistry experiences, dental schools, including UMKC, emphasize a demonstrated commitment to social service. To find out more about local volunteer programs, you can contact the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, 865-5030,
www.rhvc.org, the Center for Community Outreach, 864-4073, www.ku.edu/~cco, and Impact Online, a volunteer match program at www.impactonline.org.

In particular, you might be interested in volunteering at the Douglas County Dental Clinic, http://dcdclinic.emmultimedia.com/index.html. They need volunteer dental assistants and experienced office staff to help provide services at the clinic.

Part of dentistry is applied science, and it's helpful to know how this knowledge is developed. Working on a research project is also a good way to earn a substantial recommendation letter from a faculty member who knows you well. Most students volunteer their help, some earn directed study credit, and a very few are paid for their assistance. Demonstrate your aptitude in basic science courses, then let faculty members know you are interested in conducting research.

For the Biological Sciences Division, you can find some information posted at www.kuub.ku.edu/~kuub/cgi-bin/uro.shtml. The folks in the main office, 2045 Haworth, have also helped students arrange summer internships.

When you apply, it will be important to fully describe your activities. So, I strongly suggest keeping a log of your hours, activities and thoughts about the profession!