Becoming a specialist in areas such as endodontics or oral and maxillofacial surgery requires more than just a college degree. Dentists must attend at least four years of additional study and pass several exams before being licensed. To move on to clinical training or patient care training, the dentist will have to successfully complete and pass very demanding national board exams that strive to evaluate and ensure that the dentist is competent in their knowledge to care for the oral health of a real person. The University of Illinois School of Dentistry offers six specialized graduate programs for qualified dentists to thoroughly prepare for a future career in each field.
All dentists must complete a very similar and regulated educational itinerary to obtain a general dentist license. While 8 out of 10 dentists practice general dentistry, the profession is expanding much more than general dentistry. In the hope of keeping dentists informed about developments in the dental field, some states require dentists to obtain a minimum number of hours of continuing education (learning after becoming dentists) in order to renew their dental licenses. Specialties are recognized in those areas in which advanced knowledge, skills, and training are superior to those taught in a predoctoral dental education program and are independent and unique from other specialties in maintaining or restoring oral health. The National Commission has established certain requirements for the recognition of dental specialties. These requirements include passing very demanding national board exams that strive to evaluate and ensure that the dentist is competent in their knowledge to care for the oral health of a real person.
Additionally, states may require dentists to obtain a minimum number of hours of continuing education (learning after becoming dentists) in order to renew their dental licenses. The University of Illinois School of Dentistry provides six specialized graduate programs for qualified dentists to thoroughly prepare for a future career in each field. These programs provide an opportunity for dentists to gain advanced knowledge, skills, and training that are superior to those taught in a predoctoral dental education program.
