1. Dentistry.ouhsc.edu

2. Kevin L. Haney, DDS, MS Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry 1201 N. Stonewall Avenue, Room 509 Oklahoma City, OK (405)
Dentistry.ouhsc.edu

3. Tammie Vargo, R.D.H., B.S.D.H., M.Ed. Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Dental Hygiene University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry 1201 N. Stonewall Avenue, Room 509 Oklahoma City, OK (405)
Dentistry.ouhsc.edu

4. DEMAND FOR DENTISTRY IS HIGH!
People keeping teeth longer
High demand for esthetic dentistry
Advancements in dental technology!
National emphasis on access to care
Awareness of relationship between oral health and general health
Greater number of dentists retiring (2015)
Dentistry is a well-paid, in-demand and secure profession 4

5. Favorable
Employment
Outlook

7. Career Advantages Personal Satisfaction Variety Creativity Flexibility
Security
Career Advantages

10. WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT DENTISTRY?
One of ten most trusted and ethical professions in US
Flexibility - to balance personal and professional life
Opportunity to be your own boss
Personally rewarding (earning potential, service to others)
Combines art and science

11. REASONS STUDENTS CHOOSE DENTISTRY
Source: American Dental Education Association, 2010 11

12. PROFESSIONAL OPTIONS IN DENTISTRY and Dental Hygiene
General Practice (80%)
Specialization (20%)
Practice Settings:
private offices
public health facilities,
hospitals
military
Teaching
Research

13. General Dentists
Has completed a DDS/DMD curriculum (usually 4 years post Bachelor’s degree)
May or may not have completed a 1 or 2 year advanced education program focusing on general dentistry
May practice all phases / types of dentistry

14. Dental Hygienists Some programs have Associates Degree
Some have Bachelors Degree
Some hygienists pursue Masters Degree level training (primarily educators)

15. Specialty Dentists
Have completed a DDS /DMD curriculum (usually 4 years post Bachelors degree)
Has completed a residency program with emphasis on one particular aspect of dentistry
Residency program varies depending upon the type of specialty program
Orthodontist – usually 2.5 years
Oral Surgery – usually 4 years
Pediatric Dentistry – usually 2 – 2.5 years
Periodontics – usually 3 years
Endodontics – usually 2 years

16. What do the specialists do?
Orthodontist – straighten mal-aligned teeth and correct dento-skeletal deformities
Oral Surgeons – tooth extractions, implant, maxillofacial trauma management
Pediatric Dentist – all phases of preventive and general dental care for children, plus behavior management and operating room cases
Periodontists – preventive and corrective / surgical care of diseases of the gums (periodontium)
Endodontists – saving teeth with root canal therapy

17. What do the specialists do?
Prosthodontists – replacement of complex cases of missing teeth with either permanently attached false teeth or dentures
Oral / Maxillofacial Radiologists – specialize in the use of diagnositic imaging to improve diagnosis and treatment planning
Oral / Maxillofacial Pathologists – specialize the diagnosis and management of tumors of the head / neck and other diseases
Dental Public Health – while most are, in reality, general dentist these specialists assist in the development of programs which assist communities with managing dental disease

18. Pediatric dentistry is an age- defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.

19. Basic Information (2009)
The number of professionally active dentists practicing in the area of pediatric dentistry in the U.S. was 6,134.
Of these, 5,344 were active private practitioners.
AAPD currently has approximately 6200 active or life members.
Professionally active dentists are those whose primary and/or secondary occupation is one of the following: private practice (full- or part-time), dental school faculty/staff member, armed forces, other federal service, state or local government employee, hospital staff dentist, graduate student/intern/resident, or other health/dental organization staff member.
Active private practitioners are those whose primary and/or secondary occupation is private practice, full- or part-time.
Source: American Dental Association, Survey Center, 2009 Distribution of Dentists in the United States by Region and State.

21. Team Members Employed by All independent Pediatric Dentists
Source: American Dental Association, Survey Center, Surveys of Dental Practice, 2012

22. The average numbers of patient visits including hygienist visits were:
Over half of independent pediatric dentists (53.8%) employed full-time or part-time hygienist in 2011
Excluding dental hygienist visits, all independent pediatric dentists treated an average of:
3.0 patients per hour
94.5 patients per week and,
4,468.6 patients per year
The average numbers of patient visits including hygienist visits were:
3.8 visits per hour
115.2 visits per week and,
visits per year
Source: American Dental Association, Survey Center, Surveys of Dental Practice, 2012

23. Most AAPD members value their pediatric Dental Assistants – (employers / workforce)
Relatively few respondents work with only one pediatric dental assistant (8%).
The largest percentage of respondents work with three pediatric dental assistants (18%), with two assistants the next most frequent response (17%).
A full 13% of respondents work with more than 10 dental assistants in their practice.
Source: Dental Assisting National Board Survey of AAPD Members

24. Just over three-quarters of respondents (76%) believe that there is a need for a national Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) designation across all of dentistry.
Slightly fewer but still a majority of respondents (63%) believe that there is a need for a national EFDA designation specific to pediatric dental assistants.
Of the 63% with this belief, 93% (549 of the 959 survey respondents) believe that a professional certification program could fill a perceived need for a national EFDA designation for pediatric dental assistants.
Source: Dental Assisting National Board Survey of AAPD Members

25. Access

26. Pediatric dentists as a whole have stepped up to plate and devote close to 25.5% of private practice delivery to children qualifying for public assistance programs
Source: American Dental Association, Survey Center, Surveys of Dental Practice, 2012

27. Pediatric Dentists ARE the Safety Net
Pediatric Dentists provide significant services to children participating in government insurance programs. One can truthfully state that
Pediatric Dentists ARE the Safety Net
25.5% of patients on public insurance
5,165 total patient visits per year per office
5,300 active private practitioners
Estimated 6.9 million Medicaid visits per year
Source: American Dental Association, Survey Center, Surveys of Dental Practice, 2012

28. Every child deserves a healthy start on life, but when it comes to oral health many children face significant challenges.
Young children in low-income families tend to have higher rates of tooth decay and have greater difficulty accessing ongoing basic dental care.

29. The need is great and pediatric dentists are stepping up to the plate to fill the gaps!
70% of pediatric dentists accept Medicaid, CHIP or both
Over 50% of all pediatric dentists are accepting new Medicaid patients
73.6%, of pediatric dentists worked in practices that provided charitable dental care either free of charge or at a reduced rate to some patients in 2011

30. Common Barriers that Pediatric Dentists Encounter in this Population
difficulty getting child to cooperate with healthy habits
“inability to pay for services” and
“lack of or limited transportation options”
Difficulty taking time off from work for child's dental appointments
Lack of or limited oral health information

31. Education Trends
* OUCOD – 65 graduates have gone into pediatric dentistry
* OU does not have a pedo residency program at this time
* But, we’ve gone all over!

32. GENDER: The percentage of female pediatric dentists has increased from 14.3% to 47% since 1998.
Source: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry member database 2013
OUCOD Graduates (as of 2014):
28 Female (47%)
37 Male (53%)
65 have entered into pediatric dentistry

33. APPLYING FOR ADMISSION

34. State of Oklahoma DDS Programs (1):
University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
DH Programs (3):
Rose State College
Tulsa Community College

35. APPICATION CYCLE – D.D.S.
Cycle Opens: June 2
Application Deadline: October 1
Interviews: Sept – Nov
Final Selections: December
College students typically apply at the end of their junior year

36. APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Application (ADEA.org)
Dental Admission Test (DAT)
Recommendations
Pre-dental Advisory Committee (two science professors if no committee)
Dentist
Supplemental Application (OU)
Sent directly to OU College of Dentistry
The AADSAS processing fee is $217 for the first dental school, and $68 for each additional school.
OU Supplemental app is 75.00
Other requirements:
･ Letter of evaluation from a dentist (submit to AADSAS)
･ DAT (make results available to Oklahoma College of Dentistry)
･ 100 hours of observation/experience in practice of dentistry or dental lab ･ International Students: A course-by-course transcript evaluation by World Education Services (WES) for any coursework taken at a college or university outside the United States 36 36

37. OTHER REQUIREMENTS Observation/Experience International Students
Self-reported on application
100 hours (minimum)
Dental practice, clinic or dental lab
Experience is ideal
International Students
TOEFL required 88 minimum ASP 94 minimum
Coursework evaluated by World Education Services (WES)
Minimum paper based 570, computer based 230, Internet based 88

38. PRE-DENTAL REQUIREMENTS
PREREQUISITES
COURSE
SEMESTER HOURS
English 6
Psychology 3
Biology with Lab
16 *
General Chemistry with Lab 8
Organic Chemistry with Lab
Physics with Lab
Biochemistry
In the next application cycle we will change the prerequisites to include 8 more hours of biology for a total of 16 credits required, or essentially four courses with lab
We may reduce the hours of physics to 4 instead of 8

39. ADMISSION BY THE NUMBERS
Total Applications 706
Non-Residents 598
OK Residents 108
Total Interviews 163
Non-Residents
OK Residents
Total Admitted
Non-Residents Avg GPA 3.5
OK Residents Avg GPA 3.5
2015 Entering Class

40. What Does it Cost? First Year Second Year Third Year Fourth Year
SCHOOL YEAR
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
Tuition, resident
20,317
Tuition, nonresident
48,225
Fees
6,233
6,676
6,359
6,144
Instruments, books & supplies, computer
15,996
12,097
2,557
4,002
Estimated living expenses
27,901
Total, resident
71,031
66,991
57,134
58,364
Total, nonresident
98,939
94,899
85,042
86,272
Costs are subject to change without notice Figures )except tuition)
are an approximate breakdown of education expenses

41. 2015 ENTERING CLASS Ave GPA – 3.54 Ave Sci GPA – 3.45
Ave DAT – 20.11
41 Residents
15 Non-residents
AR 1
FL 1
IL 1
OR 1
TX 3
UT 2
WA 3
Female 22 : Male 34
Ethnicity:
Asian/Pacific Islander - 14
American Indian - 3
Black or African American - 2
Hispanic or Latino – 1
White - 35
International - 1
Re-Applicants - 20
Average Age - 24

42. Entry Requirements Dental Hygiene (RDH)

43. Requirements 2 + 2 Program Minimum GPA 2.5 (on 4.0 scale) ACT or SAT
Minimum 60 hours, including prerequisite courses
Minimum GPA 2.5 (on 4.0 scale)
ACT or SAT

44. Requirements, cont. OUHSC application/fees (online)
40 hours observation (form online)
Career statement (form online)
2 letters of recommendation
Transcripts
High School, College

45. Requirements, cont. Foundational Courses
Must be completed by May prior to August start of school
ALL prerequisite courses must be completed prior to entering the program

46. Foundational Courses Human Physiology Human Anatomy
Introduction to Microbiology (with Lab)
Introduction to Nutrition
Understanding Statistics
Principles of English Comp II
Elements of Psychology
General Chemistry (with Lab)

47. Timeline Application deadline - January 15
Send items to HSC Admissions and Records
Online application/fees
Official Transcripts (including HS)
ACT/SAT scores
Send items to Dental Hygiene Department
2 letters of recommendation
40 hour shadowing form
Statement of career goals
Accepted applicants are notified by letter no later than mid-April

48. Selecting Sites for Application
Can apply to one or more sites:
Oklahoma City
Bartlesville
Ardmore
Weatherford
Bartlesville
Weatherford
Ardmore

49. Selection is Competitive
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
Admission is based on:
Averaged Foundational GPA
Last 60 hours GPA
ACT/SAT scores
Coursework completed status
Interview score
Writing sample scores

50. Qualities for Success Academics Service-oriented Manual dexterity
Organizational skills
Good communication skills

51. Admission Score Academic Score Interview Score Writing Score
Top 72 academic applicants granted an interview
Interview Score
Knowledge of Profession, Life Experience, Service, Communication Skills, Professionalism
Writing Score
Grammar, spelling, logic, articulation, depth

52. 2016 Admissions Statistics
Total Number of Applicants
122
Number Accepted 46
Average Cumulative GPA
3.29
Average Number of Hours 93
Average ACT Score 22
Average Age 23

53. OUCOD Website Information
Dental Hygiene Program
HygieneProgram/BaccalaureateProgram.aspx
Doctor of Dental Surgery Program
lDentistryDDS.aspx

54. Questions?