Dentistry throughout the world is practiced differently, and training in dentistry varies as well.
Africa and Middle East
Egypt
Dentistry in Egypt has a long history, with the dentist occupation first appearing as early as 3000 BC.
There is a syndicate for all dentists which regulate the work in dental clinics in association with the Ministry of Health. For dental clinicians to practise, they should be enrolled in the dental syndicate. Dentists complete a 5-year-study course plus 1 year of practice in their dental school or general hospitals in the country. Most governmental dental schools give degrees of Bachelor, Master's degree & PhD in all dental fields. However, obtaining a chance for postgraduate studies in the field of orthodontics is somehow difficult according to many of Egypt general dental practitioners.
Iran In Iran dentists require six years of post-secondary education. The whole program is one single degree of D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery). After this, those wishing to specialize in a particular field may pursue higher education. Upon graduation, a dentist may need to fulfill two years of military service (as a dentist in uniform for males) or governmental service (both males and females) in order to collect enough scores to start in private practice. The current universities offering Dentistry are: Tehran University of Medical Sciences خانه Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah University Ghazvin University Zahedan University Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Babol University Rasht University Yazd University Kerman University Hamedan University Azad (Khorasgan-Isfahan) University Azad (Tehran) University Qom University of Medical Sciences (Dentistry school of MUQ)
Israel
In Israel there are two dental schools, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem, founded by the Alpha Omega dental fraternity, and The Tel Aviv University School of Dental Medicine in Tel Aviv. The two schools provide Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degrees. In addition, there are several post-graduation training centers such as Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa and Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. The post-graduation programs in the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer are held by the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces.
Americas
Brazil
The first step to becoming a dentist in Brazil is to take a 10-subject examination (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Literature, Foreign Language, Portuguese, History, Geography and an Essay) which might be compared to the SAT exam in the US. These examinations vary from institution to institution; however, dentistry is one of the hardest courses to get in and most students come from upper classes due to the level of difficulty and steep tuition prices. Students must complete the 4 or 5-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.). Skills capacitation courses after graduation are required in different dental areas, which take between 2 and 3 years (D.D.S). Universities of dental care are provided by both the private and public sector. The course's conclusion must be registered and licensed by the nationalized Dental Board of Brazil so that the students obtain the Dentistry Diploma. However, private clinics are the most common place a person would go if a dentist is needed. Today, the private market is dominated by large companies that hire mostly recently graduated dentists. Nevertheless, there are thousands of small clinics spread throughout the country. The practice of dentistry in Brazil is overseen by CFO Conselho Federal de Odontologia, a federal entity that coordinates the 26 state bodies plus Federal District. This institution has 340,000 registered dentists and 191 dental schools in Brazil. Brazil has become a leading country at the international level in areas such as Dentistry International Research, Implantology, Periodontics, Endodontics, Phrosthodontics, Aesthetics Dentistry, Pedodontics, Orthodontics, and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Brazilian Dentistry Department develops, all over the country, many innovative techniques and conducts dentistry research related to different aspects. Dentists in the Mercosur are eligible to work in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru.
Canada
The practice of dentistry in Canada is overseen by the National Dental Association Examination Board of Canada (NDAEB), while specialization is overseen by the Royal College of Dentists. Today, Canada has about 16,000 dentists. Canadian dentistry is not publicly run (see Medicare (Canada)); however, some provinces provide for free dental care for children and the elderly. Other Canadians are mostly covered by workplace dental plans, but many have to pay out-of-pocket.
For most of the early colonial period dentistry was a rare and unusual practice in Canada. In severe situations, barbers or blacksmiths would pull a tooth, but for many years Canada lagged behind European advances. The first dentists in Canada were United Empire Loyalists who fled the American Revolution. The first recorded dentist in Canada was a Mr. Hume who advertised in a Halifax newspaper in 1814.
During the first half of the 19th century, dentistry expanded rapidly. In 1867 the Ontario Dental Association was formed and in 1868 they founded Canada's first dental school in Toronto, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. The University of Toronto agreed to be affiliated with the dental school. As time passed, other Canadian universities also created dentistry programmes. However, the University of Toronto still has the largest dental school in Canada that features the most postgraduate research opportunities as well as certifications for all the dental specialties. The UBC Faculty of Dentistry supports five specialty programs being Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Pedodontics and Periodontics.
Dental care is not covered by the Canadian health care system, as it is in many other countries with public health care, although public dental services have long been provided to certain categories of the population. Nevertheless, studies have estimated that at least 6 million Canadians avoid going to a dentist because of the cost.
Canadian dental schools University of Toronto (1868) McGill University (1905) Université de Montréal (1905) Dalhousie University (1908) University of Alberta (1923) University of Manitoba (1958) University of British Columbia (1964) University of Western Ontario (1966) University of Saskatchewan (1968) Université Laval (1971)
Dental schools in the USA, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand are also recognized as accredited in Canada.
Chile In Chile, dentists require six years of post secondary education which, after 2 years dedicated to fundamental scientific and medical knowledge (chemistry, physics, biology, morphology, anatomy, histology, etc.) puts a particular emphasis on practice and the accountability to patients in the last 4 years. Specialization programs of 3–4 years (admission by competition) are possible after a minimum of 3 years' working experience has been completed. The first dental school was established at the Universidad de Chile in the year 1888. Other institutions providing professional dental education in Chile are Universidad Austral de Chile since 2004, Universidad de Concepción since 1919, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (since 2009), Universidad de Valparaíso since 1952, Universidad de la Frontera (since 1992), Universidad de Talca, which are public universities, and the following private universities: Universidad Finis Terrae, Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello, Universidad Mayor, Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Diego Portales, Universidad del Desarrollo, Universidad San Sebastián and Universidad de Antofagasta. After having been influenced for decades by both the European (especially from German-speaking countries) and North American dentistry, Chilean education and practice in dentistry have now reached a self-sufficient level and benefits from a range of top-level institutes, professors and practitioners. Research has developed at a fast pace and many articles find their path to international publications.
Costa Rica Dentistry is overseen by the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Costa Rica. Dentists complete 6-year courses from the University of Costa Rica in D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery), or similar courses from various private universities. Costa Rica is often cited as being one of the top ten countries in the world for medical tourism, including dentistry.
Peru
In Peru, dentists require five years of post secondary education in a university. There are several universities that provides dental education. The three first study years are similar education to the Human Medicine schools, then fourth and fifth years are dental studies and practices in the school clinic. In the last year, students have to complete evaluated and paid services in a public hospital and in a rural medical post (where there are no hospitals or doctors nearby, they will frequently have to deal with general medicine cases). The students obtain their degree in Dentistry (Bachelor's in Dentistry), if they want to practice in Peru the students have to prepare and defend a thesis to obtain the Cirujano Dentista (C.D.) degree (Dental Surgeon). Dentistry is overseen by the Colegio Odontológico del Perú (COP).
Peruvian dental schools
Lima Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Universidad de San Martín de Porres. Universidad Alas Peruanas. Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista. Universidad Científica del Sur. Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas.
Chimbote Universidad Los Ángeles de Chimbote – ULADECH.
Tacna Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann.
Trujillo Universidad Nacional de Trujillo. Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego.
Iquitos Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana – UNAP.
Puno Universidad Nacional del Altiplano.
United States
In the United States dentistry is generally practiced by dentists who have completed a post-graduate course of professional education. This has resulted in a high quality of care. Government-sponsored health care programs Medicare does not cover routine dental treatment . Medicaid does provide extensive dental coverage and benefits for beneficiaries under the age of 21 under the early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment (EPSDT) and a growing number of states also offer comprehensive dental services for adult Medicaid members as well.
Dental education in the United States In the United States, dentists earn either a D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. There is no difference in the training for either degree. The degrees are equivalent, and recognized equally by all state boards of dentistry. There are 56 accredited dental schools in the United States requiring 4 years of post graduate study (except for one unique 3-year program at the University of the Pacific). Most applicants to dental school have attained at least a B.S. or B.A. degree, but a small percentage are admitted after only fulfilling specific prerequisite courses. So unlike many other countries (other than US, Canada, and Australia), it usually takes more than 8 years to become a dentist. The difference relates to the history involved in the division of medicine and surgery in medical practice.