So I'd like to take this opportunity to enlighten anyone who cares to read on what it entails to become a dentist in the state of Minnesota.
First, you must actually get into dental school, a feat in itself. But once you're in it doesn't get any easier. Not only must a student pass all of the course work and all 60 some competencies but then there is the matter of the board exam.
There are two types of boards, WREB or CREDTS, to be licensed in Minnesota (and some other states) CREDTS must be taken. This exam is in two parts. Part I and Part II. Part I consists of a written portion on everything science. Gross anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, dental anatomy, occlusion, microbiology,and pathology. This exam is usually taken during the second year because that is when all of the science background classes are fresh in your brain.
Part II however, has five subparts to it. Part 1 is another written exam, this time testing on clinical information, more pathology, pharmacology, and a whole lot more, which I haven't studied for. This exam is usually taken early in the fourth year. Parts 2 and 3 are taken on a typodont (fake mouth). This exam has historically been taken in the early part of the fourth year. However, this year they tried a new integrated format and had third years take it, with the fourth years. So I took parts 2 and 3. Part 2 consists of three crown preps, one anterior (#9) all ceramic, one posterior (#28) porcelain fused to metal, and a posterior (#30) full gold crown. #28 and #30 are also prepped to be restored as a three unit bridge. Part 3 is the endo portion consisting of accessing and locating canals on a molar tooth and on accessing and completing a root canal therapy on an anterior (#8) tooth.
Parts 4 and 5 will be happening soon for the fourth years and consist of the live patient portion of the licensure exam. An anterior composite and posterior two surface amalgam must be done along with a scaling and root planing portion. Not only do the students have to find their own patients that meet the strict requirements but they historically also pay their patients and assistants for their time, not to mention the cost of the exam, which for parts 4 and 5 is approximately $850. It is a very stressful situation overall.
So if I seem crabby this time next year, its probably because I haven't found any acceptable lesions for the board exam so please be willing to be screened for that ideal lesion. You'll get a free filling out of it, and maybe some extra cash too.
