Anyone considering dental school before they have even entered college should take as many math and science classes as possible in high school. For example, take Pre-Calculus in high school so you can enter Calculus I right away in college. As well as taking as many math and science courses as possible, Dr. Jerry Gordon suggests taking Latin in high school to prepare for the many science classes you will take in college and your career, in general. You should take Latin in order to prepare you for your career in a scientific field, which uses many Latin terms.
Dental school hopefuls do not need to focus on one major. In preparing for dental school, a future dentist could study History or another Bachelor of Arts (BA) curriculum, because a Bachelor of Science (BS) is not required. It is recommended, though, and since you will need many science classes in order to meet dental school requirements, you can take care of both at the same time.
To get in to dental school, you will need to take a lot of science classes, including several courses in chemistry (also organic chemistry), biology and physics. Some science classes are not required, but certainly will help you. These helpful electives -- such as anatomy, physiology, and microbiology -- only benefit you in your understanding of the science vital for a dentist. To get accepted into dental school you need a good GPA, generally 3.0 or above. And, finally, prospective dental school students need to take and pass the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) before they enroll.
To become a dentist you first need to finish dental school. You can choose to get a DDS (Doctorate of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctorate of Dental Medicine). Completing dental school takes equal efforts in academic classes and practical application of dentistry, including clinics. After dental school, future dentists must pass the National Boards, a stringent academic exam, as well as state clinical exams. Once you pass both, you will be a licensed dentist ready to practice.