1. Bachelor's degree: Most dental schools require applicants to have a bachelor's degree in a science-related field, such as biology, chemistry, or physics. The bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete.
2. Dental school: After completing a bachelor's degree, students can apply to dental school. Dental school typically lasts four years and includes classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical experiences.
3. Residency: After dental school, most dentists complete a residency program, which provides additional training and experience in a specialized area of dentistry. Residency programs typically last one to two years.
So, the total number of credit hours needed to become a dentist can vary depending on the specific educational track and institution, but it typically takes eight or nine years of full-time study after high school, including four years of college, four years of dental school, and one to two years of residency.
It's worth noting that specific hour requirements may vary across institutions, so it is essential to check the admission requirements of the specific dental schools or programs you are interested in for their specific credit hour requirements.