Do Dentists Go To Medical School?

Dentists do not go to medical school. They complete four years of dental school after undergraduate studies, earning either a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). Physicians attend medical school and graduate with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), followed by residency.

• Dentist path: 8 years total, typically no required residency
• Physician path: 11–15 years total, residency required
• Key difference: Dentistry focuses on oral health, while medicine covers the entire body

Dental School vs. Medical School

Dental and medical schools share a similar structure: both last four years, starting with heavy science coursework and ending with patient care.

• Dental school: First two years focus on anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and oral sciences. Final two years involve clinical training in oral health. Graduates earn a DDS or DMD, which are equivalent degrees.
• Medical school: First two years cover anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and ethics. Final two years involve clinical rotations across multiple specialties, such as pediatrics, surgery, and internal medicine. Graduates earn an MD or DO.

Both require entrance exams: dentists take the DAT, physicians take the MCAT.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Dentist?

• Undergraduate degree: 4 years
• Dental school: 4 years
• Total: About 8 years to practice as a general dentist

Some programs combine undergraduate and dental training into 5–7 years, though these are uncommon. Optional residencies in areas like general practice or advanced dentistry add 1–2 more years.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Doctor?

• Undergraduate degree: 4 years
• Medical school: 4 years
• Residency: 3–7 years depending on specialty
• Optional fellowship: 1–3 additional years

In total, physicians usually train for 11–15 years after high school before practicing independently.

Related: How Long Does it Take to Pay Off Medical School Debt?

 

Which Type of School is Harder to Get Into?

Acceptance rates highlight the differences. About 41 percent of medical school applicants are admitted, compared to just about 5 percent of dental school applicants.

The numbers can be misleading. There are far fewer dental schools than medical schools, which means fewer seats despite fewer applicants.
Admissions factors for both include:

• GPA strength, particularly in the sciences
• DAT or MCAT test scores
• Personal statements, experiences, and recommendation letters

While both programs remain highly competitive, u.S. medical school first-time applicants rose by 2.3% in 2024–25, bucking the trend of declining overall application numbers

Pros and Cons of Dental School vs Medical School

Dentistry

• Faster path to practice (general dentists can begin after dental school)
• Strong earning potential
• Often more predictable work-life balance
• High tuition costs
• Narrower scope of practice
• Limited school availability makes admission challenging

Medicine

• Wide variety of specialties and research opportunities
• Prestige and broader systemic health training
• Ability to treat complex, body-wide conditions
• Longer training timeline with mandatory residency
• Higher burnout risk and more demanding schedules

Key Takeaways

Dentists do not attend medical school; they complete dental school and graduate with either a DDS or DMD. Both dentists and physicians complete four years of undergraduate study and four years of professional school, but physicians must also finish a residency and sometimes a fellowship, significantly extending their training. Dental schools admit fewer students, making them competitive despite lower applicant numbers, while medical schools face broader competition due to higher application volume. Dentistry allows for a shorter path to practice, while medicine offers more specialty options and research opportunities. Both paths require years of preparation and a long-term commitment to patient care.