Dental School Admissions: The DAT, Prerequisites, and AADSAS
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 04, 2026 • Graduate & Professional School
Dental schools require four core science prerequisites with labs, the Dental Admission Test, and one application through ADEA AADSAS. Most applicants take the DAT after finishing organic chemistry, then submit AADSAS the summer before their intended start date.
🎓 Core prerequisites: biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, each with lab
The DAT costs $560 and reports a 200-600 Academic Average score
💵 AADSAS costs $264 for one school and $115 for each additional school
Most applicants apply the summer before their planned enrollment year
📩 Dental schools also expect shadowing hours and letters of evaluation
Science prerequisites
Dental schools require a base set of science courses before you apply, and nearly all expect a lab component alongside each. The standard list covers general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Many programs also require biochemistry, English composition, and a math or statistics course. Check each target school's specific list on its admissions page, since requirements shift by a course or two between schools.
The Dental Admission Test
The DAT is a computer-based, multiple-choice test administered by the American Dental Association. It covers four sections: Survey of Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. Scores report on a 200-600 scale in 10-point increments, including an Academic Average that combines your science and quantitative results (the ADA moved to this scale from the old 1-30 scale starting March 1, 2025).
Registration for the DAT costs $560 as of the 2026 testing cycle, according to the American Dental Association . Most applicants take the test after completing organic chemistry, typically in spring or summer before they apply, since organic chemistry content shows up on the Natural Sciences section.
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Survey of Natural Sciences | Biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry |
| Perceptual Ability | Spatial reasoning and visualization |
| Reading Comprehension | Scientific passages |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Algebra, geometry, applied math |
Applying through ADEA AADSAS
ADEA AADSAS is the centralized application service nearly every U.S. dental school uses. You submit one application with your coursework, DAT scores, personal statement, and letters of evaluation, and AADSAS sends verified copies to every school you select.
The base fee for the 2026-2027 cycle is $264, which covers your first school. Each additional school adds $115, according to ADEA AADSAS . Many schools also charge their own supplemental application fee once you pass their initial screen. A fee assistance program covers the first three schools for applicants who qualify, though the 2026-27 cycle window for that program has closed.
Building the rest of your application
Shadow at least one general dentist and log the hours. Many schools list a minimum in the range of 50 to 100 hours, though the exact figure varies by program.
Get involved in community service and campus activities tied to health care or leadership.
Line up letters of evaluation from science faculty and a dentist you shadowed, well before the application opens.
Apply early. AADSAS opens in May, and dental schools use rolling admissions, so applying close to the opening date improves your odds.
A rough application timeline
Most applicants finish their science prerequisites and the bulk of their coursework by the end of junior year, then sit for the DAT that spring or summer. AADSAS opens in May, and you want your transcripts, DAT score, and letters ready to submit within the first few weeks the portal is open, since dental schools start reviewing files as soon as they arrive.
After AADSAS verifies your application, individual dental schools typically send you their own supplemental application with school-specific questions and a separate fee. Turn these around quickly. Schools often will not schedule an interview until your supplemental file is complete.
If your DAT score is not where you want it
You can retake the DAT, though most schools want to see meaningful improvement rather than a marginal bump, and a pattern of multiple attempts without improvement can raise questions. Give yourself real study time between attempts, and use a retake to fix a specific weak section rather than resitting the whole exam out of habit.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting until senior year to start shadowing hours, leaving too little time to build a real relationship with a supervising dentist.
Submitting AADSAS in the fall instead of the summer, which pushes your file behind thousands of earlier applicants in a rolling admissions cycle.
Treating the personal statement as an afterthought. Admissions committees read it closely for why you specifically want dentistry over medicine or another health field.
How schools weigh your GPA
Dental schools review your overall GPA alongside a separate science GPA built from your biology, chemistry, and physics coursework. A strong overall GPA carrying a weak science GPA raises questions about how you will handle the science-heavy first two years of dental school, so keep prerequisite grades as strong as the rest of your transcript.
Choosing where to apply
Public dental schools generally cost less for in-state residents than private programs, though tuition gaps vary widely by state and school. Apply across a mix of reach, target, and likely schools based on your GPA and DAT score compared to each program's published averages, rather than applying only to the most selective names.
What interviews look like
Dental schools that advance your file after reviewing your supplemental application typically invite you to interview, either in a traditional one-on-one format or a multiple mini interview with several short stations covering ethics, communication, and problem solving. Programs list their format on their admissions pages, so prepare accordingly instead of assuming one style fits every school.
Licensure after dental school
Graduating from an accredited dental program does not make you licensed on its own. You still need to pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination and complete your state's specific licensure requirements before you practice.