Dental Biology Degree and Career Facts

<p>Dental biology is a field that requires an advanced degree, such as a master's degree or Ph.D. Dental biology programs, more commonly called oral biology programs, can prepare you for careers in researching and teaching. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Options</b> </td><td> Bachelor's degrees, Master of Science or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Oral Biology</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Courses</b> </td><td> Scientific method and research methodology, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, systems biology and immunopathology</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Future Career Options</b> </td><td> University teacher, researcher</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WhatCareersCanADegreeInDentalBiologyPrepareMeFor">What Careers Can a Degree in Dental Biology Prepare Me For?</h3> <p>You might study oral biology if you want to teach dentistry at the university level. You also might pursue a program in this field if you want to keep up with the latest research in dentistry or if you're interested in mentoring others in their research. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatPrerequisitesWillINeed">What Prerequisites Will I Need?</h3> <p>Since oral biology programs are predominantly offered at the graduate level, you'll need an undergraduate degree to be considered for admission. You might choose to study as an undergrad, while some biology departments offer pre-dental tracks. You could choose to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) before pursuing an oral biology degree, but this isn't always required. These prerequisite topics might be covered: </p> <ul><li>Biology </li><li>Chemistry </li><li>Physics </li><li>Mathematics </li><li>Biochemistry </li><li>Microbiology </li><li>Physiology </li><li>Anatomy </li><li>Histology </li><li>Immunology </li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatDegreesCanIEarn">What Degrees Can I Earn?</h3> <p>You can earn a Master of Science or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Oral Biology. A master's degree generally takes two years to complete, while a Ph.D. can be earned within five years. Both programs incorporate laboratory rotations and thesis research into their curricula. Some schools offer a combined Ph.D./D.D.S. program. Due to the hands-on nature of these programs, online options aren't currently available. Some bachelor's degrees are also offered. For example, you might choose a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a pre-dental specialization. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatCoursesWillITake">What Courses Will I Take?</h3> <p>In a master's degree program, you're likely to take courses that provide you with a solid background in advanced dental biology curricula. You might study systems biology and immunopathology. Some of these topics may also be explored: </p> <ul><li>Scientific method </li><li>Research methodology </li><li>Molecular biology </li><li>Cellular biology </li><li>Genetics </li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatAboutDoctoralCoursework">What About Doctoral Coursework?</h3> <p>In a Ph.D. program, you'll take specialized courses based on your research interests. Some Ph.D. programs encourage you to participate in a teaching assistantship to help prepare you for an academic career. The following topics might be covered in your doctoral program: </p> <ul><li>Dentistry bioengineering </li><li>Head and neck cancers </li><li>Oral immunology </li><li>Bioinformatics </li><li>Genomics </li><li>Microbial population biology</li></ul>