Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Faculty of Dentistry

Why choose Dentistry at Dal?

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry was founded in 1908 and is home to one of Canada’s largest and most modern community dental clinics. All our programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and graduates are eligible for license to practice dentistry in Canada, the United States, and Australia.

Doctor of Dental Surgery Program

Dentistry deals with the health and care of the mouth, head, and neck. In the 4-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program, you’ll learn techniques in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a full range of dental diseases, including how to screen for oral cancers and perform types of oral surgery.

The DDS program’s electronic curriculum equips you with textbooks, manuals, and patient records on the laptop computer included in your tuition fees. Your classes will include biological, medical, and dental sciences, with a strong emphasis on clinical patient treatment activities even in the 1st year.

Beginning in your 2nd year, you’ll treat dental patients in Dalhousie's Dental Clinic, as well as in local hospitals and Faculty-operated community clinics in Halifax and beyond.

The Qualifying Program

The DDS Qualifying Program is designed for Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada who have graduated from a non-accredited dentistry program in another country. The Qualifying Program can help you gain eligibility for license to practice dentistry in Canada. This 24-month program builds on your existing dentistry knowledge and provides updates and training in North American dentistry. You’ll graduate with a Dalhousie Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and be eligible for license to practice dentistry in Canada, the U.S., or Australia.

Elective classes

During your studies in the Faculty of Dentistry, you may complete a variety of electives that will provide additional experience in specific fields, such as implant dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, periodontal surgery, and dental public health.

Program details

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Program Options

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) – 4 years
Qualifying Program for the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) – 24 months

Prerequisites

For the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program, you must have already completed:

a minimum of 60 credit hours of undergraduate university studies, preferably in a degree or degree-like program, including full-year (or two one-term) classes in biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and a writing class
at least one term in microbiology, biochemistry, and vertebrate physiology
12 credit hours chosen from social sciences classes

You must also have completed the Canadian Dental Association Dental Aptitude Test.

For the Qualifying Program, you must have already completed:

a dentistry degree (most often, from a non-accredited dentistry program outside Canada, the United States, or Australia)
the National Dental Examining Board of Canada Fundamental Knowledge assessment
an English language proficiency test to demonstrate English language proficiency as designated for Dalhousie

Please review our admissions requirements for more information.

Program Dates

DDS program

Students in 1st and 2nd year begin classes in late August and continue until late May
3rd-year students begin classes in mid-August and continue until mid-July, with a one-month break before the commencement of 4th year
4th-year students begin classes in mid-August and continue until late April, with convocation in late May

Qualifying Program

1st-year students begin classes on the first Monday in April and continue until mid-July
2nd-year students begin classes in mid-August and continue until late April, with convocation in late May

Class Size

Up to 38 students are accepted into the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program each year.
Up to 9 students are accepted into the Qualifying Program each year.

Tuition Fees

See the tuition fee schedule for Dentistry (under Professional Students: Medicine and Dentistry) for detailed information.

Residence & Housing

Whether you're applying to one of our residence halls or you’re looking for help with an off-campus apartment search, Dalhousie’s Residence and Housing services can help.

Housing options

Meal plans
Dorm-style traditional residences
Apartment-style, non-traditional
Off-campus housing

Application Deadline

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program

December 1: application form and fee
February 1: supporting documents

DDS Qualifying Program

September 1: application form and fee
October 1: supporting documents

Next: View sample classes

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