Can a dental hygienist go back to school to become a dentist? And if so, is the schooling shorter?

I'm currently getting my gen eds done for dental hygiene school, but my parents keep pushing me to go for dental school. Is it possible to do one, then the other?

Can a dental hygienist go back to school to become a dentist? And if so, is the schooling shorter?
Do what you want, don't let your parents pressure you. Hygienists make a good living and can right there own hours. A DDS has to work lots of hours deal with people who fear you, be on call plus they have one of the largest suicide rates. Its a very tedious job working in small areas trying to repairs teeth as patients are closing on you, gagging or needing a break. Schooling is longer and what you are taking now may not even transfer. If you really want to be a DDS, shadow a DDS for a week and see if that is really the job for you.
Reply:No it will not be shorter as you need to have a 4 year degree in pre dentistry and then you have to go for a couple more years to get your dentistry degree. A couple classes may transfer but I doubt it would be very many if any at all.
Reply:Go for the gold! Dental school is 3 years long. Some dental schools don't require a BS or BA, just enough of credits for the prerequiteses.





Don't stop at being a general dentist, go 2 more years and get specialized. i.e. ortho, perio, pedo, endo, or oral surgery.








Good luck!