Pre-Admissions

Preparation is the Key to Success

October 4, 2021

Cathy Richardson, RDH, MBA

Vice-President, School and Student Services

 

 

 

Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.

- Alexander Graham Bell

 

We hear it all the time, "preparation is the key to success". But what if you don’t know how to prepare for success in a career that you don’t know anything about? Sure, dentistry looks interesting and pays well. But do you really know what a dentist or a dental hygienist does all day? Would I prefer dental hygiene practice or being a dentist? What’s the difference?

Key Pre-Admission Statistics

  • 100% of students interested in applying to a dental program don’t know if they are truly qualified to be a dentist or dental hygienist.
  • Psychomotor or hand skills make up 1/3 of the skills required to be a dental professional (Psychological,Ethical).
  • ˃2% of students are dismissed for lack of hand skills, leading to thousands of lost dollars

Promethean Dental Systems started with an idea to improve clinical skills in students who were near graduation. But then, we took a step back and asked some questions that we felt were relevant to a student’s progress within a dental program. Did the student understand the requirements, both didactic and clinical, that produced success? Was the importance of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination considered? Did the student actually know what a day in the life of a dental professional looked like?   

 

These questions led us to develop a Pre-Admissions program where a potential candidate for dental school or a dental hygiene program can discover the answers to these questions and many more. For many years, schools have focused solely on GPA and scores from standardized tests as standards for admission into a professional program. PDS evolved those elements to include hand skill assessment, an overview of critical scientific courses as well as preparation for application interviews and career options. Students can choose their preferred method of course delivery through an online subscription, a hand skill assessment course, or a combination of both through enrollment in an in-person Pre-Admissions Boot Camp. Either of these choices will provide the student applicant with a competitive advantage as they prepare for success in dentistry. 

Evidence of Hand Skills

Competitive Advantage for Admissions

Lower Cost of Dental Education

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Admission Hand Skills Course

The Pre-Admissions Hand Skills Course and Assessment provides 6-hours of hand skill training and assessment.  Students work their way through a series of blocks that mimic restorative and prosthodontics procedures using both direct and indirect vision.  Passing this course means you have the hand skills to become a dental professional. It is the only test provided that accurately evaluates hand skills prior to dental school or a hygiene program.  The course is a self-guided and is taught using the Simodont Dental Trainer.  Students schedule six, 1-hour courses, typically over a 6–10-week period.  Also included is the Pre-Admissions Learning Subscription.

Pre-Admission Subscription

The Pre-Admissions Subscription provides 22-didactic courses, 4-formative exams, 1-summative exam, preparation for your application, personal statement, admissions interview, and career options.  The course also includes a 50% discount on the Pre-Admissions Hand Skills Course.

Pre-Admissions Boot Camp

The Boot Camp is a 4-day student experience including a 4-hour hand skill course and assessment, 22-didactic courses, 4-formative exams, 1-summative exam, preparation for your application, personal statement, admissions interview, and a summary of career options. 

International Dentist Program

The International Dentist Program supports Internationally trained dentists who wish to be admitted to a dental school, an Advance Standing Program, or an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program. 

The Pre-Admissions Bootcamp provides a combination of both the hand skill building and assessment course with the full didactic learning curriculum for Pre-Admissions.  The bootcamp is a live event that also incorporates team activities and guest speakers and is a great way to learn with fellow students.  If you prefer to learn on your own the hand skills building and assessment course and the learning subscription provide that alternative way to learn.

Students interested in applying to a dental program do not know if they are truly qualified to be a dentist or dental hygienist. Our Pre-Admission Programs provide a comprehensive look at a day-in-the life of a dental professional so that high school and undergraduate students can explore the profession and plan accordingly for college applications. Through the didactic and hand skill courses, you will determine if you have the required aptitude and psychomotor skills for dentistry and can effectively weigh your interest in pursuing a dental career.   The Pre-Admission Program gives you a competitive advantage in the dental school or dental hygiene program admissions process.

Promethean Dental Systems provides the only comprehensive International Dentist Program with an NDBE-like academic exam and a hand skill challenge exam to provide you with a competitive advantage as an International Dentist.  It is a three-part course that provides an opportunity to learn with the objectives of providing evidence of: 1) Academic Performance and 2) Clinical Performance and creating a competitive by improving applications and personal statements, as well as preparing International Dentists for behavioral admissions interviews, and providing insights and analytics on future career options.  Once purchased International Dentists have 12 months to complete the course objectives.

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Clinical cases are simulated using Typodonts (Manikins) and the Simodont (Virtual Reality/Haptic Dental Trainer). Evidence of performance is provided using objective machine grading.  Clinical cases include: 

  • Restorative Preparations and Fills:  #4DO and #14DO
  • Endodontic Access Openings: 
  • Prosthodontics Preparations and Crown: #9 and Bridge #3-5

The assessment is scheduled a minimum of 3 weeks in advance in one our PDS testing locations and can be taken anytime during the 12-month duration of the program.