Dentistry is a field in which practitioners work to improve people's health and quality of life through preventative and corrective oral health. Dentists work as general dentists in clinical settings or with advanced degrees in orthodontia, pediatric dentistry, or hospital and operative dentistry. Additional career opportunities include researching dental diseases and treatment techniques.

At the University of Iowa, dentistry is a professional degree program that requires applicants to complete at least three years of undergraduate college course work prior to admission. Iowa offers preparatory course work and specialized advising for undergraduate students in any major who plan to apply to dental school.

The College of Dentistry selects applicants from a wide variety of undergraduate majors, so students planning to first complete a bachelor's degree are encouraged to choose a major that genuinely interests them.

Consulting frequently with an undergraduate academic adviser will help students develop a study plan that will give them a good background for dental school.