Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) Dental School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, founded in 1953, is a private Seventh-day Adventist dental school located in Loma Linda, California. Known for its whole-person health philosophy, global health mission, and strong specialty programmes, Loma Linda Dentistry trains dentists with a dual emphasis on clinical excellence and humanitarian service. The school has one of the most active international dental mission programmes of any US dental school, sending student teams to underserved communities globally. Loma Linda's Inland Empire location provides access to a large, diverse patient population.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. No California residency preference — private institution. Commitment to Loma Linda's whole-person health and service mission is important. Dental experience, manual dexterity documentation, and community service record expected.
GPA median
3.65 overall / 3.60 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
5.5%
Class size
100
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Service mission alignment, global health interest, dental experience, manual dexterity, community service record.
Notes
Estimates from publicly available ADEA AADSAS data; verify for current cycle. DAT Academic Average median approximately 20–22 (hedged). Private Seventh-day Adventist institution — no in-state preference.
Specialities offered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, General Practice Residency
Interview Format
How Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) interviews applicants.
Format
Traditional one-on-one or panel interview at Loma Linda, CA campus
Interview window
October–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 35–45% post-interview (estimated).
What to expect at a Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) interview
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry conducts traditional faculty interviews at its Loma Linda, California campus, typically one or two sessions of 30–45 minutes. Interview day includes a campus tour and an opportunity to meet current dental students. Loma Linda is a Seventh-day Adventist institution and interviewers place strong emphasis on whole-person health values, mission service orientation, and global oral health engagement. The school's Christian faith tradition is central to its ethos — while applicants of all faiths are welcomed, demonstrating alignment with its values of service, compassionate care, and global health mission is important for a strong interview performance.
What makes Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) different
Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Loma Linda's global dental mission programme is among the most active of any US dental school. The whole-person health philosophy — treating patients physically, mentally, and spiritually — permeates the curriculum. The school's Seventh-day Adventist heritage influences campus culture, including a vegetarian cafeteria and a Sabbath-observant campus schedule.
Tutor insight
Loma Linda interviews reward applicants who can authentically connect to the school's mission of service, compassionate care, and global oral health. You do not need to be Seventh-day Adventist, but you should understand and respect the school's ethos. Community service, international health experience, and mission-driven dental work are strong differentiators. Avoid treating Loma Linda as simply a California dental school — its culture is distinct and interviewers notice when applicants have not engaged with its values.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
405 dentistry questions inside
Interview questions matched to Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Easy·Panel · MMIQ1
Demonstrating Manual Dexterity Through a Specific Activity
Manual dexterity is one of the foundational requirements for clinical dentistry — the ability to work with precision in a small, moist, dynamic field while a patient is present. Describe a specific activity outside of dentistry in which you have developed or demonstrated manual dexterity. What feedback loops — ways of knowing you were improving — did you build into that practice, and how do you expect the skills you developed to translate to dental clinical training?
Likely follow-up · Dental simulation labs present a very different tactile environment from anything most pre-dental students have encountered. How will you manage frustration or plateau periods when your hands are not yet doing what your mind intends?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Medium·PanelQ2
Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Risk: Communicating the Evidence
Evidence increasingly supports an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease — including coronary artery disease, stroke, and adverse cardiac events. While causation has not been definitively established, the biological plausibility is strong: chronic periodontal infection generates systemic inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen) that contribute to atherosclerosis. Some professional guidelines now recommend that dentists communicate this association to patients with periodontal disease and encourage coordination with their cardiologist or primary care physician. A 55-year-old patient with Stage III periodontal disease and a history of a prior myocardial infarction asks you directly: 'I've heard that gum disease can cause heart attacks. Is that true?'
Likely follow-up · The patient's cardiologist has never mentioned periodontal disease to him in years of cardiac follow-up. He asks you to write a brief note to his cardiologist about his periodontal status. How do you write this note and what does it say?
Apply to Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) with confidence
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Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) - Frequently asked questions
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. No California residency preference — private institution. Commitment to Loma Linda's whole-person health and service mission is important. Dental experience, manual dexterity documentation, and community service record expected.
Traditional one-on-one or panel interview at Loma Linda, CA campus. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry conducts traditional faculty interviews at its Loma Linda, California campus, typically one or two sessions of 30–45 minutes. Interview day includes a campus tour and an opportunity to meet current dental students. Loma Linda is a Seventh-day Adventist institution and interviewers place strong emphasis on whole-person health values, mission service orientation, and global oral health engagement. The school's Christian faith tradition is central to its ethos — while applicants of all faiths are welcomed, demonstrating alignment with its values of service, compassionate care, and global health mission is important for a strong interview performance.
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (DDS) typically interviews in October–February.
Decisions are released Rolling admissions.
Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Loma Linda's global dental mission programme is among the most active of any US dental school. The whole-person health philosophy — treating patients physically, mentally, and spiritually — permeates the curriculum. The school's Seventh-day Adventist heritage influences campus culture, including a vegetarian cafeteria and a Sabbath-observant campus schedule.
