LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) Dental School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
LSU Health School of Dentistry in New Orleans, founded in 1968, is Louisiana's only dental school and trains approximately 65–75 DDS students per year. Co-located with LSU Health New Orleans Medical School and University Medical Center New Orleans, the school offers interprofessional training in one of the country's most culturally rich and clinically complex healthcare environments. LSU Dental serves a diverse patient population including uninsured and Medicaid patients across New Orleans and beyond, with community outreach programmes across Louisiana.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Strong Louisiana resident preference (public institution; only dental school in state). Dental shadowing, letters of recommendation from a licensed dentist, and community service expected.
GPA median
3.56 overall / 3.50 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
9.0%
Class size
70
In-state preference
Strong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants
75%
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Louisiana residency, dental experience, academic achievement, community health awareness.
Notes
Estimates from ADEA AADSAS data and public class profiles; hedged. DAT AA median approximately 18–21. Only dental school in Louisiana — strong in-state preference.
Specialities offered
General Dentistry, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Interview Format
How LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) interviews applicants.
Format
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
Interview window
October–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions; Louisiana resident preference
Post-interview chances
Approximately 40–55% post-interview for Louisiana residents (estimated).
What to expect at a LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) interview
LSU Dental interview day includes one or two traditional one-on-one faculty sessions, each approximately 30–45 minutes, plus a clinic and campus tour. As the only dental school in Louisiana, interviewers are attentive to applicants' connections to the state and understanding of Louisiana's oral health challenges — including high rates of uninsured patients, post-Katrina healthcare recovery issues, and Louisiana's diverse Creole, Cajun, and immigrant patient populations. Questions cover manual dexterity, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics scenarios, and career goals in Louisiana's dental context.
What makes LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) different
LSU Health School of Dentistry is the only dental school in Louisiana and is part of the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, co-located with LSU Health Medical School. This provides genuine interprofessional training opportunities with medical students and residents. The New Orleans location exposes students to one of the most culturally diverse and historically underserved patient populations in the United States, with high rates of uninsured patients and significant oral health disparities.
Tutor insight
LSU Dental's New Orleans context is clinically unique — demonstrate awareness of Louisiana's specific oral health challenges: high uninsured rates, Medicaid-dependent patient population, post-Katrina healthcare infrastructure recovery, and the state's cultural diversity. Louisiana residency is a strong advantage. The LSU Health Medical School co-location provides interprofessional training that is worth mentioning specifically.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
405 dentistry questions inside
Interview questions matched to LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Medium·MMI · PanelQ1
Aging Population: Oral Health Challenges for Geriatric Patients
Adults over 65 are the fastest-growing segment of the US population, and they carry a disproportionate oral disease burden: higher rates of root caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and xerostomia from polypharmacy. Medicare, however, has historically provided no coverage for routine dental care, leaving many older adults reliant on out-of-pocket expenditures. What are the most clinically significant oral health challenges facing geriatric patients in the US, and what changes to coverage policy would most meaningfully improve their access?
Likely follow-up · Xerostomia (dry mouth) is a side effect of more than 400 commonly prescribed medications. How does this affect your approach to the dental management of a patient who is on multiple medications for hypertension and depression?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Medium·PanelQ2
Rural Dental Practice: Opportunity and Challenge
Rural areas of the United States face a persistent shortage of dental providers, with large portions of rural counties classified as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Dentists who practice in rural settings often serve as the only provider for a broad range of oral health needs — including care that urban specialists would normally manage — and they work with a patient population that often has higher rates of poverty, dental disease, and limited previous dental care. What draws you to or concerns you about rural dental practice, and how do you think about whether it might be part of your future?
Likely follow-up · In rural practice, you may regularly perform procedures — surgical extractions, space maintainers, basic endodontics — that urban general dentists commonly refer to specialists. How will you prepare for this broader scope of practice in dental school?
Apply to LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) with confidence
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LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) - Frequently asked questions
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Strong Louisiana resident preference (public institution; only dental school in state). Dental shadowing, letters of recommendation from a licensed dentist, and community service expected.
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview. LSU Dental interview day includes one or two traditional one-on-one faculty sessions, each approximately 30–45 minutes, plus a clinic and campus tour. As the only dental school in Louisiana, interviewers are attentive to applicants' connections to the state and understanding of Louisiana's oral health challenges — including high rates of uninsured patients, post-Katrina healthcare recovery issues, and Louisiana's diverse Creole, Cajun, and immigrant patient populations. Questions cover manual dexterity, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics scenarios, and career goals in Louisiana's dental context.
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) typically interviews in October–February.
Decisions are released Rolling admissions; Louisiana resident preference.
LSU Health School of Dentistry is the only dental school in Louisiana and is part of the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, co-located with LSU Health Medical School. This provides genuine interprofessional training opportunities with medical students and residents. The New Orleans location exposes students to one of the most culturally diverse and historically underserved patient populations in the United States, with high rates of uninsured patients and significant oral health disparities.
