University of Michigan School of Dentistry (DDS) Dentistry Interview — Format, Questions & Prep Tips

Why dentistry rather than medicine? What specifically pulls you toward oral health as your career?

A positive case for dentistry: the combination of manual craft and biomedical science, longitudinal relationships, visible outcomes, and autonomy. Avoid implying dentistry is a lesser version of medicine.

Why general dentistry rather than specialization — or if you are considering a specialty, which one and why?

General practice versus specialty is a genuine career decision. Michigan has strong specialty programs, so be honest about your trajectory and what drives it rather than name-dropping a specialty you have not explored.

What draws you to a top public dental school in Michigan specifically, and to serving Michigan communities?

Reference the diverse patient base at Michigan's clinics, the access-to-care mission, and Michigan-specific oral-health context such as dental deserts in the Upper Peninsula and the Detroit metro area.

Tell us about the experience that confirmed dentistry is the right path for you.

A specific, reflective story — shadowing, hands-on work, or a personal experience — showing realistic understanding of the profession rather than an idealised view.

How have you developed your manual dexterity and fine-motor skills, and why do they matter in dentistry?

Concrete examples — art, music, crafts, lab or surgical work — and reflection on precision under time pressure. Link dexterity to restorative quality and patient safety.

A long-standing patient is anxious and resistant to a recommended extraction. How do you communicate and build trust?

Non-judgmental listening, explaining options and consequences in plain language, anxiety management, and respecting autonomy while ensuring informed understanding.

Michigan Dentistry's clinics see patients who cannot afford private dental care. How do you think about the role of dental school clinics in the healthcare safety net?

Dental school clinics as access points for underserved populations, the balance of training quality in a supervised environment, and how safety-net dental care is financed.

A patient asks for an extraction of a tooth you believe is restorable, simply because extraction is cheaper. How do you respond?

Educate on long-term consequences and alternatives, respect financial reality and autonomy, document the discussion, and avoid both paternalism and simply complying without counsel.

You realize a treatment you provided fell short of the standard you intended, though no harm has yet occurred. What do you do?

Honesty, disclosure, and corrective action. Patient trust and safety outweigh ego or embarrassment. Discuss learning from error and transparent communication.

Should fluoridated public water be mandatory? Argue the case considering autonomy and public health.

Balance population-level caries reduction against individual-choice arguments. Show you can reason about a genuine public-health debate using evidence rather than asserting one side.

The DDS curriculum pairs rigorous biomedical sciences with simulation lab work. How will you manage that combined demand?

Realistic study plan, time management between didactic and hands-on work, and use of support resources. Show self-knowledge about how you build technical skill.

Is there anything in your DAT scores or AADSAS academic record you would like to explain?

Own weaknesses honestly without excuses and demonstrate upward trajectory. Self-awareness and resilience matter more than a perfect record.

Role-play: a classmate is struggling in the simulation lab and asks you to complete part of their graded preparation. Respond.

Decline to compromise integrity while offering legitimate help such as practicing together. Professionalism in clinical training is being assessed.

Role-play: an upset patient says the previous dentist 'ruined' their crown and demands you redo it for free. Respond.

Stay neutral about the prior clinician, assess the clinical reality, communicate options and costs honestly, and de-escalate. Empathy plus professionalism.

You are shown data showing far fewer dentists per capita in the Upper Peninsula than in the Detroit metro area. What might explain this and what would you want to know?

Rural workforce shortages, reimbursement, training pipelines, and geography. Distinguish association from causation and identify what additional data would clarify the dental-desert picture.