Dental Now
What this is
Dental Now is a free dental shadowing hours tracker for pre-dental, hygiene, and dental assistant students. Log each session in under 30 seconds, your supervising dentist confirms it with their NPI number, and you export a signed PDF certificate with a unique ID your school can independently validate for your application.
Tracker status Available now. Free for students. No download or app store required. Works in any browser on any device. 75+ CODA schools covered.
Dental Now EditorialPre-dental admissions research
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What Dental Now tracks
FeaturesThree tools that address the three main documentation problems pre-dental students face, in one place, all free.
Shadowing hours log
Record each session as it happens: date, duration, supervising dentist, and what you observed. Your dentist reviews and confirms each session digitally. Hours organized by setting so you can show breadth at a glance.
NPI-backed certificate
When your hours are confirmed, Dental Now generates a signed PDF certificate with the supervising dentist's NPI number and a unique certificate ID. Schools can independently validate it against the federal NPPES provider registry using that ID.
Credential vault
Store other pre-dental credentials alongside your hours: CPR certification, OSHA training, and any other documentation your target programs require. One shareable link instead of hunting through email attachments.
Start tracking your shadowing hours today.
Your certificate builds automatically as you log. By the time you apply, your hours are confirmed and ready to present.
Free. Verified by your supervising dentist's NPI number. 75+ CODA schools covered.
Log your first session in under 30 seconds.
How it works
Three stepsFrom your first session to a certificate ready to attach to your application.
Log a session
After each shadowing session, open Dental Now and add the date, duration, supervising dentist, and the setting (general practice, oral surgery, orthodontics, etc.). Takes under 30 seconds. Your running total updates automatically.
Works on any device in your browser. No app download required.
Your dentist confirms with their NPI number
Your supervising dentist receives a confirmation request and verifies the session using their NPI number. That confirmation links your hours to a real, publicly verifiable provider record in the federal NPPES registry. Not a self-report.
You can invite any licensed dentist. They get a free listing and take under 2 minutes to confirm.
Export your certificate
When you are ready to apply, download a signed PDF certificate. It includes the supervising dentist's name and NPI, your verified session dates and hours, and a unique certificate ID. Schools can confirm that ID independently at any time.
Requirements vary by school. Confirm what each program on your list accepts.
Verified vs self-reported hours
Why it mattersSelf-reported hours count, but a record the dentist has already confirmed carries more weight with admissions reviewers who check.
Most pre-dental students track hours in a spreadsheet or a handwritten log and self-report the total on AADSAS. That approach meets the basic requirement. The problem is that it is easily questioned and requires reconstruction at application time.
Hours that are confirmed session-by-session by the supervising dentist using their NPI number are a different category of documentation. The provider's confirmation is on record at the time it happened. An admissions reviewer who wants to verify your hours has a certificate ID to look up, not just a number you wrote in.
The difference is not about whether you actually shadowed. It is about whether your record holds up to scrutiny. A verified record does. A self-reported spreadsheet depends on your word.
A verified log vs. a self-reported log
ComparisonThe difference that matters for your application is whether a licensed dentist confirmed your hours. Here is how a self-reported log compares to a dentist-verified record on the things admissions reviewers care about.
| Approach | Dentist verifies | Signed certificate | Unique ID for schools | Free | Available now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Now | Yes (NPI-backed) | Yes (PDF) | Yes | Yes | Yes (web) |
| Spreadsheet or paper log | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
A self-reported log records the hours you enter yourself. A verified record adds a confirmation step: the dentist you observed signs off on the hours, and the certificate carries that dentist's NPI number so a school can check it against the public NPPES registry. Requirements vary by school; confirm what each program accepts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to track dental shadowing hours?
Dental Now is a free dental shadowing hours tracker built specifically for pre-dental, hygiene, and dental assistant students. Each session is confirmed by your supervising dentist using their NPI number, and you export a signed PDF certificate with a unique ID. It works in any web browser now, no download required.
Is there a free dental shadowing tracker?
Yes. Dental Now is completely free for students. Log sessions, get dentist confirmation, and download a certificate at no cost. There is no subscription or premium tier for student features.
How do I log shadowing hours for AADSAS?
AADSAS accepts self-reported hours, but hours confirmed by your supervising dentist carry more credibility. On Dental Now, log each session after it happens, your dentist confirms it using their NPI number, and you download a signed PDF certificate. That certificate gives any reviewer a unique ID they can independently verify.
Do dental schools accept app-tracked shadowing hours?
Yes, as long as the documentation meets each program's requirements. Dental Now generates a certificate with the supervising dentist's name, NPI number, verified session dates, total hours, and a unique certificate ID. Requirements vary by school, so always confirm what each program on your list specifically asks for. The admissions office is the final authority.
Can I invite my own supervising dentist?
Yes. If your dentist is not already on Dental Now, you can invite them directly. They receive a free listing and can confirm your hours in under 2 minutes. No cost and no commitment on their side.
Ready to start? Your first session takes under 30 seconds to log.
Your certificate builds with every confirmed session. By application time, your record is ready.
Free. Verified by your supervising dentist's NPI number. 75+ CODA schools covered.
Log your first session in under 30 seconds.