Dental Colleges in Kansas: A Comprehensive Guide
Kansas offers several pathways for aspiring dental professionals seeking comprehensive education and training. This article provides an overview of dental colleges in Kansas, highlighting their programs, accreditation, and unique features. These institutions are dedicated to addressing the oral health needs of the region and beyond, preparing graduates to excel in various dental careers.
Johnson County Community College (JCCC)
JCCC, located in Overland Park, Kansas, offers a highly regarded two-year Dental Hygiene program with selective admission. This program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become licensed dental hygienists. The curriculum is carefully structured to build upon students' understanding and abilities progressively throughout the program.
Program Highlights
- Comprehensive Curriculum: The Dental Hygiene courses at JCCC focus on developing the skills needed for success in the field. The third semester includes refining skills and incorporating science-related coursework into clinical situations, including learning how to administer local anesthesia (LA) in the LA course and lab.
- Accreditation: The 79-credit-hour program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, ensuring high educational standards.
- Career Options: Graduates have access to multiple career options in dental hygiene.
- Academic Support: JCCC provides free tutoring and course assistance through the Academic Resource Center.
- Contact Information: For more information, contact Carrie Hanson, Director, at 913-469-8500, ext. (Extension number missing from provided data).
- Focus on Excellence: JCCC prioritizes excellence in its dental hygiene program.
Kansas City University (KCU) College of Dental Medicine
Kansas City University (KCU) is expanding its health sciences offerings with the KCU College of Dental Medicine, aiming to address the growing oral health needs of the four-state region. This new dental school will contribute to training more dentists in an area with limited dental education resources.
Program Highlights
- Mission and Vision: KCU is committed to improving community well-being and changing healthcare for good, with a focus on student-centered education.
- Accreditation: KCU has received institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The dental program has been submitted for review and has received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312)440-4653 or at 211 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
- Student-Centered Approach: KCU is known for preparing compassionate healthcare leaders.
- Community Engagement: KCU annually participates in global health outreach, often in conjunction with DOCARE International, an osteopathic medical outreach organization dedicated to providing much-needed health care to indigent and isolated people in remote areas around the world.
- Cutting-Edge Education: The College of Dental Medicine will provide a cutting-edge education with applied experiences, preparing students to become competent general dentists.
- Financial Support: KCU uses generous support to fund scholarships, endowments, and professional programs.
- History and Community Ties: Since its founding in 1916, KCU has built strong community ties and addresses health needs in Kansas City, Joplin, and around the world.
- Homecoming 2025: KCU will celebrate achievements and reconnect during Homecoming 2025, featuring class reunions, alumni awards, and continuing education opportunities.
- Diverse Programs: In addition to dental medicine, KCU offers programs in osteopathic medicine, clinical psychology, biosciences, and anesthesiologist assistant studies.
University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry
The UMKC School of Dentistry, located in Kansas City, Missouri, offers a comprehensive range of programs, including a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene (B.S.). The school is committed to providing high-quality dental healthcare education and community outreach.
Program Highlights
- Accreditation: UMKC's programs are fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- History: The UMKC School of Dentistry traces its roots to 1881, evolving through mergers and affiliations to become part of the University of Kansas City in 1941.
- Degrees and Programs: The school offers a four-year D.D.S. program, a B.S. in dental hygiene, a Master of Science degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, and advanced education residency certificates in general dentistry and recognized dental clinical specialties.
- Graduate Programs: The school participates in UMKC's Natural Sciences Ph.D. program through the discipline of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.
- Grading System: The grading and grade-point system is defined by the University. Students may earn an incomplete grade (I) under specific conditions.
- Facilities: The school features three large lecture halls, five smaller classrooms/seminar rooms, and a Health Sciences Library with extensive resources. The library supports curricular, scholarly, and research activities with online databases, journals, and a physical collection of books and journals.
- Student Support: A dedicated space on the third floor provides seating areas for students to gather and study. The school also supports a full-service Biomedical Communication Department.
- Outreach Opportunities: The school offers numerous outreach opportunities, with dental and dental hygiene students providing oral health care in over 30 community-based health centers.
- Research: Research plays a prominent role, with strong research components in the Natural Ph.D. program, M.S. degree program, and advanced dental programs. Students are exposed to basic, translational research, and clinical applications. Significant external grant funding supports research efforts.
- Community Involvement: The school emphasizes professional and societal responsibilities, encouraging students to be aware of and address community needs and problems.
- Continuous Improvement: The school actively seeks feedback on its dental, dental hygiene, and residency programs to facilitate continuous growth.
- Accreditation Visit: The dental education, dental hygiene, periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and advanced education in general dentistry programs will be visited by the commission in November.
- Disclaimer: All statements regarding policies, requirements, curricula, fees, and services are subject to change without prior notice.
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