Tufts University School of Dental Medicine: A Legacy of Excellence in Dental Education

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM), situated in Boston's Chinatown and connected to Tufts Medical Center, stands as a premier private dental school with a rich history and a commitment to advancing oral health. As one of the eight graduate schools comprising Tufts University, TUSDM has been a leading institution in dental education, research, patient care, and community service since its establishment in 1868.

A Historical Overview

Founded as Boston Dental College in 1868 by Dr. Isaac J. Wetherbee, a graduate of Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the institution was later incorporated into Tufts College in 1899. Initially located at 416 Huntington Avenue in Boston, the school affiliated with the Boston Floating Hospital for Infants and Children, and the Boston Dispensary in 1929, forming the New England Medical Center (NEMC). After selling its Huntington Avenue buildings to Northeastern University in 1948, the college relocated to 136 Harrison Avenue. In 1954, it officially became "Tufts University School of Dental Medicine." The school moved to its current location at 1 Kneeland Street in 1971.

Academic Programs

TUSDM offers a wide array of programs, catering to students at various stages of their dental careers:

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD): The four-year DMD program provides a comprehensive education encompassing didactic coursework, pre-clinical training, clinical experience, and practice management. This program prepares students to become confident and proficient clinicians ready to enter the workforce.
International Student DMD Program: This program is designed for foreign-trained dentists, providing them with the necessary education and experience to practice dentistry in the United States. The program consists of five semesters (27 months) of coursework and clinical experience, culminating in a DMD degree that makes graduates eligible for licensure in the U.S.
Combined Degree Programs: TUSDM offers combined DMD/MS (Master of Science in Dental Research) and DMD/MPH (Master of Public Health) degrees, allowing students to broaden their expertise and career options.
Postgraduate Programs: TUSDM offers twelve accredited graduate programs, three fellowships, three certificate programs, and one internship. These programs, ranging from one to four years, focus on hands-on training, residencies, research, and mentorship, preparing students to become leaders in their chosen specialties. These include:
- Advanced Education in Esthetics and Operative Dentistry
- Orofacial Pain
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Oral Medicine
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Predental Programs: These programs offer dental school applicants opportunities to learn more about the dental profession, strengthen their application to dental school, or join the DMD cohort through an early assurance program.

All programs at TUSDM are administered within nine academic departments: Comprehensive Care, Diagnostic Sciences, Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, Prosthodontics, and Public Health and Community Service.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum at TUSDM is competency-based, ensuring students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their careers. The competencies developed are applied to a diverse population of patients, including children, adolescents, adults, geriatric individuals, and those with special needs. The core competency areas include:

Diagnosis
Treatment Planning
Treatment
Emergency Management
Oral Health Promotion
Prevention of Pain and Anxiety
Malocclusion and Space Management
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Therapy
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Radiology
Endodontic Therapy
Operative and Prosthetic Therapy
Periodontal Therapy
Community Involvement
Practice Management
Ethics and Professionalism
Information Management and Critical Thinking
Basic Sciences

Basic Sciences Curriculum

The basic science curriculum begins in August with courses in Dental Anatomy/Craniofacial Function and Introduction to Research. From September through December, students are exposed to basic concepts in biochemistry and nutrition, as well as clinical (gross) anatomy, which provides a detailed study of the body’s structure through lectures and cadaver dissections.

In the second term, the curriculum is systems-based. Topics are approached from multiple disciplines including histology, physiology, medicine, pathology, pharmacology, immunology, and infectious diseases. Lectures are presented by basic scientists from the School of Medicine and the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, dentists from the School of Dental Medicine, and physicians from Tufts Medical Center. These experts integrate information relating to normal structure and function of the body with that of various disease states and their potential impact on chairside management of patients.

Integrated courses include introductions to the structure and function of the body’s tissues and the mechanisms of drug action (Tissue Biology). A course titled Tissue Injury and Host Defense combines lectures in infectious disease, pathophysiology of wound healing, immunology, and pharmacology to cover the body’s inherent responses to infection as well as the use of therapeutic agents. The remaining integrated courses explore the major organ systems, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and endocrine.

Behavioral Sciences Curriculum

The behavioral sciences curriculum addresses professionalism, communication, and how to manage patients with diverse backgrounds, patients of different ages, and patients with anxiety. The School structures the behavioral sciences curriculum as an integrated part of many courses and programs throughout all four years of the dental school curriculum. A new course called Introduction to the Dental Patient (IDP I) has been introduced. This series continues into years 2 and 3 as IDP II and IDP III, and builds on how students/practitioners should communicate with a diverse group of patients and staff.

In the Microbiology/Oral Health Promotion (OHP) course, lectures highlight aspects of diversity in dentistry. The lecture on interviewing and communications skills highlights the importance of acceptance and being non-judgmental as essential to helping people understand and change habits. Other classes include Health Communication and Dentistry: An Overview, Dental Public Health: Oral Health Disparities, Management of the Special Needs Dental Patient, and Preventive Management of Medically Compromised Patients.

In Oral Health Promotion/Nutrition Seminar in year 2, students are introduced to understanding applied oral health promotion dental care as it relates to people with special healthcare needs. A faculty member who works primarily with special needs clients in one of Tufts’ external dental facilities leads the seminar. This case-based seminar provides an interactive discussion of how to overcome barriers to effective oral health promotion care for special adults and children.

Clinical Sciences Curriculum

The didactic and preclinical portion of the clinical sciences are taught from year 1 through year 3 with seminars and rotations in year 4. In year 1, students learn dental anatomy and craniofacial function, followed by operative dentistry where students begin to learn technical skills. The didactic/preclinical sciences build with courses in Operative Dentistry, Dental Anatomy, Craniofacial Function, Orthodontics, Endodontics, Periodontology, Prosthetics, Endodontics, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, Pediatric Dentistry, and Oral Surgery in years 2 and 3.

In 2014, the students from each class were involved in a seminar series called Basic Science/Clinical Science Spiral Seminar Series (BaSiCSsss). This series involves students from each year of the curriculum in a patient-based case presentation/discussion. Patient cases are used to present patient-centered clinical information (medical and dental findings, clinical and radiographic findings, etiology, diagnosis, treatment planning). Each student from each year is responsible for a certain component of each case (third year: evidence-based dentistry, second year: abnormal conditions, first year: normal conditions).

Students begin seeing patients in April/May of their second year. They work in group practices where they work with Practice Coordinators-faculty who oversee overall treatment and progress of the students. Students work with faculty from different disciplines to provide comprehensive care and also rotate through various specialty clinics in the school. Students provide care to patients in extramural sites for five weeks in community health centers.

Students are exposed to research in a course called Introduction to Research, with most students working on their research during the summer between years 1 and 2.

Read also: Exploring Tufts Athletics

Admissions Information

Admission to TUSDM is highly competitive. For the program beginning in July 2026, candidates should submit their applications to the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) between May 2025 and February 2, 2026. Interview sessions will be conducted between October 2025 and spring 2026. Applicants selected for an interview will be notified in writing beginning in late September 2025.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following information to AADSAS:

A complete AADSAS application form, including a personal statement articulating motivation for a career in dentistry.
Official transcripts from all universities attended, including study abroad programs and any universities attended other than the one awarding the diploma. Updated transcripts should be submitted to AADSAS at the conclusion of fall of the 2025 term.
Two letters of evaluation from science professors and a third letter of evaluation (suggestions include a letter from a dental experience, community service or research or a pre-professional composite committee letter).
Applicants must either be a US citizen or Permanent Resident or an international student that has or will complete a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college/university in the United States or Canada.
Although Tufts welcomes any additional letters of evaluation from professors or employers, they should be sent through AADSAS. Please note AADSAS limits the number of letters of evaluation to four.
Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores will be downloaded from the ADA directly to the AADSAS application. Please note, DAT scores obtained before June 1, 2023 are no longer valid. If you completed the DAT prior to June 1, 2023, you must retake the examination and submit updated scores.

Applicants will be informed of supplemental requirements, including a fee, once the Admissions Office receives their application from AADSAS.

Academic Requirements

Applicants must complete the following academic requirements:

2 semesters (8 credits or 3 quarters) Biology
1 semester (3 credits or 1 quarter) Upper-level Biology
2 semesters (8 credits or 3 quarters) Inorganic Chemistry
2 semesters (8 credits or 3 quarters) Physics
1 semester (4 credits or 2 quarters) Organic Chemistry
1 semester (3 credits or 1 quarter) Biochemistry
1 semester writing-intensive Humanities or Social Science course (may include History, English, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Government or Women’s Studies)

Labs are required for all science courses, except Biochemistry or the upper-level Biology, where applicable (lab only required for Biochemistry or the upper-level Biology if it is a required part of the course at the university at which it is completed). All pre-requisite coursework (with the exception of the Physics courses) must be completed at an accredited four-year college/university that offers a bachelor’s degree in the prerequisite subject area. A degree from a four-year college is required for matriculation. Community college coursework, with the exception of Physics, is not accepted for the prerequisite coursework.

All pre-requisites must be taken for a letter grade. No Pass/Fail credits will be accepted, unless it is the policy of the college/university to only offer such evaluation. In these instances, candidates may be asked to provide proof of this policy from the appropriate office at the home institution. Applicants are encouraged to earn a grade of “B” or higher in all pre-requisite courses to be most competitive. Pre-requisite courses must be completed for a grade of C or higher.

Spring and Summer 2020 coursework is acceptable Pass/Fail (including prerequisite courses) if it was school policy for that time period. Additionally, the Admissions Committee will not recognize pre-requisites completed by earning Advanced Placement credits. Applicants who have received college credit and/or placed out of pre-requisite courses because of AP credits must either retake those courses at a four-year institution or take an equal number of credits in upper level coursework in the same discipline at a four year institution.

Dental Shadowing Requirement

A minimum of 75 hours of exposure to the dental profession through shadowing experiences is required. At least 40 hours of shadowing must be completed with a general dentist. Applicants are encouraged to become involved within the field of dentistry as much as possible, including participation in dental research and/or community service.

DAT Requirement

For the 2025-2026 cycle, DAT scores are valid only if completed after June 1, 2023; applicants are strongly encouraged, though, to complete the DAT before September 1, of the cycle in which you submit your application.

Competitive Scores:

Academic Average 420 (old score 20)
Reading Comprehension 410 (old score 21)
Biology 410 (old score 19)
Total Science 410 (old score 19)

The Canadian DAT is also accepted. The Admissions Committee will only consider scores from the most recent test attempt.

Campus and Facilities

TUSDM is located in a modern building at 1 Kneeland Street in Boston. In 2009, the school completed a $68 million, five-floor vertical expansion. The design for the five-story expansion integrates contemporary forms and materials within the framework of the existing building. The project includes updates to the entire building's infrastructure, incorporating new elevators and updated life safety systems, as well as a new generator.

Student Life and Organizations

The School of Dental Medicine has over 40 student organizations. The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) was established in 1971 to represent, serve, and support the needs and interests of dental students. The Bates Student Research Group (SRG) is a student-run organization that promotes student research in dentistry and its related disciplines.

Patient Care and Community Service

TUSDM is committed to providing high-quality, affordable dental services to the community. Students and residents provide care to patients in the school’s Teaching Clinics and through externships at hospitals and government-sponsored dental clinics. The Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics program provides comprehensive dental care for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in Massachusetts.

Leadership

Dr. Nadeem Karimbux was named the 17th Dean of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in July 2019.

Financial Aid

Students enrolled in the DMD, the Dental International Student Program, and accredited post-graduate programs at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine can access a wide variety of both federal and institutional financial aid.

tags: #tufts #university #school #of #dental #medicine