Comprehensive Guide to UIC College of Dentistry Programs

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry stands as a leading institution, offering a wide array of programs and services. With a commitment to comprehensive dental care, cutting-edge research, and community engagement, UIC provides students and patients with unparalleled opportunities.

Comprehensive Dental Care Services

The UIC College of Dentistry offers a comprehensive range of dental care services for adults and children - all in one location in Chicago. The college is staffed with over 280 faculty dentists and resident specialist dentists-in-training, ensuring patients receive personalized treatment from experienced professionals. Patients have the choice of getting their care from a student dentist, a resident specialist, or a faculty specialist.

General Dentistry

General dentists at UIC College of Dentistry provide a comprehensive range of general dental care with a strong focus on prevention of oral disease and promoting good overall oral health, for adults and children. The clinic accepts referrals from providers inside and outside the UIC College of Dentistry.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The UIC College of Dentistry provides a comprehensive scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery services and procedures, including:

Facial and jaw reconstructive surgery
Implants
Bone grafting
Sinus lift procedures
Skeletal deformities
Craniofacial anomalies
Facial traumatic injuries
TMJ disorders
Head and neck cancer microneurosurgery
Nerve reconstruction
Obstructive sleep apnea
Facial aesthetic surgery
Dental and facial infections

Oral Medicine & Oral Facial Pain Clinic

The Oral Medicine & Oral Facial Pain Clinic provides a broad range of diagnosis and non-surgical treatment for:

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Oral mucosal diseases including oral cancer treatment (i.e. chemotherapy and radiation therapy)
TMJ / TMD facial pain
Sleep disorders associated with facial pain
Oral changes associated with systemic diseases
Salivary gland dysfunction and dry mouth
Inflammatory conditions including mucosal auto-immune diseases
Viral, bacterial and fungal infections
Benign growths
Diagnosis of oral cancer and pre-cancerous lesions
Canker sores
Bad breath
Taste changes
Oral manifestations of HIV

Orthodontics

The Orthodontics Clinic provides comprehensive treatment of bite problems, misaligned teeth and jaws, and jaw growth problems for children and adults in a modern, open-design clinic.

Pediatric Dentistry

The college offers a full range of services for children at every stage of their lives from infancy through adolescence including those with complex oral health needs, special developmental and behavioral care needs. Pediatric Dentistry clinics provide:

Comprehensive oral health examinations
Teeth cleaning
Fluoride treatments
Sealants
Restorative procedures (fillings, crowns, etc.)
Extractions and minor surgical procedures
Space-maintainers
Athletic mouth guard
Teeth whitening (for adolescents)
Interceptive orthodontic when applicable
Urgent care (trauma, infection, etc.)

Periodontics

Periodontists at the UIC College of Dentistry are experts in treating periodontal disease and replacing missing teeth with dental implants and in the management of implant diseases. The Periodontics clinic offers treatment of the gingiva (“gums”) and supporting structures of the teeth, including diagnosis, prevention, surgery, and maintenance using the latest therapies available including:

Non-surgical treatments
Gum graft surgery
Regenerative procedures
Dental crown lengthening
Dental implants
Pocket reduction and plastic surgery procedures

Prosthodontics

Specialists in the complete restoration of teeth and smile, with a commitment to both functionality and appearance treat a wide variety of dental care needs, from simple tooth decay repair and single implants to the most complex reconstructions and full mouth implant prosthesis. The clinic uses the latest in digital dentistry tools and methods that provide the highest levels of precision and accuracy, and time-saving convenience.

Academic Programs

The UIC College of Dentistry offers a variety of academic programs, catering to different stages of dental education. These programs include:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs
Advanced Standing Program for IDGs

Combined Degrees

UIC College of Dentistry offers combined degrees such as:

B.A./B.S.
M.B.A.
M.P.H.
M.S.
Ph.D.

Admissions Information

For prospective students, understanding the admissions process is crucial. Here’s an overview of the key aspects:

Admissions Statistics

(Based on recent Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 23

Academic Averages for Acceptance

DAT Academic Average
DAT Natural Science
DAT Perceptual Ability
Cumulative GPA
Science GPA

Prerequisites

Required Coursework: Specific course credits in science subjects are required.
Recommended courses include: Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Histology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Genetics (applicants are encouraged to take 3-4 of these upper level courses; labs not required but encouraged when possible)

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit

Community College Coursework Accepted: Yes
Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours: N/A

Shadowing Hours

Students often shadow a variety of dentist, including general practitioners. It is recommended that applicants obtain 100 or more United States college level dental practice shadowing hours at the time of application submission.

Letters of Recommendation

Option 1: Committee letter
Option 2: Three letters. Preferably: two from science professors and a third from a non-relative dental professional. The College will only accept Letters of recommendation submitted via ADEA CAAPID. Letters of recommendation must be on letterhead and must include a signature.

Dental Admissions Test (DAT) Requirements

Mandatory DAT
Canadian DAT Accepted? No
Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission? No
DAT Score Considered: Most recent score only

Supplemental Information

Mandatory Casper Participation in ADEA AADSAS
Required Supplemental Application
Supplemental Application Fee

Interview Format

In-person, closed file one-on-one interview with 1-2 faculty members for 20 minutes. Interview includes a tour, student panel, and financial aid presentation.

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Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2025:

Year	In-State Tuition	Out-State Tuition	Additional Fees	Estimated Living Expenses
D1	$38,758	$69,748	$17,920	$20,000
D2	$58,137	$104,622	$26,880	$20,000
D3	$58,137	$104,622	$26,880	$20,000
D4	$58,137	$104,622	$26,880	$20,000

University Offerings

UIC provides a range of offerings to enhance the academic and professional development of its students.

Academic Offerings

Pre-Dental Opportunities:
- DAT Summer Preparation Program
- Illinois Pre Dental Consortium
- Post-baccalaureate programs
- Summer Enrichment Programs
- Multidisciplinary Oral Science Training (MOST) Summer program allows undergraduates to participate in a 12 week research program

Research Opportunities

UIC College of Dentistry is the most research-oriented dental school in Illinois (level-1 public research university).

The DMD/PhD program offers a customizable curriculum which combines clinical care with oral science research and biomedical technology.
Clinical Research Center clinic allows for various research methods including observational and interventional.
Faculty conduct Interdisciplinary Oral Science research including regenerative sciences, craniofacial pathobiology, clinical, translational, and community research
Summer research program allows students to participate in research the summer before they enter D1
Clinic and Research day allows students to share their research accomplishments

Clinical Experiences

Clinical Curriculum Overview:The DMD program revolves around learning in small groups on a case-based curriculum.

Research and Innovation

UIC College of Dentistry is at the forefront of dental research, focusing on:

Regenerative Sciences: Moving beyond tissue replacement, using materials to enable our bodies to regenerate damaged and failing tissues. Our researchers are leading investigations into how materials interact with living tissues, and the building of tissue replacements for the growth of cells/tissues to replace lost tissues. The Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration (CWHTR) is a unique community of scientists and clinicians devoted to the study of injury, wound healing, and regeneration.
Clinical and Translational Research: Leading transformative studies to improve oral health outcomes both in the clinic and the community. We have several centers and investigators focused on the study of the incidence and prevalence of disease; measuring outcomes of interventions; and the safety and efficacy of drugs, devices, and treatments in individuals. We are also investigating how and why efforts to promote oral health through intervention are accepted by communities.
Craniofacial Biology: Working to improve treatment of oral cancer, caries, periodontal and other oral diseases. We are leading interdisciplinary investigations in the development and function of the craniofacial complex to better understand processes that occur within cells and tissues to maintain health and control growth and development.

Additional Information for International Dental Graduates

Transcript Evaluation and Instructions

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) A highly competitive comprehensive Grade Point Average (GPA) per the ECE course-by-course evaluation is required. UIC only accepts evaluations from the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

English Proficiency

It is required that TOEFL scores be reported electronically directly to UIC by ETS. The University of Illinois Chicago institution code for ETS TOEFL is 1851. Please note that TOEFL scores must be valid within 2 years of the UIC application date. The TOEFL Best Score will NOT be accepted. The English proficiency requirement will be waived for applicants with international coursework completed in countries where English is the only official language. Scores are waived automatically during the application process based on where school completion is reported. Note: Applicants from countries where the official language is not English, but who attended a university where English was the language of instruction, are not exempt from submitting TOEFL scores.

NBDE Score

Submit the official NBDE score report to ADEA CAAPID®.

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