University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview

Established in 1896, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has a long and distinguished history of educating students who become leading dental practitioners, researchers, and educators. As one of the six Schools of the Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, it holds the distinction of managing its own clinic. The school is located in Salk Hall on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

A Legacy of Innovation and Inclusion

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has been at the forefront of innovation in dental medicine. The school admitted its first female student 117 years ago and continues to champion diversity. Currently, women constitute more than half of the incoming pre-doctoral class. Half a century ago, the school pioneered specialty dental care, now delivered through its Center for Patients with Special Needs.

Comprehensive Clinical Services

The School of Dental Medicine plays a vital role in enhancing the oral health of the patient population in southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond through its general dental clinics and 11 specialty clinics. These clinics provide a wide range of dental services, ensuring comprehensive care for diverse patient needs. Patients who prefer treatment by faculty members rather than students may choose University Dental Health Services, the School of Dental Medicine's faculty practice.

Center for Patients with Special Needs

Established by Dean Thomas W. Braun, the Center for Patients with Special Needs provides comprehensive dental care to patients with disabilities.

Emergency Clinic

The School of Dental Medicine is equipped to handle dental emergencies for patients who do not have access to such care elsewhere.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Unit

The CBCT unit uses a cone-shaped X-ray rather than a linear one to create three-dimensional images that have many applications in dental medicine. CBCT imaging can be helpful in planning implants, orthognathic surgery, and evaluating pathology, among other dental procedures.

Research and Discovery

The school's researchers are internationally recognized for their groundbreaking developments in craniofacial genetics and regeneration. They are expanding the horizons of knowledge and developing new therapies, biomaterials, and diagnostic tools for treating diseases and disorders in the craniofacial area to improve health. The School of Dental Medicine is undertaking investigations to identify genes that contribute to complex human phenotypes, primarily those involved in dental and craniofacial disorders, including behavioral and epidemiological factors. Tissue engineering-based approaches are being developed to treat complex multi-structural wounds and defects of the face and skull in a way that restores both function and appearance. The School of Dental Medicine is identifying factors that lead to oral health disparities in children and families in Appalachia.

Academic Programs

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine offers a range of programs to cater to different career aspirations in the field of dentistry. These programs include:

Predoctoral (DMD) Program

The four-year Predoctoral (DMD) Program prepares students to provide comprehensive care to a diverse patient population. The competency-based curriculum emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention and prepares students to provide individualized treatments using the best scientific evidence available. An essential part of the training of students at Pitt Dental Medicine is to learn and practice clinical concepts that involve administering anesthesia, dental hygiene and cleaning as well as other facets of dental examination and care.

Advanced Standing (DMD) Program

The Advanced Standing (DMD) Program is designed for qualified graduates of foreign dental schools, placing them as third-year dental students.

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Oral Biology Program (MS and PhD)

The Oral Biology Program encompasses the study of fundamental biological phenomena related to the development, structure, and function of the craniofacial region. It focuses on developing new therapies, biomaterials, and diagnostic tools for treating diseases and disorders in the craniofacial area to improve health.

Dental Hygiene Program

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Hygiene Program offers students a unique academic environment where they can earn either an Associate of Science or a Bachelor's Degree in Dental Hygiene. The University of Pittsburgh Dental Hygiene Program provides a comprehensive education in both the basic sciences and clinical dental hygiene over the course of a two-year (six consecutive terms) Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. The University of Pittsburgh Dental Hygiene Program differs from other programs by providing a broader range of experiences in specialty clinics within the School of Dental Medicine, as well as clinical rotations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The major areas of focus are teaching, research, patient treatment, and community service. Dental hygiene services are rendered to a varied patient population, including pediatric, geriatric, physically and mentally challenged, and immunocompromised individuals. Students who complete the Dental Hygiene Program Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene have the option of completing a Bachelor of Science degree offered through the College of General Studies. The degree completion option includes three areas of study focusing on a student’s specific career goals. These areas include dental hygiene education, research, and health management. Graduates can work as licensed dental hygienists while completing their requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Classes are tailored to the student’s interests and can be arranged around work schedules. The program provides a firm foundation for those desiring to pursue graduate studies. Students will be evaluated on all aspects of professional behavior and ethical conduct. The evaluation will encompass criteria such as the student’s interpersonal interaction with faculty, supervisors, staff, patients, and peers, as well as how the student completes all clinical and didactic assignments within scheduled deadlines and in keeping with both the quality and standards established by the Dental Hygiene Program, School of Dental Medicine faculty, and the University of Pittsburgh faculty. Each dental hygiene course instructor will clearly state his/her policy regarding grades and evaluation at the beginning of the course. A course syllabus will be distributed to all students at the first class meeting. All required courses are graded according to the University’s letter grade system (see Grading and Records section of this bulletin). Elective courses beyond the required number may be taken with the permission of the program director. Student advising begins with the faculty responsible for the course.

General Practice Dental Residency Program

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine General Practice Dental Residency Program is designed to provide training that extends beyond the level of pre-doctoral education in oral health care, utilizing applied basic and behavioral sciences. Education in this program is based on the concept that oral health is an integral and interactive part of total health. The program is designed to expand the scope and depth of the residents’ knowledge and skills, enabling them to provide comprehensive oral health care to a wide range of population groups. The programs offer clinical and didactic training across a range of dental specialties, including endodontics, periodontics, implant dentistry, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral pathology/oral medicine, as well as care for patients with complex medical histories. Journal Club, treatment planning conferences, resident portfolios, and off-site local and national dental meetings are also part of the program content. Our program offers a unique opportunity allowing applicants to choose from four residency locations with a single application. After completing the application, applicants will have the option to choose whether to be considered for one location, several locations, or all locations through subsequent correspondence. Applicants will also be able to indicate their location preferences.

Admission Information

Admission into the School of Dental Medicine is highly competitive. For the 2016-17 academic year, the School of Dental Medicine accepted 80 incoming first professional degree or doctor of dental medicine students from a pool of 2,003 applicants. The School of Dental Medicine class size is limited to 80 students.

Applicants must meet all admission requirements before their applications can be processed by the Office of Admissions to then present to the Admissions Committee. This committee comprises faculty, alumni, and upper-level student representatives. Careful review of applications is ongoing. Consideration is given only to those candidates who have submitted completed AADSAS applications and fees. Interviews are by invitation only and sent after thorough review of submitted material. Most interviews take place during the fall term of each year. The interview is composed of personal interviews with members of our faculty, and presentations by various department chairs and directors. During the interview, applicants are expected to display evidence of personal exposure to the field of dentistry, as well as qualities of maturity, motivation, and integrity.

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By general agreement among schools, the earliest date of acceptance to American dental schools is the first business day of December. A rolling admissions process begins on this date and continues until the class is filled. An enrollment deposit in the amount of $2,000 is required. All deposits are nonrefundable, except as otherwise set forth in the Offer of Admission letter. Seats for the incoming class will be filled in the order in which deposits of individuals who have been offered admission to the University are received (i.e., seats are filled on a rolling basis upon receipt of your deposit). In order to guarantee enrollment at the University, applicants who have been offered admission must submit their deposit before the class is filled. Completion of a successful FBI background inquiry, as well the successful completion of any contingencies including an applicant’s baccalaureate degree must be done by June 30. Continued satisfactory academic performance and behavior during the period between acceptance and enrollment also is required. A final offer of admission is determined once all conditions and contingencies of acceptance have be successfully completed.

A minimum total GPA of 3.2 (overall, science and prerequisite) and a DAT academic average of 19 with subsection scores of 17 or higher are preferred for consideration to the DMD program. It is preferred that no more than one-third of an applicants’ credits are earned from a community college or junior college. No more than 60 of the minimum required credits will be accepted from a community college or junior college. There are no residency requirements for either application or admission to the University of Pittsburgh. All Pitt Dental Medicine students are required to have a laptop computer with up-to-date technical specifications. These requirements must be met in order to use our electronic testing solution, ExamSoft. The University Store on Fifth offers discounts to Pitt students on select Apple and Dell products.

Diversity and Inclusion

“The University of Pittsburgh, as an educational institution and as an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, the University prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. Further, the University will continue to take affirmative steps to support and advance these values consistent with the University’s mission. This policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment in University programs and activities. The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is dedicated to preparing culturally competent world class clinicians, educators and scientists that are as diverse as the challenges faced and populations served.

Student Life and Opportunities

Student learning continues far beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to participate in any of a number of the school’s active student organizations to connect with others sharing and investigating the same interests. Student organizations focus on advancing knowledge and extend the frontiers of a particular segment of oral health. Personal, academic and career counseling are available through the school’s Office of Student Affairs for all students. Research opportunities abound for students in good academic standing to study many different aspects of dental research, including craniofacial genetics, tissue regeneration, informatics, public health and other fields. With an extended history of profound dental research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine also fosters interactions between dental students and researchers in other disciplines. Academic rewards and contributions to the dental profession are just two reasons many students conduct research at the school. Students have opportunities to share their projects and results at national meetings and conferences and provide excellent learning and networking opportunities with colleagues.

Accreditation

The program in dental education is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653, or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611.

A Tradition of Excellence

Founded as the Pittsburgh Dental College, the school was organized and chartered simultaneously with its establishment as a department of dentistry at the Western University of Pennsylvania, the former name of the University of Pittsburgh. The School of Dental Medicine welcomed its first class of 119 freshmen that September. The school grew quickly and moved into increasingly larger facilities. Under the leadership of Dean H. The Pittsburgh Dental College admitted its first female student, Ms. Mary L. Glenn, in 1898. The School of Dentistry awarded its first master's degree in dentistry to Nora E. Murry in 1935. In 1963, the school graduated its first class of dental assistants. In 1965, five of the dental school's chairs were dedicated to the treatment of children with disabilities.

Legacy and Future

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has a long and storied history, marked by innovation, inclusion, and a commitment to excellence. From its early days as the Pittsburgh Dental College to its current status as a leading dental school, the institution has consistently adapted to meet the evolving needs of the dental profession and the community it serves.

The school's dedication to research has led to groundbreaking discoveries in areas such as craniofacial genetics and tissue regeneration, contributing to advancements in dental care and treatment. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming dental professionals.

Looking ahead, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine remains focused on preparing the next generation of skilled, compassionate, and culturally competent dental practitioners, educators, and scientists. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and upholding its core values, the school is poised to continue its legacy of excellence for generations to come.

The school's mission is clear: to train students to care for patients skillfully, professionally, and compassionately; to treat each patient with respect and kindness; and to be aware at all times of the privilege and responsibility of being entrusted with the care of another human being. The school strives to be known for its clinical expertise and serve as a regional resource to which the community can turn for comprehensive care. It also aims to maintain a strong and enduring connection with its alumni to help ensure the School’s success for generations to come.

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