The Department of Comprehensive Dentistry’s mission is to educate dental students with the best available evidence and technology to achieve and maintain optimal patient oral health, comfort, function, and esthetics through risk-based diagnosis, prevention, tooth-preserving management of caries and non-carious diseases, and disorders of the oral cavity, considering the patient's overall health in an integrated health environment.

The department maintains the School’s Simulation Clinic for preclinical education and the dental clinics for the clinical care of adult patients, both of which contribute to the transition from didactic through preclinical to clinical dental training.

During the course of their four years of dental education, DDS students will participate in didactic courses, hands-on preclinical simulation courses, and clinical training in general dentistry.

Divisions

  • General Practice

    The Division of General Practice is based on the Group Practice model. The Predoctoral Clinic is divided into 8 group practices (GPs), each shared by two GP directors, who are responsible for approximately 16 third-year and 16 fourth-year students.

  • Cariology and Operative Dentistry

    Cariology and Operative Dentistry is that portion of the profession which deals with the treatment of missing or malformed portions of teeth caused by tooth decay (caries), trauma, discoloration or unusual development.

  • Advanced Education in General Dentistry

    The Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program is designed to provide advanced training beyond the level of predoctoral dental school education, using cutting-edge technology and advances in evidence-based dentistry.