The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is the dental school of the University of Michigan, a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Established in 1875, the School of Dentistry engages in oral and craniofacialhealth care education, research, patient care and community service. It is currently the number one ranked dental school in the U.S. and fifth in the world according to two independent rankings.[1][2]
The University of Michigan was the first state university in the world and the second university in the United States to offer education in dentistry. (Harvard was the first).[3] The University of Michigan was also the first to provide graduate-level dentistry education. Four of its faculty members have been elected president of the American Dental Association.[4]
There are 125 full-time faculty and 300 part-time faculty. The average class size is 109 for the D.D.S. program and 30 for the B.S. dental hygiene program.
Among the student organizations at the School of Dentistry are the Alpha Omega, American Association of Women Dentists, the American Student Dental Association, the Christian Medical/Dental Society, Dental LGBA, Delta Sigma Delta, Hispanic Dental Association, Muslim Student Dental Association, Society of the American Indian Dentist, Student Council, Student National Dental Association, Student Research Group (SRG), Jonathan Taft Society, UM Asian Dental Student Organization, and Xi Psi Phi.
The average undergraduate GPA of the entering D.D.S. class at the School of Dentistry is 3.66, with a science GPA of 3.5.[8]
History
Jonathan Taft, c. 1902. Taft was the first dean of the School of Dentistry.
The first dean of the School of Dentistry was Dr. Jonathan Taft, who was dean from the school's founding in 1875 until his retirement in 1903. Taft developed the four-year model of dental education, which later became standard in American dental schools.[9]
The School of Dentistry was established as the College of Dental Surgery by the University of Michigan Board of Regents, following an appropriation by the Michigan Legislature of $3,000 for that purpose.[3][4] The school's first class consisted of 20 students taught by three faculty members. The first women graduated from the school in 1880. In 1890, the school became the first dental school to provide graduate dental education.[4] Also in 1890, Ida Rollins became the first African-American woman to earn a dental degree in the United States, which she earned from the school.[10][11]
In 1910, Russell W. Bunting, later dean of the school, began his research into the causes and prevention of dental caries (cavities).[4] In 1921, the school established its dental hygiene program and conferred its first Master of Science degree, and the following year, the school became the first to offer graduate-degree training in orthodontics.[4] In 1927, the school adopted its current name.[4]
In 1938, the school and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation began to develop plans for a new, purpose-built dental school building. Construction of the Kellogg Building began the following year.[4]
In 1938, the School of Dentistry developed the first graduate program in dental public health in the United States under the leadership of Professor Kenneth A. Easlick.[4] In 1945, the School worked with city officials in Grand Rapids, Michigan to establish a water fluoridation program, one of the first in the United States.[4]
In 1957, plans for a new dental building attached to the Kellogg Building were released.[4] Construction began in 1966 on the project; at the time, the building contract of $17.3 million was the largest in university history.[4] The new building on North University Avenue was dedicated in 1971.[4]
In 1965, researchers from the School of Dentistry made their first trip to Egypt to study the orthodontics of ancient Egypt and Nubia. In 1976, researchers from the school discovered the 3,000-year-old mummy of Tiye, a Great Royal Wife to the Egyptian pharaohAmenhotep III; the mummy's identity was confirmed by tests at the School of Dentistry.[4]
In 1975, Jessica Rickert became the first female American Indian dentist in America upon graduating from the school. She was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and a direct descendant of the Indian chief Wahbememe (Whitepigeon).[12]
In 1998, renovations to the Kellogg Building began. On 1999, the school awarded its first two doctoral degrees in oral health sciences. In 2000, the school became the first in the nation to host the "Scientific Frontiers in Clinical Dentistry" program, with more than 1,500 dentists from across the country attending. The same year, the school announced five new community partnerships to provide oral health care services to the underserved across Michigan.[4]
Deans
The following people have served as deans of the School of Dentistry:[13]
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) is the dental school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the DMD degree, HSDM offers specialty training programs, advanced training programs, and a PhD program through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The program considers dentistry a specialty of medicine. Therefore, all students at HSDM experience dual citizenship between Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Today, HSDM is the smallest school at Harvard University with a total student body of 280.
A number of professional degrees in dentistry are offered by dental schools in various countries around the world.
The UCLA School of Dentistry is the dental school of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) located in the Center for Health Sciences building in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. The school has several educational and training programs, conducts oral and dental health research, and offers affordable dental care at three locations: Westwood, Venice, and Inglewood. The school also participates in several outreach endeavors, including numerous health fairs during the year, STEM pipeline programs and provides dental care for underserved populations in the region. The School of Dentistry is considered among the nation's best research-intensive dental schools.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is the dental school of the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). It is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is one of Pitt's six schools of the health sciences and one of several dental schools in Pennsylvania. It is closely affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The School of Dental Medicine accepted 3.6% of applicants for the class of 2016, a record low for the school's entire history.
University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is the dental school of University of the Pacific. It is located in San Francisco's South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood in the U.S. state of California.
Dentistry throughout the world is practiced differently, and training in dentistry varies as well.
The Melbourne Dental School is one of the graduate schools of the University of Melbourne. In addition to the 4-year graduate dental program the Doctor of Dental Surgery, the school offers specialty training programs combined with the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry degree, advanced training programs, and research degrees including M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs. According to the QS World Rankings, it is the highest ranking dental school in Australia and often ranks among the top 25 in the world.
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is a non-profit organization that works to further the education of dental professionals and the advancement of academic dental programs in Canada and the United States. Founded in 1923 as the American Association of Dental Schools, ADEA is based in Washington, D.C.
The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, often abbreviated CDM, is one of the twenty graduate and professional schools of Columbia University. It is located at 630 West 168th Street in Manhattan, New York City. According to American Dental Education Association, CDM is one of the most selective dental schools in the United States based on average DAT score, GPA, and acceptance rate. In 2017, 1,657 people applied for 84 positions in its entering class. The median undergraduate GPA and average DAT score for successful applicants in 2020 were 3.62 and 22.8, respectively.
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry is one of the graduate and professional schools of Ohio State University. The college is the fourth largest public dental school in the U.S. and consists of nine academic divisions representing all major dental specialties. In addition to the Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) and Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degrees, the Ohio State College of Dentistry offers specialty training programs, advanced training programs, MS programs, and a Ph.D. program in Oral Biology. Outreach and Engagement activities include over 60 active programs and more than 42 extramural sites, which continue to expand.
Pediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. The specialty of pediatric dentistry is recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.
Howard University College of Dentistry is a school of dentistry located in the United States city of Washington, D.C. It is the only dental school in Washington, D.C..
The School of Dentistry is a dental school within Meharry Medical College located in the United States city of Nashville, Tennessee.
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry is the dental school of the University of Detroit Mercy. It is located in the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is one of two dental schools in the state of Michigan.
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is the dental school of the University of Iowa. It is located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the only dental school in Iowa and is one of only two dental colleges in the United States to offer all the American Dental Association (ADA) accredited dental specialty training programs. It is consistently rated as a top dental school in the country with strong clinical training and research exposure for dental students. Several Iowa alumni serve in leadership positions in academics and in organized dentistry.
The University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine is the dental school of the University of Puerto Rico. It is located on the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the only dental school in Puerto Rico. It is accredited by the American Dental Association.
The UNC Claude A. Adams Jr. and Grace Phillips Adams School of Dentistry is the school of dentistry of the University of North Carolina. It is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. It is currently ranked second among all dental schools in the U.S. and is consistently ranked among the best in the world according to two independent rankings. Founded in 1950 as the UNC School of Dentistry, it was the only dental school in North Carolina until 2011, when East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine became the second. In 2019, the school received its largest single donation of $27.68 million, resulting in a name change to honor Dr. Claude A. Adams Jr. and Grace Phillips Adams. Dr. Adams was a North Carolina dentist that practiced in Durham until his death in 2018.
The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry is the dental school of the University of Minnesota. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.
The Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry is a museum of the history of dentistry, operated by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visitors to the museum can only gain access to the building through the main clinic entrance. Located on the university's Central Campus, the museum is one of only a handful of dentistry museums in the world.
Jessica Ann Rickert became the first female American Indian dentist in America upon graduating with a DDS from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1975. She was one of only six women in a class of 140 students. She is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and a direct descendant of the Indian chief Wahbememe (Whitepigeon).
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