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Overview

Founded in 1962, the University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry is recognized as one of the nation's outstanding dental institutions. Two Departments and twelve Divisions make up the College. In addition to the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, the College offers postdoctoral programs in six fields of study: General Practice Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orofacial Pain, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Periodontics. Graduate students in Orofacial Pain, Orthodontics and Periodontics receive a Master of Science degree from the University of Kentucky Graduate School and a specialty certificate. All seven programs hold current and full accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

The College has a national and international reputation for its dynamic and innovative approaches to dental education. Approximately 200 doctoral students and 30 graduate students and residents are enrolled. In addition, 56 full-time faculty provide an excellent student/faculty ratio and promote a very supportive atmosphere. Doctoral and postdoctoral student dentists are treated with respect and as colleagues. The University of Kentucky emphasizes an environment of collegiality between faculty and students to create a unique educational setting that promotes learning. The College is committed to providing its students with superior programs that prepare them to deliver competent care to patients throughout the Commonwealth and the nation.

 

Message from Dean Sharon P. Turner, DDS, JD

Dear Prospective Student:
           
We invite you to come and visit the College of Dentistry at the University of Kentucky nestled in the amazingly beautiful blue grass region of central Kentucky. You will find a culture here like no other. A place where faculty composed of clinician teachers, clinical and basic science researchers and students have a unique relationship based on mutual respect, devotion to learning and the primacy of the patient. Ours is a professional environment made warm by deep human caring as expressed by the site visitors from the Commission on Dental Accreditation when they awarded the College a commendation for the “collegiality of faculty, staff, students and administration of this college who obviously have deep respect for each other and commitment to the institution.”

Our college has long enjoyed a national reputation for innovativeness and student friendliness. Our job as faculty and staff is to challenge you to reach your full intellectual capacity while at the same time being facilitative and supportive. The curriculum is rich and full and the faculty are approachable and available to be certain that each student has the opportunity to maximize his or her learning experience during the time spent at the college.

Our service outreach program is second to none in the country. Through our fleet of mobile vans, we reach thousands of children throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Students are exposed very early to clinical dentistry through our elementary school sealant project which takes students in their first month of school to rural Kentucky to examine children and place sealants. This type of activity is popular with student dentists and a wonderful service for children. Our outreach earned us the “America’s Promise Award” in 2001 from Secretary of State Colin Powell.

UKCD has a well established implant teaching program for predoctoral dental students. We believe that our students have more experience restoring dental implants than do the students of any other dental school. Our early introduction of implant dentistry is one example of the manner in which we have continually revised our curriculum to include the newest evidence based treatments to improve dental and oral health for our patients.

If you have an interest in dental research, you won’t find a better place to find interested and supportive faculty. We have an active student research group which includes the winner of the 2006 American Association of Dental Research’s student award winner for clinical research.

I encourage you to come and see for yourself what a truly special place this college of dentistry is. Don’t take my word for it- see if for yourself and talk to our patients, students, staff and faculty. Poke your head in my office- the door is always open to students. You won’t find a finer school or a more wonderful group of people to learn with and from.

College Strategic Plan

College Mission Statement
The mission of the College of Dentistry is to improve oral health and general health through teaching, research, and service. The mission is supported by collaborative engagement and by networking with community and academic partners to promote oral health literacy and reduce health disparities within Kentucky and beyond.

The College educates health professionals to become active citizen leaders who are conscious of their personal and professional responsibilities in a global society. The College values diversity within its community, which includes diversity of thought and experience, in order to promote a humanistic approach to education, patient care, and community service.

University Mission Statement

The University of Kentucky is a public, land grant university dedicated to improving people's lives through excellence in education, research and creative work, service, and health care. As Kentucky's flagship institution, the University plays a critical leadership role by promoting diversity, inclusion, economic development, and human well-being.