The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, established in 1882, is a public university institution that stands as Iowa's sole dental school and one of the oldest and most respected dental schools west of the Mississippi River. It is a comprehensive facility dedicated to three core pillars: patient care, dental education, and oral science research. Patient Care: The College of Dentistry operates extensive dental clinics that serve over 170,000 patient visits annually. It offers a complete range of dental services for both children and adults across ten American Dental Association (ADA) recognized dental specialties, along with innovative advanced training in operative dentistry and geriatric/special needs dentistry. These services include general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, crowns and bridges, dental hygiene, dental implants, dentures and partials, endodontic therapy, nitrous oxide sedation, pediatric dental care, restorations, braces, full mouth reconstruction, veneers, and wisdom teeth extraction. The clinics provide different levels of care, including student clinics with reduced fees (closely supervised by faculty) and faculty private practice clinics, ensuring access to quality care for a diverse patient base. The college also has 26 community programs, focusing on children, patients with special needs, and seniors, including an award-winning Geriatrics Mobile Dental Unit, demonstrating its commitment to community outreach and addressing barriers to dental care. Dental Education: As a leading educational institution, the College of Dentistry offers highly competitive and comprehensive DDS programs, as well as advanced education and residency programs in numerous dental specialties. The curriculum emphasizes new knowledge, technical excellence, ethics, and practice management, with a strong focus on critical thinking and problem-based learning. Notably, almost 80% of Iowa's dentists are alumni of the college. Students gain extensive clinical experience, often more than at any other dental school in the country, through clerkships in various specialties. The institution is also a hub for graduate studies, offering Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Oral Science, preparing graduates for careers in teaching and research. Oral Science Research: The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a global leader in oral science and dental and craniofacial research. Its research efforts span a wide range of topics, including biostatistics and computational biology, bioengineering, tissue engineering, stem cells, biomaterials, clinical and translational research, craniofacial biology, genetics, dental development, immunology, inflammation, microbiology, caries, microbiome research, oral cancer, oral health policy, public health, epidemiology, and behavioral science. The college has significantly increased its external research funding, ranking among the top dental schools nationally in National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funding, and boasts a high percentage of DDS students participating in research. This commitment to research contributes to advancements in oral health and improved patient outcomes worldwide.