The University of Michigan

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

School of Dentistry, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, opened in 1875.

The School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction train future dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia and public agencies.

Since its founding, more than 9,200 men and women have graduated with dental degrees. Another 2,600 have received either a certificate or a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene following the creation of the dental hygiene curriculum in 1921.

Whether as general practice dentists, dental specialists or dental hygienists, School of Dentistry graduates have served in thousands of communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. Most have been practitioners. Others have been researchers. Some have been teachers.

Many have been leaders of dental and dental hygiene organizations at local, state, and national levels. Four School of Dentistry administrators have been elected president of the American Dental Association.

Student body profile

The student body consists of 646 students. The dental hygiene program has 104 students, while the pre-doctoral, D.D.S. program, has 444. There are also 81 M.S. students and 16 Ph.D. students in the graduate and doctoral programs. The faculty consists of 110 full time professors and approximately 300 part time. The average class size for the doctor of dental surgery program is 105 and 30 for the dental hygiene.

Academics

There are 15 programs of study available at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Fields of study include, but not limited to, doctor of dental surgery, dental hygiene, oral health sciences (Ph.D.), biomaterials, endodontics, oral and maxiollofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD), oral pathology, and general practice residency (hospital dentistry).

A four-year model for the Doctor of Dental Surgery program. Clinical training emphasizing comprehensive patient care begins in the first year and is closely integrated with supporting basic science and preclinical courses. Student research opportunities are available. First year: Consists of an Integrated Medical Science (IMS) curriculum along with behavioral sciences and weekly clinical experiences. Second year: Continued IMS and preclinical courses with additional clinical experiences. Third and fourth years: Involve the clinical sciences and the delivery of comprehensive dental care that approximates private practice. Students also spend a total of 12 weeks at off-site rotations in community health clinics.

Student organizations

There are many student organizations that are associated with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Of these is Xi Psi Phi (Zips), an international dental fraternity that was started at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1889. The Alpha Chapter of Xi Psi Phi was reactivated in 2005 by five students, Daniel Chung, Dev Vohra, Rajeev Prasher, Benjamin Ruff, and Scott Behnan. This was after the dental fraternity had gone inactive in 1950. Other organizations include Alpha Omega, Delta Sigma Delta, American Student Dental Association (UM-ASDA), student council, student research group (SRG), and the Jonathan Taft Society.

Four-year Model

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is on the four-year model which was established by Dr. Taft in 1901. Dr. Taft was the founding dean of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and the four-year model originally proposed by him is now the national standard.

History

• 1875 – The Legislature establishes a College of Dental Surgery at the U-M. The first class had 20 students taught by three faculty members.
• 1880 – The first two women graduate from the College of Dental Surgery.
• 1890 – The College of Dental Surgery is the first dental school to provide graduate dental education.
• 1910 – Russell Bunting begins research on the cause and control of caries (cavities).
• 1921 – Dental hygiene curriculum established. First Master of Science degree conferred.
• 1922 – U-M becomes the first dental school to offer graduate training in orthodontics leading to a Master of Science degree.
• 1927 – Name changed to the School of Dentistry.
• 1938 – W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the School develop plans to construct a building specifically for postgraduate dental instruction, and construction begins the following year.
• 1938 – Kenneth Easlick develops the nation’s first graduate program in dental public health.
• 1945 – The School collaborates with city officials in Grand Rapids to launch a water fluoridation program that ushers in one of the most successful public health projects in history.
• 1957 – Plans announced to build a new dental building to be linked to the Kellogg Building.
• 1965 – School investigators make first orthodontic field expedition to ancient Nubia (Egypt).
• 1966 – Ground broken for construction of new dental building. At the time, the project is the largest building contract in U-M history, approximately $17.3 million.
• 1967 – Dental Research Institute established. It’s one of five in the nation funded by the National Institute of Dental Research.
• 1971 – School of Dentistry building on North University Avenue dedicated.
• 1972 – School begins summer dental community outreach clinics in Adrian and Stockbridge.
• 1973 – Summer migrant dental clinic begins in Traverse City area.
• 1976 – School researchers receive international recognition for discovering a 3,000-year-old Royal Egyptian mummy (Queen Tiy, circa 1397–1360 B.C.). School lab tests confirm her identity.
• 1977 – School recognized by Student National Dental Association for having the highest enrollment of Black students.
• 1991 – “Black Dentistry in the 21st Century” conference takes place here.
• 1995 – School, American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association and city of Grand Rapids conduct International Fluoridation Symposium marking the 50th anniversary of water fluoridation.
• 1998 – Kellogg Building renovations begin.
• 1999 – School expands annual “Table Clinic,” a half-day event, to a full-day event celebrating research at the School and renames the program “Research Table Clinic Day.”
• 1999 – School awards first two doctorates (in oral health sciences).
• 2000 – School is the first in the nation to host the “Scientific Frontiers in Clinical Dentistry” program, attracting more than 1,500 dentists from across the country.
• 2000 – School announces five new community partnerships to provide oral health care services to the underserved across Michigan.