BSC in Dental Education Program

The students who enter the School of Dental Medicine are very carefully selected and have already had many opportunities for intellectual and social development. The years in dental school should permit the continued maturation of the individual and should emphasize the basic knowledge and skills which are common to all dentists. Graduates should continue their dental education during their professional careers and add to the basic concepts taught in dental school by studying the scientific literature and by attending continuing education courses. While in dental school, the student develops an attitude of professionalism and a sense of responsibility toward the patient’s welfare, which will provide optimal dental care.

License to Practice Dentistry in Ohio

Specific information about licensure in Ohio and other states should be obtained from the individual state boards of dentistry.

Accreditation

The School of Dental Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) on a seven-year cycle. The School's most recent site visit was November 1-3, 2016.

The School of Dental Medicine was organized on June 21, 1892, as the Dental Department of Western Reserve University, and opened that September with 21 students. For the first 25 years of its existence, the school was located in downtown Cleveland, on East Ninth Street and St. Clair.

In 1917, the School of Dental Medicine became an integral part of the university, with a building on Adelbert Road.

Photo from the year 1917 of the School of Dental Medicine, located on Adelbert Road in Cleveland Ohio.

In 1969, it moved into a building adjacent to the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and University Hospitals of Cleveland as part of a large University expansion project. This move made it one of the most complete and modern educational and research units in the country, with space for 368 DDS students, 70 graduate students, and 250 patient chairs. In 2003, the name of the school officially changed from the School of Dentistry to the School of Dental Medicine, and the degree offered changed from Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) to Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Since its organization, it has conferred degrees on approximately 4,900 graduates.

Photo from 2003 of the School of Dental Medicine, located on Adelbert Road in Cleveland Ohio.

Photo of current School of Dental Medicine (Clinic Entrance).

In 2019, the School moved to the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion and the Dental Clinic Building at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. The 477,000-square-foot Samson Pavilion is home to dental, nursing, medical, and physician assistant students. Being under one roof, and having some classes that they’ll all take together, encourages the communication and collaboration that’s required in the fast-paced field of health care.