Richmond, VA Dental Schools
The only dental school in Virginia is located in the state capital, Richmond. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry is located in downtown Richmond at the VCU Medical Center. The School of Dentistry is the home of Virginia's only accredited dental education program. The school grants Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degrees, a professional degree for those wishing to practice dentistry in the United States.
Other People Are Reading
-
Accreditation
-
The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association is the accrediting authority for dental education programs in the United States. Dental school graduates receive either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. The only accredited dental school in Virginia is the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry located in Richmond.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
-
The origin of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry can be traced to the founding of the University College of Medicine in 1893. Originally a division within the medical college, the dental education program became the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry in 1913 and lasted until 1968, when the Medical College of Virginia merged with Richmond Professional Institute to form Virginia Commonwealth University. The School of Dentistry is located in the Wood Memorial and Lyons Buildings on the university's medical campus, VCU Medical Center (formerly known as the Medical College of Virginia).
-
Programs and Departments
-
The School of Dentistry is home to departments in general practice, endodontics, oral pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics. The Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology is also housed within the School of Dentistry. In addition to its four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery program, the university also confers a Bachelor of Science to graduates of the school's Division of Dental Hygiene. The school provides specialized education in general dentistry, general practice residency in dental medicine, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, and grants Master of Science in Dentistry degrees and speciality certificates in endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry and periodontics.
D.D.S. Program Admission Requirements
-
The D.D.S. program at the School of Dentistry begins in July each year and extends through June. The program emphasizes study in basic sciences, clinical sciences and social sciences. Although completion of an undergraduate degree (Bachelor or Science or Bachelor of Arts) is recommended, the program accepts applications from students with a minimum of three years of college or university education. Applicants must complete the Dental Admission Test, provide evidence of psychomotor skills to perform dexterity tasks required in dentistry and complete prerequisite college or university courses in biology, chemistry, physics and biochemistry.
-
References
- American Dental Association: Dental Education Program Search
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry: About the School
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry: History and Mission of the School of Dentistry
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry: For Prospective Students
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry: Admission Requirements
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry: Selection Criteria
Resources
- Photo Credit dental instruments image by Adam Radosavljevic from Fotolia.com
