About the School

Students
Faculty
Programs
Teaching Methods
Facilities

Students

In 2007-08:

  • 80 incoming first professional students were accepted
  • 2,124 applications were submitted
  • Of the entire student body, females comprise 35 percent and out-of-state residents comprise 56 percent
  • The average age of incoming first professional students is 24.3
  • The total mean college GPA of incoming first professional students was 3.68 (science 3.54 ) and academic average DAT score was 19.95 (science 19.86 ).
  • 311 students are enrolled in the DMD First Professional Program.
  • Residency programs are as follows:
    • Advanced Education in General Dentistry ( 1 )
    • Anesthesiology ( 3 plus 1 fellow)
    • Endodontics ( 7 )
    • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ( 11 plus 1 fellow and 1 intern)
    • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics ( 10 )
    • Pediatric Dentistry ( 2 )
    • Periodontics ( 7 )
    • Prosthodontics ( 6 )
  • 61 students are enrolled in the two-year Dental Hygiene Certificate Program
  • 44 students are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene Program

The School of Dental Medicine is one of only two schools to offer a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene and the certificate program is the only dental hygiene program in Pennsylvania affiliated with a major university.

Faculty

For the 2007-08 academic year, the SDM has 89 full-time faculty, 83 part-time faculty, 92 adjunct faculty, and 24 emeritus faculty.

In 2006 - 2007, SDM faculty:

  • Generated over 4 million dollars for research
  • authored over 40 professional journal articles
  • Received more than 3 national awards and honors
  • Served organized dentistry with over 10 faculty members holding elected offices in professional and scientific organizations
  • Over 12 faculty members have served on educational boards, study section committees, and state and national licensure agencies.

Programs

Teaching Methods

The School of Dental Medicine employs innovative teaching methods for enhanced didactic and clinical experiences.

  • Problem-based learning (PBL) is introduced and reinforced throughout students' studies in the residency programs, the First Professional Program and the Dental Hygiene Program.
  • First professional and dental hygiene students benefit from the school's Simulation Clinic , an 80-unit facility providing a seamless transition between didactic studies and the clinical setting.
  • Also essential to the clinical transition is the vertically-integrated Comprehensive Care Program in which third- and fourth-year first professional students have the opportunity to provide comprehensive dental care under the supervision of a module leader, simulating an atmosphere similar to that of a private general practice.
  • The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), developed by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, presents the dental student with photographs of relevant clinical situations and evaluates their decision-making process.
  • Residency program curricula stress comprehensive treatment planning and multi-disciplinary conferences in addition to individualized attention from specialty area faculty.
  • Inter-school collaborative programs allow predoctoral dental students to initiate studies leading to one of four masters degrees:

Facilities

The School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is one of six health sciences schools at the University of Pittsburgh.  The facility occupies Salk Hall and the adjoining Salk Hall Dental Annex and is located on the University of Pittsburgh upper campus; near UPMC hospitals and the School of Medicine.

  • Lecture Facilities—All Salk Hall lecture facilities have recently been renovated. They include comfortable seating and new teaching stations with multimedia support areas.
  • The Robinson Student Computer Center—This state-of-the-art computer laboratory/classroom offers a contemporary environment for teaching and developing skills in information technology.
  • Simulation Clinic—This unique teaching laboratory offers faculty and students an educational environment in which practical dental treatment skills can be developed using patient simulation.  Skills developed in this area are then transferred into patient care in our clinics.  Incoming classes will be supported with computers at these workstations.
  • The Salk Hall Dental Annex/Adjacent Clinics—Our clinics are constantly being revised and renovated. We currently have 254 operatories for general and specialized dental treatment. Most are semi-private treatment rooms.  New renovations include the Multidisciplanary Implant Center and the Center for Patients with Special Needs which are scheduled to open this summer.
  • Student Lounge—Our student lounges provide students with an accessible and useful place to study and socialize.  The private lounge is equipped with a small kitchen and e-mail kiosks for easy access to the Internet.
  • The Health Sciences Library System (HSLS)—This extensive reference consortium supports SDM faculty, students, and researchers with a wide array of information, services, educational opportunities, and resources in print and electronic format.