School of Dentistry

A Dental Education That Cares

Our students serve the community and gain valuable clinical experience by providing the highest standard of care alongside our experienced faculty practitioners at our dental clinics. Our students are the future of oral healthcare.

Become a student

Become a patient

Work with us

Why Choose UMKC

There are many reasons to choose UMKC for your dental healthcare education. Here are just a few:

8 accredited programs

Our programs are fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. In addition, we provide several scholarships to help cover the cost.

6 advanced residency programs

We offer several advanced education residency programs for practitioners, including endodontics, general dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and periodontics.

50% of practitioners in the state

As the only public dental school in Missouri and Kansas, our graduates account for roughly half of all practicing dentists in the surrounding area.

60,000 patient visits

Under the supervision of experienced faculty practitioners, our students provide oral healthcare for a wide range of patients at our clinics.

What Our Students Have to Say

From volunteering in the community to patient care in our clinics, our students have a lot to say about what they like about our programs.

Being able to get involved in the community through hygiene has been just so much fun. I’ve loved my experience here in Kansas City.
Dental hygiene student Macila Arnold wears a mask and face shield while cleaning the teeth of a primate at the zoo. She works with another student.

Macila Arnold ('23)

B.S. in Dental Hygiene

Macila's story

The school’s focus on putting patients first captured my attention. I want to treat people, not just as my patients, as if they were my family.
Flavia Santos Bada, a student in the advanced standing program, works on a simulation mannequin at the dental school. She wears a mask and glasses while she concentrates.

Flavia Santos Bada ('26)

Advanced Standing DDS

Flavia's story

Playing soccer — and especially coaching — has helped me in dealing with my patients. We coach our patients to keep good oral hygiene and teach them the skills to achieve that.
DDS student Edgardo Leiva, wearing a clinic gown and face mask, talks to a patient sitting in the dental chair.

Edgardo Leiva ('23)

DDS

Edgardo's story

CODA Third-Party Comments

Do you have thoughts on how our dental, dental hygiene or residency programs are doing — and how they can continue to grow? The Commission on Dental Accreditation invites public comment on its 2025 review of our dental, dental hygiene, and residency programs' adherence to accreditation standards.

Submit Your Comment

Our dental education, dental hygiene, periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and advanced education in general dentistry programs will be visited by the commission November 18-20. In accordance with commission accreditation activities, we're now asking for comments to be used in the commission’s accreditation process. The deadline for submitting your comment is Sept. 19.

How to Submit Your Comment

School of Dentistry Events

All School of Dentistry Events

Latest Headlines

Dental student working on model patient

Dental School Hosts Advanced Standing Dental Student Interviews

29 Jul 2025 | Two days of lectures, interviews, tours and hands-on examination. Read full story Dental School Hosts Advanced Standing Dental Student Interviews

Dental student working on model patient

UMKC Streetcar Stop to Open in October

25 Jul 2025 | The KC Streetcar will connect campus and community Read full story UMKC Streetcar Stop to Open in October

students pose in front of dental school sign

STAHR Scholars Return to UMKC School of Dentistry for 2025 Onsite Week

21 Jul 2025 | The program empowers students to prepare for careers in dentistry. Read full story STAHR Scholars Return to UMKC School of Dentistry for 2025 Onsite Week

Dentistry News