Doctor of Dental Surgery

Discover what sets the UMKC School of Dentistry apart as a world-class educational facility. Expect rigorous academics, methodical training and a commitment to building leaders that improve lives through oral health.

Our comprehensive Doctor of Dental Surgery program provides students with an academic foundation, hands-on clinical experience and confidence to achieve your long-term goals. Work begins in the classroom where preclinical and biomedical courses give students strong conceptual background to draw on. Expect your clinical experiences to start in year one. Our program takes a team approach to clinical patient care. Peers work together to solve complex patient problems. Faculty members supervise and guide the work. To see more about our curriculum click the link below.

DDS Curriculum

DDS Program Brochure

The UMKC School of Dentistry combines the personal atmosphere of a small college with the benefits of a big university. Faculty and staff offer personal guidance and support throughout the learning process. Yet being part of a major university system in a metropolitan area allows UMKC to attract high-caliber professors, national research projects and maintain state-of-the-art facilities.

UMKC partners with a large network of nearby hospitals to enrich your experience. Our urban location means that many facilities are within a short walk or drive from campus. Our affiliations include Children’s Mercy Hospital, Truman Medical Center, the University of Kansas Medical Center and two local veterans hospitals. Other connections include several medical facilities serving low-income residents, developmentally and mentally disabled patients and many other underserved populations.

Our metropolitan setting has personal advantages too. Have a few spare hours? Attend a major league sporting event, art gallery opening or enjoy biking and hiking along the region’s extensive trail systems. The city is home to world-class museums, architecture, barbecue joints, restaurants and concert venues. The affordable housing and overall low-cost of living makes Kansas City stand out among other metropolitan regions. Come see why the quality of life in Kansas City prompts graduates to stay.

Scholarships are available to incoming students based on academics, diversity, leadership, service and financial need. Scholarships typically range from $5,000-$20,000 annually. We also offer awards that cover the full out-of-state fee differential.

Get to know our current students! Click here to learn about the DDS Class of 2027.

Apply Today

Ready to apply? Don’t wait. Applications for the highly-competitive program are due Oct. 1 but graduates are strongly encouraged to submit paperwork in June or before. Applicants should thoroughly review our admission standards and guidelines to learn about our extensive application criteria, expectations and preferences.