About Us
Who We Are
The only public dental school in Missouri and Kansas, we are nationally recognized for academic rigor and excellence in oral healthcare education and patient care. Our school consists of 540+ students, 220+ faculty and staff, 8,000+ alumni, and 32,000+ patients.
Our mission
To serve as a leader in the advancement of oral healthcare through exceptional educational programs, scientific inquiry, patient care and service and respect for the dignity of everyone within our community.
Our vision
To be a model oral healthcare education institution that maintains the highest ethical and scientific standards of care, serving patients and the profession in an evolving healthcare environment.
Our Values
Excellence
We achieve excellence by developing professionals through rigorous academic education and practical training; performing teaching and research that incorporates best practices, setting goals that are achievable and measurable, as well as by seeking feedback from our students, colleagues and community; adhering to high standards of evidence-based dentistry and clinical judgment through collaboration and leadership.
Compassion
We practice compassion by taking a genuine interest in the needs of those we serve in order to help them live healthy and productive lives through the services we deliver; interacting with others as servant leaders; promoting an environment of shared strength through humility and gratitude for our shared talents.
Integrity
We act with integrity by demonstrating that ethical behavior is a lifelong habit of honest and sincere action that benefits the profession and society; fulfilling our social contract to perform our work and serve our communities with the veracity and honor that undergird our profession; committing ourselves to the highest moral and ethical standards that will hold us accountable to our own actions and those of our institution, our colleagues, our students and our community.
Justice
We act justly by being sensitive to the complexities inherent in our community; striving to allocate the school’s limited resources in a manner that best meets the needs of our students, patients, faculty and staff; doing what is right through our exercise of collegiality, respect and fairness in all our interactions.
Our History
For more than a century, we have led the way in preparing the next generation of oral healthcare professionals, conducting cutting-edge research, delivering high-quality care to patients and allowing professionals to elevate their careers through our continuing education and practitioner training programs.
Academic programs
We offer accredited programs in dental hygiene, dentistry and advanced dentistry practice.
Dental clinics
Schedule an appointment at our dental clinic, or ask your dentist for a referral to one of our advanced clinics.
Faculty and staff
Meet our team of nationally recognized faculty, specialists and staff.
Feedback
Have you had an experience that does not align with our mission, vision or values? Safely share your experience with us.