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.
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.

Macila Arnold ('23)
B.S. in Dental Hygiene
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 ('26)
Advanced Standing DDS
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.

Edgardo Leiva ('23)
DDS
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.
School of Dentistry Events
Latest Headlines

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2025-26 Summer Scholars Complete Their Research
20 Aug 2025 | Predoctoral dental students compete in a research mentorship program. Read full story 2025-26 Summer Scholars Complete Their Research

Major Building Projects Taking Shape at UMKC
18 Aug 2025 | Construction includes largest capital improvement project to date Read full story Major Building Projects Taking Shape at UMKC