On January 17, the dental school hosted an orientation for our newest cohort of eight Advanced Standing Dental Program students. The program focuses on training dentists who have a degree from a foreign dental school and are now U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Many students have worked as dental assistants, dental hygienists, researchers, and educators while living in the U.S. and now desire to have a United States dental degree from a CODA approved institutional program, allowing them to be eligible to practice in the United States. It includes a semester-long didactic, laboratory and patient care orientation to the school’s dental curriculum and course of study. The cohort will then “transition” into the third-year dental class, the DDS Class of 2027, during the summer term and complete the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) curriculum.
The MLK Day of Service is an annual opportunity as a dental school community to join together to support and serve the local community in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
At this year’s event, organized by the UMKC SOD Engagement and Wellbeing Committee, volunteers assembled over 2,000 dental hygiene kits to donate to local shelters. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, students and friends at GEHA Solutions who volunteered their time to make this happen!
We’ve had another exciting year here at the UMKC School of Dentistry and we’re looking forward to many more! We wanted to look back at just a few of the many highlights of this year, all made possible by our faculty, staff and students. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!
Click here or click the thumbnail below to watch our 2024 year in review:
Hosted by the School of Dentistry Staff Council and Interim Dean Russ Melchert, the annual Holiday Luncheon event brings faculty, staff and retirees together for a traditional holiday lunch before all depart for holiday break. Games were played, gift baskets raffled off and a holiday feast was enjoyed by all, many dawning festive apparel.
Faculty and staff also donated non-perishable food items to the UMKC Kangaroo Pantry, a charity providing food assistance for those in need within the UMKC community.
Dr. Michelle Briner, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine, has been elected to serve as the Vice President of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Diagnostics Science Group, which aims to enhance communication, cooperation and inter-disciplinary activities among those interested in research in the diagnostic sciences, strategies and related disciplines, especially as applicable to diseases, conditions and abnormalities that affect the oral and maxillofacial region. She will begin her term at the conclusion of the 2025 IADR/PER General Session & Exhibition in Barcelona, Spain (June 25-28, 2025). Following her service as Vice President, Dr. Briner will serve one year as President Elect, then one year as President.
Since the 1970s, Cookie Crunch has been a much anticipated event at the dental school, serving as a “thank you” after the end of a long semester and final exams.
Tables lined with trays of baked goods filled the hallways and lines of eager students, faculty and staff made their way to indulge in a homemade treat.
Dr. Jared Gerhardt (DDS ’08), Assistant Clinical Professor, Restorative Clinical Sciences, was installed as President for the Greater Kansas City Dental Society this past weekend and will serve through December 2025. Congratulations, Dr. Gerhardt!
As part of their implantology course, first-year residents from the Advanced Periodontics, Advanced Endodontics, and AEGD programs received training throughout the month from Nobel Biocare, led by Jon Pointelin and Tom Stupka, focused on implant placement, provisional restorations, as well as the impression and conversion of overdentures.
The goal of the training was to equip residents with essential skills and knowledge, ensuring they are well-prepared to provide exceptional care to their patients.
“Understanding the biology and histopathology related to dental implants, as presented in this introductory course on implants for both Periodontic and Endodontic Residents, is of great value,” said Ken Frick, DDS, MS, Director, Advanced Education Program in Endodontics, Clinical Associate Professor. “Having the support of Nobel is an important part of that process.”
Residents learned about DTX Studio Implant software, which allows them to combine the CBCT image and intraoral scanning image, determining ideal implant orientations and facilitating placement of the dental implants in a semi- or fully-guided way.
“Digital dentistry and technology has become essential to modern dental practice,” said Patrick Lai, DDS, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, Director, Advanced Education Program in Periodontics. “This training is a valuable addition to our curriculum, ensuring that the residents receive cutting-edge education.”
The training also provided an opportunity for residents to learn the latest techniques in implant restorations.
“We are fortunate to include this topic as part of the AEGD curriculum,” said Luana Oliveira, DDS, MS, PhD, Director, AEGD Residency Program. “Our goal is to ensure residents are well-versed in implant protocols so they can better serve their patients. Hands-on experiences like this help us maintain excellence in dental education and prepare our residents to meet the demands of modern dentistry.”
The collaboration with Nobel Biocare, a longstanding partner of the dental school, was instrumental to the success of these sessions.
Black Dental Students & Pre-Dents in partnership with the UMKC School of Dentistry and chapters of the Student National Dental Association and the Hispanic Student Dental Association hosted their ShapingSmiles, ShapingFutures Dental Career Exploration event this November.
The event is designed to foster interest and enthusiasm for the dental profession among underrepresented minority students in grades 6-12. By providing them with hands-on experiences and exposure to the world of dentistry, the organizations hope to inspire a new generation of diverse dental professionals.
The welcome hosted dental applicants and their families on Friday, November 15 for another showcase day, where students met each other, faculty and staff and got the opportunity to learn more about the dental school experience and what they could expect when attending the UMKC School of Dentistry.
After being introduced to faculty, staff and the dean, attendees were led on a tour of the school. In addition to getting to know the facility and clinics, attendees enjoyed a “Class 1 Prep” activity, where they were led through an operative experience to show the students what they can catch a glimpse of their first two years of dental school.
