Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree Program

Earn your Doctor of Dental Medicine degree with the University of New England — Maine's largest independent university, recognized for excellence by The Princeton Review and others. You'll become skilled in patient-centered care at UNE's Portland, Maine dental clinic, where UNE students treat thousands of patients each year at our Oral Health Center.

Earn Your Doctor of Dental Medicine at Maine’s Leading Health University

As a student in the UNE College of Dental Medicine’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program, you’ll receive a dental education that is comprehensive and innovative. The only dental school in Maine and all of Northern New England, UNE has become a national leader in preparing oral health professionals. Our curriculum is grounded in the latest principles of evidence-based dentistry, and students learn through a wide variety of engaging methods.

The Doctor of Dental Medicine program is centered around UNE’s Oral Health Center in picturesque Portland, Maine. This expansive facility receives some 17,000 patient visits each year, and is equipped with state-of-the-art clinical and simulation equipment.

As a student in the UNE College of Dental Medicine’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program, you’ll receive a dental education that is comprehensive and innovative. The only dental school in Maine and all of Northern New England, UNE has become a national leader in preparing oral health professionals. Our curriculum is grounded in the latest principles of evidence-based dentistry, and students learn through a wide variety of engaging methods.

The Doctor of Dental Medicine program is centered around UNE’s Oral Health Center in picturesque Portland, Maine. This expansive facility receives some 17,000 patient visits each year, and is equipped with state-of-the-art clinical and simulation equipment.

Study Dental Medicine at UNE in Portland, Maine

Why UNE for Your Doctor of Dental Medicine

  • Learn within a uniquely supportive community of students and faculty, who all value collaboration, camaraderie, and shared success.
  • Immediate development of hands-on clinical skills using state-of-the-art instruments and simulation equipment.
  • Early direct patient care experiences in our public clinic — helping people in your community while you earn your degree.
  • Team-based learning that enhances your ability to work collaboratively with other members of the dental practice.
  • The opportunity to learn alongside students in other health professions programs, including future doctors, dental hygienists, physician assistants, and more.
  • A strong emphasis on the biomedical sciences and principles of clinical medicine.
  • Live and study in Portland, Maine — consistently ranked on national “Best Places to Live” lists.

Request info about the UNE Doctor of Dental Medicine degree

Headshot of U N E Dental Medicine student Emily Richard

Emily Richard '21

Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Medical Biology

Why UNE

I chose UNE because of the small class size — if you’re looking for small classes and a tight-knit community, UNE is for you. There is a lot of hands-on experience early on. We had drills in our hands on the first day of clinic. The experience that we get with hand skills as students is unbeatable. 

[Because UNE does not have post-graduate students], in our third and fourth years, we got to do more challenging cases, whereas at other schools, those get handed off to residents. It allowed us to feel more confident so we were more prepared when we graduated.

Another thing that I saw as a huge plus is that all of our courses are pass or fail. That’s a really great thing because it fostered a community learning environment versus a competitive one. It was a group learning environment, and we were all trying to help each other learn and succeed. 

Hands-On Learning

I worked on challenging cases that I’m sure at other schools would have been referred to specialists. It was a steep learning curve, but we were set up to be ready for it. Being challenged like that made us much more independent in our fourth year when we had 12-week rotations at our externships. At externship, you are the dentist. You’re making treatment decisions and plans. You have doctors who are overseeing and always able and willing to answer questions, but you are really gaining a level of independence that makes you feel confident for when you graduate.

My externship helped me realize my own abilities in diagnosing and treating patients. I knew I could do it on my own. I came back a lot more confident in my skills and my decisions as a clinician. At school, you have the safety net of always asking faculty, on rotation you really start to do things on your own and make the tough decisions. It was so valuable to have that experience.

We also get a lot of oral surgery experience that at other schools, you probably aren't getting — the biggest one being implant placement as dental students. I know some people that were placing them in their third year. I had classmates that placed probably almost twenty implants in their two years. It all varies provider to provider just based on your patient pool and who needs implants, but our oral surgeons are fantastic and helped us learn the implant placement process. I got to place two implants while I was at UNE, and I restored a few implants that my partner ahead of me had placed. It’s a huge benefit to be able to have that experience and feel more confident in continuing learning how to do implants once you've graduated rather than starting for the first time.

UNE does a really good job in preparing you to be an independent clinician as a first-year dentist right out of the program.

There is a lot of hands-on experience early on. We had drills in our hands on the first day of clinic. UNE does a really good job in preparing you to be an independent clinician as a first-year dentist right out of the program.
Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Medical Biology

What will you study? D.M.D. Curriculum Overview

The College of Dental Medicine offers a unique community-based education program, which begins with service learning and public health coursework during your first three years at the College and culminates with extensive clinical rotations in your fourth year. You directly contribute to our mission of improving the health of New England by practicing the full scope of general dentistry at a network of sites throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Your community-based faculty preceptors are trained to provide mentorship and supervision while you continue your development as a dental professional who is capable of delivering patient-centered comprehensive care in a variety of settings.

Our comprehensive group practice model features groups of practicing “dental associates,” who are students at all stages of their education. Faculty mentors help you and your group manage your practice effectively, resulting in exceptionally valuable clinical experiences for you, top-quality oral health care for patients, and development of your competency.  

To learn more about the program see the Academic Catalog.

To learn more about our Accelerated 3-4 Option Medical Biology-Dental Medicine track for pre-dental students, see the Medical Biology (Medical Sciences) Curriculum.

Competency Statements

(Adopted from the American Dental Association “Competencies for the New General Dentist”)

The general dentist is the primary oral health care provider supported by dental specialists, allied dental professionals, and other health care providers. The practice of general dentistry requires a dentist to incorporate understanding, skills, and values in an integrated response to clinical and other professional situations. The competency statements describe the performance of UNE College of Dental Medicine graduates as they enter practice settings rather than that of students in individual courses. This document is viewed by the College as dynamic, as the practice of dentistry evolves, the College will revisit its competence.

Domains

A physician assistant student assists a dental medicine student in giving a patient an exam as part of interprofessional education
Female dental school student shakes hand with patient at UNE dental school's clinic in Portland, Maine.
A row of dental medicine students practice examining teeth on a typodont
A dental student and a physician assistant student look into the mouth of a patient during a dental screening

Career Paths for Dental Medicine Grads

Obtaining your D.M.D. degree in Maine from UNE will prepare you for a dynamic career in dental medicine, as part of an existing practice, within your own practice, in higher education or research, and beyond. Graduates from UNE’s dentistry degree program are trained to diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and impairments of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and jaw. In addition to learning to fix issues, you’ll be trained to help prevent future problems and educate patients on wellness. Through a focus on whole-body health and comprehensive oral health, we’ll empower you to teach others to take good care of their teeth, gums, and general health. 

General dentists use their diagnostic, rehabilitative, and surgical skills to treat damaged or missing tooth structures. D.M.D.s can also remove tooth decay and fill cavities, examine x-rays, and perform corrective surgeries. Some seek postgraduate training for careers as dental specialists — there are a variety of dental specialties in areas such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and dental public health. 

UNE Dental Medicine Alumni Making an Impact

Meet Lyric, D.M.D. ’22

Meet Sean, D.M.D. ’22

Doctor of Dental Medicine Facilities

As a student at UNE’s College of Dental Medicine, you will be immersed in hands-on learning from day one. You’ll have access to the tools and state-of-the-art technology in the Oral Health Center (OHC) and around campus.

Oral Health Center

The Oral Health Center (OHC) is the clinical home of UNE’s Dental Medicine teaching clinic and simulation facility. There are about 17,000 patient visits in the OHC annually. As a Dental student, you deliver patient care under the supervision of clinical faculty and staff in a team-oriented approach to meet the health care needs of patients. The OHC also serves as a space for you to engage in interprofessional education opportunities with Osteopathic Medicine and Physician Assistant students.

Tour the Oral Health Center

Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center

As a UNE Dental student, you utilize the Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center (ISIC) to apply knowledge from the classroom to clinical situations. Guided by skilled instructors, you participate in simulations to enhance your clinical aptitudes. Rather than just hearing and reading about difficult or unusual cases, you experience them by treating high-fidelity patient simulators in real-life scenarios.

Emergency Medical Training in the ISIC

Dental Medicine: Team-Based Learning

When students from different health professions disciplines learn with, from, and about each other to better understand different professional roles and expertise, great things can happen. In UNE’s D.M.D. program, you’ll study alongside students from other programs, including the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Physician Assistant program, gaining the skills to collaborate in today’s team-based care. UNE is the only institution in New England that is part of the National Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice’s prestigious Innovation Network.

You also have the opportunity to apply this collaborative participation toward your Interprofessional Honors Distinction.

Hear what our students have to say about Interprofessional Education at UNE

A dental medicince student wearing pink scrubs practicing skills in the Oral Health Center

Hands-On Learning in your Dental Medicine Program

Students at UNE’s College of Dental Medicine in Maine participate in exceptional experiential learning opportunities:

  • Abundant clinical practice time in UNE’s dental simulation lab
  • Hands-on patient care in our Oral Health Center and on rotations
  • Community service engagements with veterans and other underserved communities
  • Pediatric clinics and school visits with children to teach about the importance of oral care
  • Dental education resource fairs at local hospitals and community clinics

Research

The UNE College of Dental Medicine engages in scholarly activity to add to the body of knowledge in dentistry and related disciplines, and D.M.D. students have the opportunity to support this work. Specific focus areas include:

  • Oral Disease Prevention
  • Health Professions Education
  • Health Care Delivery/Clinical Practice Models
  • Population Health (Public Health)

A Health Care Education Campus in Portland, Maine

UNE D.M.D. students study on the Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, a quintessential New England quad that has been welcoming students for more than a century. Lined with lush trees and brick buildings, the campus sits in a quiet neighborhood just a short drive from the downtown waterfront. Portland, named “America’s Most Livable City” by Forbes and “Foodiest Small Town in America” by Bon Appetit, is about 100 miles from downtown Boston.

Take a Virtual Tour of our Portland Campus

 

Who Can Apply to the Doctor of Dental Medicine program?

To apply to our D.M.D. program, you must complete a minimum of 90 semester (135 quarter) credits at a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent. However, a baccalaureate degree is preferred.

All applicants must apply through the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application Service (ADEA AADSAS).

Current Application Deadline

  • For Program Starting: Fall 2025
  • ADEA AADSAS Application Portal Opens: May 14, 2024
  • Deadline to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT): October 1, 2024
  • Application Deadline: November 1, 2024

Financial Aid at UNE

We are committed to making our dental medicine degree program as affordable as possible and are here to help you finance your education so that you can earn a degree that's convenient, affordable, and still allows you to balance all of the other important aspects of your life. Several options exist to help you meet your educational costs. Student Financial Services has also created a step-by-step process for applying for aid.

Apply Today

Ready to begin your future in UNE’s D.M.D. program?

A child dental patient practices brushing on a model of teeth

Accreditation

Professional Accreditation

The program in dental education is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements." The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Accreditation Standards

CODA Accreditation Standards for Predoctoral Dental Education Programs

The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.

A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission on Dental Accreditation at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1 (800) 621-8099 extension 4653. You may also visit http://www.ada.org/en/coda/policies-and-guidelines/file-a-complaint for more information.

Regional Accreditation

UNE is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and College, Inc., a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. The University has been continuously accredited since 1966 and its accreditation was last reaffirmed in 2007.

Doctor of Dental Medicine FAQ