The Department of Comprehensive Dentistry’s mission is to educate dental students with the best available evidence and technology to achieve and maintain optimal patient oral health, comfort, function, and esthetics through risk-based diagnosis, prevention, tooth-preserving management of caries and non-carious diseases, and disorders of the oral cavity, considering the patient's overall health in an integrated health environment.

The department maintains the School’s Simulation Clinic for preclinical education and the dental clinics for the clinical care of adult patients, both of which contribute to the transition from didactic through preclinical to clinical dental training.

The department supports the education of pre-doctoral students in the practice of general dentistry through the didactic, preclinical, and clinical component.

During the course of their four years of dental education, DDS students will participate in didactic courses, hands-on preclinical simulation courses, and clinical training in general dentistry.

The department has been organized into divisions each contributing to development of students into dental professional capable of delivering high-quality, ethical, and caring dentistry. In addition, we try to foster the civic engagement and leadership skills that will be the foundation of our students’ careers.