History and Overview
Overview
Special Features
General Information
Overview: The University of Florida College of Dentistry admitted its first students in the fall of 1972. Today the college is a leader in advancing dentistry through educational excellence, scientific research and discoveries, modern clinical services and commitment to the community. The nine departments that make up the UF College of Dentistry are: dental biomaterials, endodontics, operative dentistry, oral biology, oral and maxillofacial surgery and diagnostic sciences, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology and prosthodontics. The college's primary aim is to develop graduates who posses an orientation to the biological sciences; are sensitive to the needs of others; are skillful in preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; and are aware of new knowledge through research and activities.
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Special Features: The college is one of only two dental schools in Florida. Its extramural clinics, located in St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Hialeah and Apopka, provide community based training opportunities for its students and residents while providing care to individuals who are undeserved and lack access to dental care. The college is one of the six Health Sciences Center colleges. The 12-story facility includes dental outpatient clinics, and postgraduate and specialty clinics. The newest addition to the college is its preclinical simulation laboratory. This high-tech, multi-media facility contains 84-workstations that are equipped with mannequins, monitors and other items found in a dental office. Laboratory simulation of clinical practice is designed to enhance the students learning and the development of clinical skills.
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General Information: The College of Dentistry seeks students of the highest caliber for its various programs. A strong record of scholastic achievement, moral character and motivation is expected of the applicant. Because of the vast amount of science that must be mastered by the dentist, a dental student must have a basic aptitude and adequate academic preparation in science. The highly personal relationship between patient and dentist places the latter in a position of trust, which demands maturity, integrity, intellectual honesty and responsibility. A broad representation of the ethnic mixture of the state is represented in the student body through active recruitment. The college adheres to the principles of ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and social equality among its student body and faculty.
The application process is described in the College of Dentistry Catalog. Copies may be obtained by writing to the Office of Admissions, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Box 100445, Gainesville, FL 32610-0445.
Registration in dentistry (DEN) courses is restricted to students admitted to the College of Dentistry with 0DN to 8DN classifications.
Preprofessional students at the university may major in any department or college of the university; however, an in-depth background in biological sciences is necessary to master the dental curriculum. The Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising is described in the Academic Advising section in this catalog.
General Education requirements for admission in the College of Dentistry are fully described in the College of Dentistry Catalog.
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