Introduction

The Lazzara Center is indeed impressive; however, just as impressive are the other ways in which the School of  Dentistry is on the move.   Since the dental school enrolled its first class in 1973, the program evolved as advances in dental research and practice have occurred.  The school’s concise mission and progressive vision have allowed the young program to flourish and to garner a reputation for the personalized quality of its educational experience and for its successful graduates that continues to grow today.  The relatively small class size (50) of the school contributes to the teaching and learning processes. 

In the fall of 1996, the University of Colorado inaugurated a Comprehensive Care Program spanning six semesters as the primary intramural clinical curriculum for all pre-doctoral dental students.  Early clinical experiences include observing and assisting upperclassmen in treating patients.  Following this first year, students begin treating patients on a limited basis, performing primarily oral diagnosis, periodontal and operative dental procedures.  After accumulating a “family” of patients, the students are responsible for the total care of these patients.  During the semesters that follow, students continue to treat patients while rotating through the Oral Surgery, Emergency and Pediatric Clinics.  All senior dental students beginning with the summer semester will continue to treat patients in the Comprehensive Care Clinic while participating in the Advanced Clinical Training Service (ACTS) program simultaneously.   This nationally recognized service learning program, which is a cooperative effort between the School of Dentistry and community-based providers, emphasizes external programs in the urban clinics and rural public health centers across the state to care for Colorado’s underserved populations. The ACTS program provides direct dental services to underserved communities in Colorado. 

Excitement is high and the energy palpable in the innovative setting as students, faculty and staff navigate through the Lazzara Center’s wide hallways and explore the spacious classrooms and laboratories.  In the simulation laboratory, a mannequin head and torso display a full set of teeth which allows the students to not only learn dental procedures, but also to learn the proper ergonomic position in which to perform those procedures.  The School of Dentistry is also set up for clinical functions, including general dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, surgery, radiology, esthetic dentistry and specialized areas for pediatric care, geriatric care and special needs care. 

The UCD is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).  The last NCA site visit for the UCD was completed in September 2001.  In their report, the NCA site visitors concluded that the UCD campus excelled at performing its missions, offered numerous commendations, and gave no recommendations at the time.

Career Benefits

A career in dentistry offers multiple opportunities and attracts individuals for various reasons:

• have an interest and ability in science
• have good manual dexterity
• willing to accept the responsibilities of providing health care and helping people,
• the idea of flexibility, hard work and independence that can come from owning one’s own business,
• has an interest and wants to be a part of a changing profession that is expanding its scope of services and developing new methods to care for a rapidly aging population, and
• would like to be part of a profession that has prestige and respect

Prematriculation Health Standard

Applicants for the Doctorate of Dental Surgery program at UCDSD must be able to demonstrate the physical and mental skills that are necessary for rigorous education and training that prepares those successfully completing the program with the knowledge and skills required for the practice of general dentistry.

Admission Requirements

The majority of students accepted to the UCDSD has completed at least four years of undergraduate work and have received an undergraduate degree.  This degree does not necessarily have to be in science or predentistry.  The School of Dentistry does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, or gender.  Women and men of all ethnic minority groups are encouraged to apply for admission.

The following areas of study are required for the minimum predental program.  Laboratory work should be included in each of these disciplines.  The basic requirement for admission to the School of Dentistry is completion of at least 90 semester hours or the equivalent, with at least 30 hours of upper division for a letter grade.  Credit hours from a community/junior college are limited to no more than 60 semester hours.  High School Advanced Placement (AP) courses will not be counted for prerequisite course work.

Prerequisite Requirements:

General Biology/Zoology with lab:  One academic year.  Since dentistry is dependent upon knowledge of normal and abnormal biology/zoology including laboratory work, this field is of major importance.  The applicant should be concerned with complete preparation for dental education.  Appropriate course selection in the biological sciences should lead to a thorough understanding of the principles of modern biology.

General Chemistry with lab:  One academic year.  A program in general chemistry should include the following: principles of chemistry, the descriptive chemistry of atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and electro-chemistry.  This program should include laboratory work that serves as an introduction to the principles of qualitative analysis, including ionic equilibria, ionic separation, and the detection of selected simple and complex ions.

Organic Chemistry with lab:  One academic year.  Course work in organic chemistry, including laboratory work, should cover the nomenclature, reactions, and electronic or structural features of compounds which frequently are involved in biological reactions.

General Physics with lab:  One academic year.  The concept of mechanics as the action of forces through levers and the performance of work in the exchange of forms of energy should be understood.  The range of electromagnetic radiation from infrared through visible light to X-rays and waves of other lengths should also demonstrate the basic principles of generation, conduction, and measurement of electrical forces.

Humanities or English Literature:  One academic year.

English Composition:  One semester.

Suggested Electives: Courses in, business management/finance, psychology, communications, cell biology, anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, and histology are electives to consider.  Students should select subjects that stimulate them intellectually, challenge them to a maximum performance, and contribute to their overall development and maturation.  The courses may aim toward a thorough study of a single area with a general background in many areas, or may group together several related areas in the sciences or humanities.

Each applicant's scholastic record will be evaluated on its own merit, however, the School of Dentistry reserves the right to review transcripts and make the final determination as to course and requirement suitability.

The University of Colorado School of Dentistry actively accepts both residents and non-residents for its Dental Program. 

The CU School of Dentistry is a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) program.  This exchange program helps students in the Western states to enroll in selected out-of-state professional programs. Students who are residents of Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming are considered for acceptance under this program. For additional information, and to apply for certification (deadline is October 15 of the year preceding admission), please visit the WICHE webpage.  If you should not receive WICHE funding, the Accountable student/Non-Resident information below will pertain to you.

For Non-Resident applicants, the Colorado State Legislature recently implemented a law concerning tuition for professional schools.  All non-resident students will be required to pay an Accountable Student Fee along with their tuition.  Non-Residents will be responsible for the Accountable Student Fee for each of the four years of enrollment at the Dental School.  It is no longer possible in Colorado to enroll and then change residency status following completion of the first year of school.  You must be a legal Colorado resident at the time of acceptance in order to qualify for in-state tuition.

Admission Procedures

Application:  The School of Dentistry participates in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) application service.  You may download the application via the web: ADEA  If you do not have access to the web, you may contact ADEA at 1400 K Street, NW, Ste 1100, Washington, D.C. 20005, or call 1-800-353-2237.  Applications may be filed after June 1 of the year preceding admission and all requested material must be received by ADEA on or before January 1 of the entering year.  Applications received after that date will not be considered for the succeeding year.  Early application is strongly encouraged as acceptances are offered as early as December 1.

Dental Admission Test:  Each applicant must complete the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and have the official results sent to this school.  The computerized test can be taken at anytime during the year.  You are encouraged to complete the DAT preferably by October 1.  Additional information identifying testing centers and application may be obtained from: Department of Testing Services, American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Ave., Suite 1846, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678, or call  1-800-232-2162. 

After submitting your ADEA application online, you will also need to submit the following directly to ADEA:

1. Official transcripts from each college/university you have attended
2. UCD requires letters of recommendation from the pre-dental committee OR two letters of recommendation from science instructors and one letter from a non-science instructor (Letters from employers or friends cannot be submitted in lieu of these required letters of recommendation.)

The following supplemental materials will need to be submitted only upon request, directly to the University of Colorado Denver School of Dentistry:

1. A $50.00 non-refundable application fee (payable to: University of Colorado Denver School of Dentistry)

2. Recent photograph (no larger than wallet size), include name on the back

3. Verification of Colorado Residency form (even if your are a non-resident)  (WICHE applicants will need to submit a copy of your “eligibility letter” from WICHE)
4. Regents Questionnaire form

Once the items listed above have been received and reviewed by the Office of Admissions, the applicant may be invited by the Dental Admissions Committee for a formal interview and tour of the school.  Written notification will be sent to each applicant when the decision of the Admissions Committee has been made.

The quality of courses taken and the performance of the student in such courses during the undergraduate program will be weighed more heavily than the total number of science courses completed.  The School of Dentistry seeks well-rounded applicants and uses a personalized, committee-run application process that takes into account the following selection criteria:

• The applicant’s latest DAT scores
• Cumulative grade point average
• Science grade point average
• Revised grade point average
• Interview scores given the applicant by the Admissions Committee
• Letters of recommendation
• The applicant’s letter/essay

Each applicant, upon acceptance into the entering class, will receive a confirmation form which must be returned with a tuition deposit of $200 in order to reserve a position in the class.  This $200 deposit will be applied toward tuition, fees, or any other student obligation during the last term of attendance at UCDHSC.  The deposit is due upon receipt of the students admissions offer and is refundable up to 60 days prior to the registration date only upon written request.

All accepted students in degree seeking programs are required to complete a background investigation prior to matriculation.  In order to process the investigation, we must receive a non refundable payment in the amount of $65 along with your tuition deposit.

Inquiries regarding dental admission should be addressed to:

Mailing Address:

University of Colorado School of Dentistry
Dental Admission and Student Affairs Office
Mail Stop F-833, P.O. Box 6508
Aurora, CO  80045
Voice: 303-724-7122
Fax: 303-724-7109

Physical Address Only (Do not send mail to this address):

Lazzara Center for Oral-Facial Health

13065 E. 17th Ave.

Aurora, Colorado

STUDENT SERVICES

Financial Aid

For financial aid information please visit the Financial Aid web site or contact the financial aid office.

University of Colorado Denver
Financial Aid Office
4200 E. Ninth Ave., Box A-088
Denver, CO  80262-0088
303-315-8364

Residency Classification for Tuition Purposes

For residency information please visit these web pages.

  Residency Classification information.

  Petition for In-state Classification information.

UCD Admissions Office
4200 E. Ninth Ave., Box A-054
Denver, CO  80262-0088
303-315-7676

Student Health Services

For information about student health insurance please visit this web page.

Student Health Insurance Office.

Parking and Transportation

The purpose of the UCD parking and transportation services division is to provide parking and transportation services to meet the many and varied needs of the UCD community.  Only the parking and transportation division may grant parking privileges or create permits for parking on campus.  Addition information is available on our website at Parking.

Student Assistance Office

The Student Assistance Office (SAO) provides specific services to support and complement students' academic learning. The office provides current housing referral, child care resources, general assistance, intramural sports coordination (flag football, softball, basketball, and volleyball), CU Buffalo football ticket sales (limited quantities available), counseling referral, learning assistance/tutoring services, student governance (Student Senate) community service coordination, and more.

There is no on-campus housing at either the Ninth Avenue Campus or Fitzsimons at Aurora Campus. However, the Student Assistance office maintains housing information of current vacancies in surrounding apartments, town homes, and houses.  Students may also list themselves as roommates with housing, or roommates without housing. The roommates’ lists are compiled and held off-line, and are available to UCD students who attend classes at the Health Sciences Center Campuses, faculty, and staff who request this information.  For additional information please visit the website Student Housing. 

Student Organizations

American Dental Education Association  

Student membership in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is available to any student enrolled in the University.  The association is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the improvement of the health of the public.  Through participation on councils and committees, each member is allowed expression in the process of dental education.  Members receive the Association's publication, the Journal of Dental Education.  For additional information please visit ADEA.

American Student Dental Association

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) is a national student-run organization which protects and advances the rights, interests, and welfare of students pursuing careers in dentistry.  It introduces students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry and provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy.   Various organizations have graciously paid the dental students’ membership fee to allow each of our students the opportunity to experience and become involved in organized dentistry. Additional benefits include life insurance, loans, MasterCard, and various publications (Journal of the American Dental Association, Dentistry, ASDA Handbook, ASDA News, and Journal of the Colorado Dental Association).   For additional information please visit ASDA.

American Association of Dental Research

 The AADR organization seeks to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health, support and represent the oral health research community, and to facilitate the communication and application of research findings.  For additional information please visit AADR.

Colorado Dental Association

The Colorado Dental Association (CDA) provides member services that promote the highest standards of care for the public and inspires members in the pursuit of professional excellence and personal fulfillment through education, leadership, and communication. For additional information please visit CDA. 

Student Council 

The Student Council is the voice of the entire UCDSD student body.  It is involved in planning events, answering questions, solving class problems, and communicating student concerns to the administration.  All dental and dental hygiene students are members of the Student Council.  The Council Executive Committee is composed of the student body officers and each class president.  Meetings are held monthly and elections are held each year in May.  Constitution and bylaws are included in the Student Handbook.

Student Representation on School Committees

Student representatives serve on all standing and ad hoc committees of the school dealing with student and educational issues.  For the standing committees of the School of Dentistry Faculty, the students nominate candidates from the appropriate class for each committee.  The dean selects one of the nominees to fill the position for the next year.  The dean or committee chairs of the ad hoc committees appoint students to serve on those committees.

Fraternities

Professional fraternity life is a part of the School of Dentistry activities.  Two national dental fraternities are represented through local chapters:  Delta Sigma Delta and Alpha Omega.