Doctor of Dental Medicine
Accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the UAB Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) program combines rigorous clinical training, scientific discovery, and specialty exposure within a progressive four-year curriculum.
Your brighter future starts here
Quickfacts
63,000+ patient visits each year
500+ students and residents in training
4900+ living alumni worldwide
At UAB School of Dentistry, students care for diverse patient populations, participate in research, and discover the many directions a career in dentistry can take within a collaborative academic health sciences environment.
As part of a Carnegie R1 research university and one of the nation’s leading academic health sciences centers, the D.M.D. program connects dental education with specialty training, oral health research, community engagement, organized dentistry, and comprehensive patient care.
The core experience
Built for practice
- Clinical experience from the start. Building on a foundation in the basic sciences, students begin developing clinical skills early, progressing from simulation and preclinical training to comprehensive patient care.
- Comprehensive patient care. Through a comprehensive care model, students build extensive hands-on experience in diagnosis, treatment planning and patient management.
- Experience across clinical settings. Training extends across specialty clinics, hospital and community-based settings, and with diverse patient populations throughout Birmingham and at UAB Dentistry locations in Dothan and Decatur (coming in 2027).
Learn in a research-rich environment
- A top-tier research environment. Part of a Research 1 university, UAB School of Dentistry ranks among the nation's leading dental schools in NIDCR funding. Students learn from nationally and internationally recognized faculty working across basic, clinical and translational research.
- Research for every student. Research is integrated into the D.M.D. curriculum, with every student completing and presenting research and opportunities for deeper research training through the D.M.D./Ph.D. pathway.
- A tradition of student leadership. UAB dental students have a strong record of national research leadership, including five who have served as president of the AADOCR National Student Research Group since 1009.
Succeed together
- Students support one another. Students describe classmates sharing knowledge, stepping in to help and supporting each other through the demands of dental school.
- Faculty invest in students. Students point to faculty who take time to teach, mentor, and help them throughout their D.M.D. experience.
- A culture of connection. Across classes and throughout the School of Dentistry, students have opportunities to build relationships and become part of the broader UAB School of Dentistry community.
Hear from our students
Hear how students describe the peer support, faculty mentorship, and connections that shape their experience at UAB School of Dentistry in our Student Voices series.
- Peer Support.
- Collaboration.
- Community.
Beyond the curriculum
Outreach with impact
Care where it's needed most.
Community collaboration and service are part of the UAB experience. Beyond the curriculum, students take part in outreach and community-based activities across Alabama. Working with patients in different settings gives students insight into the challenges and possibilities of delivering oral health care in diverse communities.
Connect with the profession
Build connections that last.
Students engage with dentistry beyond the classroom and clinic through more than 20 student organizations, leadership roles, conferences, organized dentistry, and interactions with alumni who remain actively invested with the school. Together, these experiences broaden students' professional networks and help them see where a UAB dental education can lead.
Live and learn in Birmingham
The best of city life and green space | A vibrant and diverse city | Growing food, arts, and entertainment scene | Affordable place to live and study
Located on UAB's tree-lined urban campus, students learn within a major academic health sciences center in the heart of Birmingham. UAB's campus is home to more than 4,400 trees and has been designated a Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation for more than a decade.
Birmingham offers the opportunities of a growing metropolitan area, including a vibrant food scene, outdoor recreation, arts and entertainment, and a relatively affordable cost of living.
Shape your dental education
Whether you’re exploring where dentistry might take you or already have specific interests in mind, UAB offers programs and opportunities to help you shape your dental education experience. These opportunities can help you deepen existing interests, discover new ones, and explore the many directions a career in dentistry can take.
Explore your path
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Advanced education and specialty interests
Students learn alongside residents and fellows in specialty programs. Specialties include the General Practice Residency, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontology, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and maxillofacial prosthetics. This exposure can help students discover new interests or explore specialties they may already be considering.
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Research and academic dentistry
Students interested in the academic side of dentistry can explore the D.M.D./Ph.D. program, an integrated clinician-scientist pathway for those considering research, academic dentistry, and discovery-focused careers.
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Leadership and business in dentistry
The D.M.D./M.B.A. program allows students to pair dental education with business, leadership, and practice management training.
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Rural dentistry pathways
Students interested in serving rural and underserved communities can explore several scholarship and enrichment opportunities designed to address oral health needs across Alabama.
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International Dentist Program
The International Dentist Program offers non-US trained dentists the opportunity to earn a D.M.D. degree from the UAB School of Dentistry and prepare for practice in the United States.
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Early assurance pathways into dentistry
UAB offers pathways that help qualified students begin planning for dental school earlier in their academic careers.
Your future in dentistry starts here
Find what you need to prepare, apply, and learn more about life at UAB School of Dentistry.
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