Hawkeyes Make a Difference

Help us reach our goal!
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Since 1882, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics has focused on meeting the needs of our patients. Clinical care frames and undergirds our approach to dental education and our commitment to translating oral science research and discovery into reality for our patients.   

As the only dental school in the State of Iowa and a nationally leading program in terms of clinical experience, the college plays a vital role in meeting the oral health needs of Iowans.

160,000

The number of patients visits each year.

98 of 99

Iowa dental graduates currently practice in 98 of 99 Iowa counties.

14.2

The State of Iowa has the highest rate of oral cancer in the country at 14.2 per 100,000 people.

  • Excellence in patient care makes a difference for each patient seen.

  • Excellence in health care education makes a difference in each patient seen by future dentists and specialists.

  • Excellence in research and discovery revolutionizes and transforms oral health care for millions.

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Together, Hawkeyes advance research and discovery

Hongli Sun conducting research

Iowa Dentistry continues to rapidly expand its research and discovery, exceling in regenerative biomedicine, genetic research, and biomaterials, alongside an innovative oral cancer program. This expansive research and discovery mission is establishing Iowa as a global leader in oral science research, which benefits everyday Iowans.

2nd

Iowa is 2nd in the Big 10 in research dollars received from The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at $5.4 million in 2022. These funds account for about half of Iowa Dentistry's external research support.

$9,471,347

Since 2020, Iowa Dentistry's seed grants supporting early career researchers have resulted in almost $10 million in external research funding. These funds are also excellent tools to recruit and retain excellent early career faculty.

A Global Leader

Mary Young with her mentor Azeez Butali

Spearheading an International Network of Cleft Lip and Palate Research for African Populations

Thursday, January 18, 2024
Azeez Butali is a global leader in cleft lip and palate research and the world’s foremost expert in the genetics of these conditions in African populations. As part of his research mission, he has also spearheaded the formation of a diverse, international network of researchers in Africa and the US to develop, refine, and apply their findings for the benefit of African populations and their genetic descendants. 

Making a Difference in Iowa

Karin Weber-Gasparoni high-fiving a patient in the WIC clinic

Preventive Oral Health Care for Toddlers and Infants

Thursday, January 18, 2024
Karin Weber-Gasparoni is passionate about supporting new caregivers and improving oral health for underserved populations. Her collaborative clinical research initiatives are transforming oral health care for toddlers and infants in Iowa, and are laying the foundation for changing how oral health care is provided for the youngest of us.
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Together, Hawkeyes educate the next generation

White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2027 and the Advanced Standing Class of 2025

As a national leader in the amount and quality of student clinical experiences, our students receive an unparalleled dental education over the course of their four years. These patient experiences and our comprehensive educational programs ensure that Iowa’s dental workforce meets the current and future needs of the state.

1,135

The number of students who applied for Iowa's DDS program for 2023-2024. This record-breaking number shows that Iowa remains a destination DDS program for students from all over the country.

10 of 12

With advanced training programs in 10 of 12 American Dental Association-recognized specialties, and two other innovative programs, our dental students and residents receive the highest quality dental education in the world.

A Destination Dental School

Flag display in front of the Old Capitol building

Military Service and Iowa Dentistry

Thursday, June 1, 2023
Iowa has long had an elite reputation as a premier dental education institution among each branch of the U.S. military. Veteran alumni consistently report that when they started their military dental careers, their dental officers expected the very best from them because of their Iowa pedigree. This reputation also means that military dentists often attend Iowa to receive their specialty education.

That Makes a Difference for Iowans

Jorge Ceballos standing outside the College of Dentistry

Jorge Ceballos journey from Cuba to Storm Lake to Iowa City

Thursday, January 18, 2024
Third-year Iowa Dentistry student Jorge Ceballos comes from a family of medical professionals—but his future in the medical field was never guaranteed. Ceballos is a recent immigrant from Cuba, and if it weren’t for a chance encounter with an Iowa Dentistry alum and scholarship support, Jorge’s career path might have taken a different turn.
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Together, Hawkeyes transform clinical technology

New digital technologies are transforming dental practice at a rapid pace. Whether it’s computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to design and 3D-print customized restorations, dentures, orthodontia, or implants; powerful intraoral digital scanners for fast and accurate digital images of a person’s teeth; or high-resolution 4K monitors for student simulation clinics, Iowa is committed to helping our graduates thrive as they learn to use, evaluate, and apply these transformative clinical technologies.

80

The Sim Clinic, Iowa Dentistry's hands-on skills clinic, has 80 operatories that are intended to help first- and second-year dental students make a smooth transition from preclinical to clinical care and to help third- and fourth-year students practice in a realistic, simulated environment.

8

Iowa Dentistry has 8 in-house 3D printers that have enabled the college to fabricate a wide variety of dental materials, ranging from dentures to invisible aligners. Dental students and residents are taught to incorporate these technologies in treatment planning and design.

Revolutionizing Clinical Care

Assistant Professor Salah Abuhammoud and a prosthodontics resident showing a patient an intraoral scan

Digital innovation is transforming prosthodontics

Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Prosthodontics, under the leadership of Aaron Cho, is bringing technology and innovation in the field of prosthodontics to Iowa for the benefit patients, clinicians, residents, and students.

And Dental Education

Teeth constructed at Iowa's Protostudios Lab

Dental education meets Iowa innovation

Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Iowa Dentistry faculty seeking better teeth for teaching purposes found a perfect partner in Protostudios. The on-campus rapid-prototyping organization, known for transforming inventors’ ideas, delivered consistent, durable simulated teeth.