Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine (CWRUSDM) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine is a private dental school founded in 1892 and located in Cleveland, Ohio. Since only 70 positions a year are open to incoming students, this is one of the most competitive and sought after dental schools in the nation. The school awards the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and has several other advanced programs for students to specialize in.

The school doubles as a teaching school, which means there is a clinic open to the general public and people can come in for screenings and to see if they qualify to become regular patients for students to practice on. The students performing the work are pre-doctoral candidates who need hands-on experience dealing with real world situations. Besides general dentistry, students also master their skills in oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and periodontics.

Research plays a big role in this school with many faculty members and students working together to bring innovation to the dental field.

Academics

The dental school is graduate program of Case Western Reserve University, so all classes are going to focus on dentistry and the various topics associated with it, since all undergraduate work will have been completed at another college or university prior to coming here.

Doctor of Dental Medicine

During the 1st and 2nd year, students will spend a lot of time in the simulation labs learning how to clean teeth and perform general dentistry techniques such as performing fillings and replacing crowns. The 3rd and 4th year students will move on to a real-life clinic with their own chair and work in small groups while being mentored by a professional dentist.

Students are also highly encouraged to participate in research programs on campus and to help out with community dental programs.

AEGD Program

The Advanced Education in General Dentistry is a 12-month certificate program that focuses on extensive training in all aspects of general dentistry. Students will need to attend traditional classes, seminars, and participate in a pediatric medical rotation.

Endodontics

Students can specialize in Endodontics, which focuses on the tissues and pulp surrounding the root of the tooth. This is a 24-month long masters degree program with a certificate.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

This is a very advanced specialty program requiring an extreme amount of dedication to dentistry and surgery. Diseases, injuries, and defects of the the hard and soft tissues of the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, and neck are what these surgeons treat. In addition to general dentistry school, these students have an additional five years of training ahead of them, which includes enrollment in a medical school and full year of general surgery training.

Orthodontics

Students can choose to specialize in Orthodontics. The school places a lot of emphasis on scientific research on this topic, in order to lead innovation in this field.

Pediatric Dentistry

Patients from birth to the age of 16 are classified as pediatric, and due to the unique nature of their growing and changing features, they need their own dental specialty. Students in this program will learn how to care and treat for young patients and will participate in the community Headstart program and the Sealant program.

Periodontics

Students also have the option of specializing in Periodontics – which treats gum diseases. This program also offers dental implants to their patients for missing teeth.

Admissions

The admissions process is quite detailed and it’s recommended that interested students download the admissions guide on the school’s website. In general, students should be prepared to submit scores from the Dental Admissions Test, Apply through the AADSAS, send in official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, send in letters of evaluation, and be prepared for a personal interview.

Financial Aid

Around 95% of students in this dental school accept some form of financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid can be contacted and they will assist in filling out forms and guiding students towards aid that makes sense for their particular situation.

The school does provide several scholarships:

Alumni Scholarship
Ukrainian Student Assistance Fund
Stanley M. and Jane A. Prijatel Phipps Scholarship
Armed Services Scholarship
National Health Services Scholarship

In addition, students who need a loan will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan and the Health Professions Student Loan are available.

Students

The school does not have any housing available, but there are options for renting or buying homes nearby, and the school will assist with that process. Several students organizations are available on campus, such as the ADA, a photography club, and a small Greek presence.

Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine