College of Dentistry The College of Dentistry is one of the six col- leges which constitute the University of Florida Health Science Center-an integral component, both geographically and functionally, of the uni- versity. Many conjoint projects between the Col- lege and other units of the Health Science Center and university have been formulated and implemented. The eleven departments which make up the College of Dentistry are Community Dentistry, Dental Biomaterials, Endodontics, Operative Dentistry, Oral Biology, Oral Diagnostic Sci- ences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontolo- gy, and Prosthodontics. The first year of the curriculum includes basic science, preclinical, and dental science courses. This structure allows students to devel- op psychomotor skills while completing didac- tic courses. The basic science courses are completed in the second year, and all preclinical courses are completed by the end of the summer semester of the third year. The remaining five semesters are devoted to clinical experiences, rotations, electives, and senior modules. The college's program includes a variety of teaching methods so that the instruction in each course can best match the content of the course and the faculty member's teaching style. The goals of the college are to prepare the graduate to enter private dental practice, to enter advanced education programs in any of the dental specialties, to enter into research activities, and to be prepared for a lifetime of continuing education. The first class of students was graduated in 1976. The college offers the Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. (The D.M.D. and D.D.S. degrees are synonymous.) The college presently offers advanced educa- tional programs in the following areas: A one- year program in Advanced Education in Gener- al Dentistry is offered at the college's St. Peters- burg. clinic. One-year General Practice Residency programs are offered in Jacksonville and Gainesville. Additional programs based at the college's Gainesville facility include a Dental Public Health residency (available as either a one- or two-year program); two year programs in Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodon- tology, and Prosthodontics; and three-year pro- grams in Oral Pathology and Orthodontics. A combined program leading to a certificate in Orthodontics and a Ph.D. degree in medical sci- ences with specialization in oral biology also is offered. The college offers both a four-year Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency (certificate pro- gram), based in Jacksonville; and a six-year pro- gram which awards both an M.D. degree and a certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, based in Gainesville. Two-year fellowship programs in Geriatric Dentistry and in Craniofacial Pain and Mandibular Dysfunction are based in Gainesville. The college's Department of Oral Biology, in conjunction with the College of Medicine, offers a program leading to a Ph.D. in medical sciences with specialization in oral biol- ogy. In conjunction with the Department of Mate- rials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, the Department of Dental Biomate- rials offers a program leading to either an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in materials science. 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 which must be mastered by the dentist, a dental student must have a basic aptitude and ade- quate academic preparation in science. The highly personal relationship between patient and dentist places the latter in a position of trust, which demands maturity, integrity, intel- lectual honesty, and a sense of responsibility. A broad representation of the ethnic mixture of the state is sought in the student body through an active recruitment program. The college strictly adheres to the principles of ethnic, racial, sexual, religious, and social equality among its student body and faculty. Generally, students applying for admission should plan to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree. However, outstanding stu- dents may be accepted without fulfilling the degree requirements, provided they show evi- dence of sufficient preprofessional preparation for the study of dentistry. Applicants with an overall B average as a minimum will receive strongest consideration for admission to the College of Dentistry. Applicants should initiate the application process approximately 15 months prior to anticipated enrollment by sub- mitting an application through the centralized American Association of Dental Schools Appli- cation Service (AADSAS), 1625 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 101, Washington, D.C. 20036. The application process is described in more detail in this catalog (see Index) and fully in the College of Dentistry Bulletin. Copies may be obtained by writing to the Office of Admissions, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100445, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0445. Undergraduate Preparation for Dentistry Preprofessional students at the university of Florida may major in a program offered by any department or college in the university; howev- er, an in-depth background in biological sci- ences is necessary to master the dental curriculum. The Office of Preprofessional Edu- cation is described in this catalog (see Index).