DDS Program

Banner of dental students activities
Banner of dental students activities

An Education of Extraordinary Rewards

The UCLA School of Dentistry has consistently ranked one of the best dental schools in the nation for over 50 years. And our DDS curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of the modern dental practitioner. The curriculum offers innovative educational programs as well as an even wider range of professional development opportunities for students.

Prepared for What’s Next

We strive to provide the next generation of oral health practitioners with not just the knowledge and skills to become leaders in their field, but the expertise to address and embrace the changing role of technologies in health care. To create a generation of forward-thinking professionals, a new unit was formed, Innovative Digital Dentistry Systems, with a mission to lead a digital transformation in dental education and oral health care through creativity, innovation, and research.

Launch Your Dental Career Here

Our 4-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program is distinguished by its academic excellence, world-renowned faculty, and diverse student body. Our graduates possess the preventive, diagnostic, and technical knowledge to provide comprehensive dental services in a variety of health care systems. Special attention is given to delivering care in a socially sensitive and responsible manner. Our graduates frequently become leaders in their communities and profession.

The length of the 4-year DDS program is 45 months, divided into twelve quarters of ten weeks plus three required nine-week summer sessions. There are 88 students enrolled in the first and second year classes with an additional 20 students enrolled in our two year Professional Program for International Dentists, included in the third and fourth year classes.

The foundational biomedical sciences and preclinical laboratory courses are taught primarily in the first two years of the curriculum with direct patient care beginning early in the second year. The clinical curriculum is competency-based, focusing on patient-centered, comprehensive care with additional clinical experience provided in the form of rotations to specialty and community clinics. In addition to our required curriculum, DDS students have abundant opportunities for individualized professional development through selective courses, and extracurricular experience in research, teaching, leadership, and community service.

Bringing the Dental School to the Community

With a goal of improving access to care, and introducing student dentists to the idea of a career in providing care to underserved populations, we created our Community-Based Clinical Education program. This required 8-week rotation exposes fourth year students to a variety of real world dental practice models among a diverse community of patients. By offering access to care at 12 affiliated community clinics, we have been able to double or triple the number of patients served while adding exponentially to our students’ clinical experiences.

Contact Us

DDS Admissions Coordinator
Phone: (310) 794-7971
dds_admissions@dentistry.ucla.edu

Office of Student Services
4-Year DDS Program

10833 Le Conte Avenue, Ste. A0-111 CHS
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1762


Notice to Trainees re: Professional Licensure and Certification

University of California programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University of California and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.

The University of California has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students planning to pursue licensure or certification in other states are responsible for determining whether, if they complete a University of California program, they will meet their state’s requirements for licensure or certification. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).