Education is at the heart of the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health. With more than 135 faculty members, including full-time, part-time, and emeritus professors supported by dedicated staff, the department provides the foundation of predoctoral and clinical instruction at the School of Dentistry.
Faculty direct or contribute to over 100 courses across the predoctoral DDS curriculum, encompassing didactic, clinical, and elective coursework. This breadth ensures students develop a strong foundation in clinical dentistry, prevention, and public health principles.
Since 2016, department faculty have led digital integration across the curriculum, implementing computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), 3D printing, and advanced scanning technologies in dental, dental hygiene, and advanced education programs. Students and faculty design and fabricate same-day crowns, enhancing patient care with precision and efficiency.
In collaboration with the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, dual-degree programs (DDS/MPH and DH/MPH) provide formal public health training beyond the traditional curriculum. These programs prepare dental professionals to address disparities, influence policy, and improve community health through a foundation in epidemiology, biostatistics, and population sciences — equipping graduates for leadership in research, policy, and integrated care models.
The department also leads several advanced training programs that prepare graduates for leadership in both practice and public health:
- Preceptorship: The Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and General Practice Residency (GPR) programs offer six-month preceptorship opportunities for international dental graduates. Participants gain exposure to U.S. dental practice principles and clinical techniques, improving their competitiveness for residency applications. Open to graduates of dental schools outside the U.S. and Canada, and can include?both didactic and clinical training.
- General Practice Residency (GPR): A one-year, hospital-based program (with an optional second year) focused on care for medically complex and special needs patients. Residents train at Memorial Hermann and the University Dental Center, gaining experience in prosthodontics, sedation, anesthesia, and surgical rotations. Graduates receive a certificate and advanced preparation in hospital dentistry.
- Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD): A one-year program (with an optional second year) that offers broad clinical and didactic training in comprehensive general dentistry. Based at the University Dental Center, it admits seven residents annually, emphasizing complex care, practice management, and digital technologies. Graduates earn a certificate and may pursue board certification.
- International Training Student Program (ITSP): Recruits one to two residents through partnerships with the Kuwait Ministry of Health, the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, and the Thailand Office of Educational Affairs. The program spans one to two years, depending on performance. Candidates may need a six- to twelve-month pre-residency program, and non-ADA-accredited?applicants are encouraged?to complete a six-month preceptorship in general dentistry before applying, although this does not guarantee admission.?