Departments
The School of Dentistry includes the following eight departments.
Dental Public Health
The School of Dentistry’s Department of Dental Public Health is committed to improving access to oral healthcare and eliminating the oral-health disparities in various communities, such as homeless veterans and the geriatric community.
Endodontics
Endodontics is the dental specialty focused on the biology, pathology, and regeneration of dental tissues, with an emphasis on preserving natural teeth. Our curriculum integrates foundational science with hands-on clinical training using advanced technologies, preparing students to make evidence-based treatment decisions within a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to patient care.
Oral Diagnostic Sciences
Oral Diagnostic Sciences provides instruction in oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial pathology, and radiology.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department serves as both a patient-care clinic and comprehensive training center for dental students and specialty residents, covering everything from routine extractions to complex facial trauma and reconstructive procedures. Our mission is to eliminate healthcare disparities while preparing future dental professionals to excel in general dentistry and oral maxillofacial surgery through hands-on training in advanced surgical techniques and patient management.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics (Dentofacial Orthopedics) is the dental specialty focused on supervising, guiding, and correcting growing and mature dentofacial structures through tooth movement and treatment of jaw malrelationships. Our program provides pre-doctoral students with comprehensive training in orthodontic theory and hands-on clinical experience, preparing them to diagnose and treat preventive, interceptive, and limited orthodontic problems in both pediatric and adult patients.
Pediatric Dentistry
Meharry’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry provides comprehensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special healthcare needs, emphasizing behavior management, disease prevention, and evidence-based oral care. Students develop clinical competency through hands-on experience in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic while participating in community outreach programs that foster a commitment to serving under resourced populations.
Periodontics
Periodontics focuses on the structures and tissues that surround and support teeth, along with the diseases that affect them. Our program provides comprehensive training through laboratory, pre-clinical, and clinical instruction, enabling students to diagnose, treat, and prevent periodontal disease at various stages while understanding the correlation between basic sciences and clinical practice.
Restorative Dentistry
The Department of Restorative Dentistry (Operative and Prosthodontics) teaches the concepts and principles necessary to restore the oral cavity to optimum health, encompassing both function and aesthetics. Through comprehensive four-year instruction in six core areas including fixed and removable prosthodontics, operative dentistry, and dental materials science, we prepare confident general dentists who practice evidence-based restorative care with a strong foundation in ethics and professionalism.