Dean Sharon P. Turner, DDS, JD
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
Dean’s Message
We invite you to visit the College of Dentistry at the University of Kentucky nestled in the beautiful blue grass region of central Kentucky. You will find a culture here like no other. A place where faculty composed of clinician teachers, clinical and basic science researchers and students have a unique relationship based on mutual respect, devotion to learning and the primacy of the patient. Ours is a professional environment made warm by human caring as expressed by the site visitors from the Commission on Dental Accreditation when they awarded the College a commendation for the “collegiality of faculty, staff, students and administration of this college who obviously have deep respect for each other and commitment to the institution.”
Our college has long enjoyed a national reputation for innovativeness and student friendliness. Our job as faculty and staff is to challenge you to reach your full intellectual capacity while at the same time being facilitative and supportive. The curriculum is rich and full and the faculty are approachable and available to be certain that each student has the opportunity to maximize his or her learning experience during the time spent at the college.
Our service outreach program is second to none. Through our fleet of mobile vans, we reach thousands of children throughout Kentucky. Students are exposed very early to clinical dentistry through our elementary school sealant project which takes students in their first month of school to rural Kentucky to examine children and place sealants. Our outreach earned us the “America’s Promise Award” in 2001 from Secretary of State Colin Powell.
UKCD has an established implant teaching program for predoctoral dental students. We believe that our students have more experience restoring dental implants than do the students of any other dental school. Our early introduction of implant dentistry is one example of the manner in which we have continually revised our curriculum to include the newest evidence based treatments to improve dental and oral health for our patients.
If you have an interest in dental research, you won’t find a better place to find interested and supportive faculty. We have an active student research group.
I encourage you to come and see for yourself what a special place this college of dentistry is. Don’t take my word for it, see if for yourself and talk to our patients, students, staff and faculty. Poke your head in my office, the door is always open to students. You won’t find a finer school or a more wonderful group of people to learn with and from.
Dean Sharon P. Turner, DDS, JD
Overview
Founded in 1962, the University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry is recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding dental institutions. Two Departments and twelve Divisions make up the College. In addition to the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, the College offers postdoctoral programs in six fields of study: General Practice Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orofacial Pain, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Periodontics. Graduate students in Orofacial Pain, Orthodontics and Periodontics receive a Master of Science degree from the University of Kentucky Graduate School and a specialty certificate.
The College has a national and international reputation for its dynamic and innovative approaches to dental education. Approximately 200 doctoral students and 30 graduate students and residents are enrolled. In addition, 56 full-time faculty provide an excellent student/faculty ratio and promote a very supportive atmosphere. Doctoral and postdoctoral student dentists are treated with respect and as colleagues. The University of Kentucky emphasizes an environment of collegiality between faculty and students to create a unique educational setting that promotes learning. The College is committed to providing its students with superior programs that prepare them to deliver competent care to patients throughout the Commonwealth and the nation.
Highlights
University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital Dental Program
The UK College of Dentistry conducts and provides all specialized pediatric dental services, inpatient and outpatient at UK Children’s Hospital.
Specialized and Primary Dental Clinical Service Programs For Children
The UK College of Dentistry conducts and provides all specialized pediatric dental services, in the Kentucky Clinic, the outpatient health facility of the University of Kentucky Medical Center. This includes the provision of services for dental patients with special needs. (physical, medical and other special needs)
Kentucky Clinic North Dental Program, Lexington, KY
The UK College of Dentistry provides primary dental services at an indigent care clinic serving north Lexington.
Kentucky Clinic South Dental Program
The UK College of Dentistry provides primary and specialized pediatric dental services as part of an outpatient clinical facility serving south Lexington.
“Seal Kentucky”
The UK College of Dentistry conducts a mobile dental sealant program providing on-site dental screening and preventive dental sealant services at eastern Kentucky elementary schools.
East Kentucky Mobile Dental Program
The UK College of Dentistry provides dental prevention and treatment services on-site at elementary schools in central and eastern Kentucky.
Western Kentucky Mobile Program
The UK College of Dentistry provides dental prevention and treatment services on-site at nine elementary schools in three western Kentucky counties (Fulton, Marshall and Hopkins).
“Ronald McDonald” Mobile Dental Program
The UK College of Dentistry in partnership with Ronald McDonald Foundation provide on-site services at underserved preschools and elementary schools in Fayette and surrounding counties. Dental services will be provided as part of comprehensive school health programs that are being developed at these schools, also with funding assistance from Ronald McDonald.
School-Based Dental Clinics in Rural Kentucky
Since 1986, the UK College of Dentistry (Pediatric Dentistry) has provided prevention and treatment services one day per week in a fixed school dental clinic (3 operatories) at Botts Elementary School in Menifee County.
Fulton County Elementary School, Fulton County
The UK College of Dentistry operates a fixed dental clinic (2 operatories) as part of a school health clinic in Fulton County, a dentally underserved county in Western Kentucky.
