At Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, our commitment to academic excellence started more than 150 years ago and remains stronger than ever today. Our comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and patient-centered education and training programs are recognized among the best in the world. Together, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are collectively changing the landscape of dentistry through innovation, scholarship, and service. Explore who we are, what we offer, and the many ways TUSDM is advancing the future oral and general health for our patients and communities.
Excellence in Education
The educational programs offered at TUSDM shape the future leaders in dentistry. The strength of our curriculum stems from the individuals that make up our community— as wide-ranging as their passions, as rigorous as their work ethic, offering each person a chance to realize their full potential.
At TUSDM, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Students and residents gain invaluable hands-on experience by treating patients in our Teaching Clinics and in a variety of externships at hospitals and government-sponsored dental clinics across the country. These real-life experiences reflect our commitment to compassionate patient-centered care and help our students to develop not only clinical expertise, but the communication skills, empathy, and understanding to improve the lives of those they serve.
Supported by Tufts University’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and located in the heart of Tufts's Health Sciences Campus in downtown Boston, TUSDM shares resources and research findings with Tufts University School of Medicine, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Together, we are advancing the practice of dental medicine and accelerating the discoveries and breakthroughs of the future.
Explore our Academic Programs
My friends and family—everybody knew that I wanted Tufts, Tufts, Tufts. And as soon as I got that email, I was just like, ‘wow, I really did this. I reached this goal. I’m at this school.’
Compassionate Patient Care
Caring for patients is at the heart of everything we do at TUSDM. Through our Tufts University Dental Care Center, we offer a full range of high-quality, low-cost dental services to children and adults who live throughout Greater Boston, and beyond. Our student-faculty care teams provide expert, affordable dental care to our patients, and in return, our patients give our care-teams the experience and confidence they need to perfect their craft. This sense of proficiency and compassion go hand in hand, ensuring our patients always remain at the center of everything we do.
Cutting-Edge Research
At TUSDM, research and teaching are interconnected, each strengthening the other. Combined, they prepare professionals with the analytical capacity and the spirit of inquiry to navigate an ever-increasing body of knowledge while keeping pace with rapid technological discoveries to advance the field of dentistry. Through our vision, we develop, expand, and share knowledge that benefits our profession and improves oral health for our patients and communities.
Commitment to Community
Our commitment to care and community isn’t just in our mission statement—it’s a core value that permeates all corners of the TUSDM experience. Advanced knowledge of a broad range of public health topics is woven into our comprehensive instruction and research. This focus paves the way to better dental care, both close to home - and across the nation, while enriching the interests, strength and confidence of our students and residents.
For example, Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics, that began 50 years ago, provide comprehensive dental care for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living throughout Massachusetts. Today, we continue to work hard to improve access and care to these our patients and their families, proudly offering our expertise to more than 6,500 patients each year.
I know that if my daughter has anxiety or behavior issues, she’s not going to be forced to do anything that makes her feel uncomfortable. And I think that’s why she’s come such a long way, because she is building a trust with the staff here.