In the early 20th century as dentistry became a prominent profession, many young Seventh-day Adventists wanted to become dentists. At that time most dental schools in the United States scheduled classes and exams on Saturday. Adventists had to petition for exams on other days leading to resentment from faculty, staff, and other students. Temporary solutions included persuading colleges, such as Atlanta-Southern Dental College, to excuse Seventh-day Adventist students from classes on Saturdays. In early 1938, the National Association of Seventh-day Adventists Dentists proposed plans for opening a Church-operated dental school, but discussion was delayed, as money was tight during the depression and world wars. In 1951, the Seventh-day Adventist Church recommended establishing a school of dentistry in Loma Linda, California. The school matriculated its first class of dentists in 1953 and graduated the first class in 1957. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry became the forty-third dental school in America and the sixth west of the Rocky Mountains.

1938 – Percy T. Magan, president of the College of Medical Evangelists (CME), writes to Herbert G. Childs, DDS asking him to prepare a formal proposal for the establishment of a School of Dentistry at Loma Linda; a masterful proposal was presented to Adventist Church and CME leaders concerned with the project.

1942 – A meeting is held to consider a dental school

1945 – Treasury of General Conference asks Dr. Walter Macpherson to “Study costs” regarding dental school

1949 – The American Dental Association holds its annual meeting in San Francisco; the National Association of Seventh-day Adventist Dentists (NASDAD) also holds a meeting where 75­–80 Adventist dentists are present, the most to have met at one time and planning begins for a dental school

1951 – General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists authorizes School of Dentistry

1952 – M. Webster Prince appointed first dean of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. His main goal and objective – “to live long enough to see the School of Dentistry attain a position in the field of dental education that shall reflect credit upon the Seventh-day Adventist denomination and send a never-ending stream of consecrated young men and women into the field of service for humanity.”

1953 – School of Dentistry opens and first classes begin

1957 – School of Dentistry receives its first accreditation

1959 – School of dentistry begins baccalaureate program in dental hygiene.

1961 – College of Medical Evangelists renamed Loma Linda University
1962 – Advanced education program in periodontics established

1964 – Advanced education program in oral and maxillofacial surgery and formal continuing dental education program established

1967 – Advanced education program in endodontics established

1976 – Graduate program in implant dentistry established

1978 – Postdoctoral graduate training program in dental anesthesiology established

1984 – A biomaterials research program is initiated

1990 – First “School With a Heart” (now called “Clinic With a Heart”) held, providing a day of free dental care for the community

1992 – new Biomaterials Research Laboratory opened
1993 – Advanced education programs in pediatric dentistry and prosthodontics are established

1994 – Charles J. Goodacre begins tenure as dean, bringing to the School a commitment to dental education and whole person care.

1996 – School of Dentistry serves millionth patient

1998 –Center for Dental Research opened it includes a biocompatibility and toxicology laboratory

1998 – School of Dentistry opens clinic in Mecca elementary school; in just eight weeks, 200 first- through third-grade children in the farming areas of Mecca receive dental treatment, some for the first time in their lives.

1999 – A $2.8 million dollar expansion of the School of Dentistry (Prince Hall) begins. The expansion will house the enlarged pediatric dentistry clinic and the Surgery Center for Dentistry. A new student laboratory will be located on the ground floor, and the second-floor main clinic will contain 36 new operatories

2001 – The School is awarded a $900,000 federal Ryan White CARE Act (RWA) grant from Health Resources Services Administration to operate a student training program in managing dental treatment for HIV positive patients.

2003 – The School of Dentistry celebrates its 50th anniversary.