The UTHSC College of Dentistry (UT COD) was founded in Nashville in 1878. It is the oldest still-existing dental college in the South, and the third oldest public college of dentistry in the United States. The College was moved to Memphis in 1911 in order to secure larger facilities. The COD made its final move to 875 Union Avenue in 1978. The building was memorialized as the Winfield Dunn Dental Clinical Building, named after 1955 UT COD alumnus who served as governor of Tennessee from 1971 to 1975.

The College maintains a 4-year dental program totaling approximately 320 students. The College is dedicated to; providing professional, graduate, and postgraduate education; conducting dental research; and delivering state-of-the-art patient care and public service.

The programs in dentistry are accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation, the United States Department of Education, and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, the college is a member of the American Association of Dental Schools and the American Association of Dental Research.

The faculty of the College of Dentistry is committed to the education of a health professional whose primary responsibility will be the prevention of oral disease and maintenance of the oral health of the public. This encompasses the recruitment of well-qualified and motivated students who understand the need for a commitment to improving the welfare of those they serve, as well as the personal obligations of continuous development.