The mission of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry is to improve the oral health of the people of California, the nation and the world. In fulfillment of that mission, the School has established an international reputation for teaching, research, patient care and public service initiatives.

UCLA provides education and training programs that develop leaders in dental education, research, the profession and the community, enrolling students in a number of academic programs including the four-year DDS program, the two-year DDS program for foreign-trained dentists, MS and PhD programs in Oral Biology, combined DDS and MS, PhD and MBA programs, and 13 postdoctoral/residency training programs.

The UCLA School of Dentistry’s cutting-edge research programs generate new knowledge, promote oral health, and investigate the cause, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral disease. The results of the School’s research endeavors in the areas of basic and translational science, clinical and health services, and education are used to transform clinical practice at UCLA and around the world. In recent years, the School has ranked in the top ten among educational institutions receiving funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Through the operation of its clinics, the implementation of outreach activities and the efforts of its more than 4,000 alumni, the School delivers patient centered oral health care to its community, the state of California, and individuals beyond U.S. borders.