What Is UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry?

Updated

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry is the dental school of UTHealth Houston, located in the Texas Medical Center. It was the first dental school in Texas and is a founding force behind the Texas Medical Center. Its work centers on three areas: dental education, patient care, and research.

Education

The school offers accredited programs in dental surgery, dental hygiene, advanced education, and international training. Training combines academic coursework with clinical experience in a facility inside the Texas Medical Center. More than 85% of graduates stay in Texas to practice, according to the school.

Patient Care

Care is available for patients of all ages through three clinic types:

Clinic type Who provides care
Student Clinics Dental students working under close faculty supervision
Advanced Clinics Dentists completing specialty training
Faculty Clinics Expert faculty practitioners, delivered through UT Dentists

If you are choosing where to receive care, the main trade-off is cost versus provider experience: student clinics involve supervised learners, while faculty clinics are staffed by experienced practitioners. The site does not publish prices, so confirm fees and scheduling directly with the clinic you choose.

Research

Research spans biomaterials and dental materials, craniofacial biology, dental informatics, dental public health, immunology, oral cancers and cancer therapy, the oral microbiome, and tissue regeneration. The school states it ranks No. 1 in NIH funding among dental schools in Texas.

Leadership

Renato M. Silva, DDS, MS, PhD, began as the school's ninth dean on Sept. 30, returning to a school where he previously spent more than a decade as a faculty member and department chair.

Who this page is for

  • Prospective students: start with the education programs to compare dental surgery, dental hygiene, advanced, and international training tracks.
  • Patients: use the clinic descriptions above to decide between student, advanced, and faculty care, then contact the clinic to confirm availability and cost.
  • Researchers or collaborators: review the research areas to see whether your field overlaps with the school's expertise.