Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

http://www.dental.pacific.edu
Phone: (415) 929-6400

Dean: Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is a fully-accredited professional school that offers the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. The 36-month program prepares graduates to provide quality dental care and to supplement and adapt their knowledge and skills throughout their professional lives. The school prides itself on producing competent beginning general dentists in a humanistic environment who have a reputation for high standards of clinical excellence and are active and successful members of the profession. The school’s vision is to lead the improvement of health and wellness through innovation in programs, partnerships, and people, and is supported in this endeavor by its commitments to courage, empowerment, excellence, innovation, integrity, and leadership.  

The dental program, located on the downtown San Francisco campus, includes biomedical and behavioral science, laboratory, preclinical, and clinical instruction, as well as research and community service opportunities. The school also has several affiliations with extramural clinics throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.   

In addition to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, the School of Dentistry has postdoctoral residency programs in orthodontics and endodontology that lead to a certificate and the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry; an International Dental Studies program, which grants a DDS degree after two years of training to individuals who have graduated from a foreign dental school; a fellowship in Dental Sleep Medicine; an internship in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery; and a baccalaureate program in dental hygiene.

The School of Dentistry is a member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and its educational programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Purpose

Our Purpose is to Help People Lead Healthy Lives

We grow and inspire a diverse community of learners through our humanistic culture. Building on a distinguished tradition, we provide exceptional education; offer personalized quality patient care; support collaborative research; and foster commitment to service.

Vision

Improving Health and Wellness through Innovation in Programs, Partnerships and People

The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is an innovative and renowned leader in health and wellness. As a leader, our programs prepare healthcare providers for current, future and evolving practice models. The Dugoni School integrates inter-professional education with patient care, keeping humanism at its core. We educate beginning and established healthcare professionals for an array of career paths.

Signature partnerships support our programs and enhance health, education, research, and service. Partnerships reduce tuition dependence and create opportunities for students, faculty, and staff development.

Powered by its people, the Dugoni School sets the standard for humanistic education and leadership that serve the needs of its students, patients, alumni, the organized profession, and the public.

Commitments

We commit to the following values to support the defining characteristic of our education model — humanism.  By accentuating the positive, setting high standards, and respecting the individual, we provide the best possible learning, working and healthcare environment for every member of our community.

Courage — willing to take risks, doing what is right not easy
Empowerment — supporting and inspiring individuals to fulfill their potential
Excellence — achieving the highest quality in all that we do
Innovation — imagining and applying bold, creative approaches
Integrity — exemplifying the highest personal and professional ethical principles
Leadership — inspiring through vision and challenging others to effect positive change

Clinic Mission Statement

The mission of the school's clinics is to provide patient-centered, evidence-based, quality oral healthcare in a humanistic educational environment.

The goal of the clinic mission statement is to focus faculty, staff, and students on the delivery of excellent patient care. In all clinical interactions we will strive to provide excellent care to our patients and excellent educational experiences for our students. At those times when we must make a choice between patient care and teaching effectiveness, patient care will take precedence.

There are four parts to the mission statement. Patient-centered care means being prompt, efficient, responsible, engaging, focused, and adaptable, among other things. The private practice model is the patient care model to which we aspire. Evidence-based decision making involves the use of scientific evidence to help make treatment decisions. It is used in conjunction with individual patient values to determine the best course of action for each patient. Quality oral healthcare involves providing treatment to our patients that meets community standards of care in all disciplines. It means providing that care to patients of varying needs and expectations. Humanistic education is based on honest communication of clear expectations along with positive support for diligent effort.

Faculty and staff must be models of the profession's highest standards. Students are expected to set equally high standards for their behavior. The educational environment will be intellectually stimulating, progressive in scope, outcomes-focused, and competency-based.

History of Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

One of the world's most distinctive metropolitan centers, San Francisco has been the home of the School of Dentistry since its incorporation in 1896 as the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The school has been recognized since its inception as a major resource for dental education in the Western states.

• In 1962 the College of Physicians and Surgeons joined the University of the Pacific.
• In 1967 an eight-story building was completed for the teaching of clinical dentistry and for conducting dental research.
• In 1996 the school opened a state-of-the art preclinical simulation laboratory combining the latest in educational technology with a simulated patient experience.
• In 2002 three new state-of-the-art classrooms were completed.
• In 2003 a new Health Science Center was opened on the Stockton campus combining facilities for dentistry, dental hygiene, physical therapy, and speech pathology.
• In 2004 the university named the dental school in honor of its long-standing dean, Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni.
• In 2011 the school was awarded the prestigious Gies Award for Vision by the American Dental Education Association.
• In 2014 the dental school moved to a completely renovated and updated facility in downtown San Francisco, setting the pace for new and better methods of educating students and providing care to patients.
• In 2015 the dental school became the first school in California and in the United States to have students be licensured through a portfolio exam process.
• In 2020, the dental school became the first school in the nation to have students licensed through a non-patient based manikin examination process.

Accreditation

The University of the Pacific is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The dental educational programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The School of Dentistry is a member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). 

CODA will review complaints that relate to a program's compliance with accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.

A copy of accreditation standards and/or the Commission's policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1-800-621-8099, extension 4653.

Humanistic Education

It is the goal of the School of Dentistry to educate the highest quality practitioners who can practice independently and successfully in their patients' best interests. It is our belief that a humanistic approach to education best accomplishes this goal. Our view of humanism is based upon honest communication of clear expectations along with positive support for diligent effort. Although kindness is valued, humanism is not interpreted to mean softness, weakness, or superficial niceness. In fact, humanism places great responsibility on each member of the dental school community.

In order for this approach to work, faculty members must be models of the profession's highest standards, and they must teach in a way that encourages and energizes students. Students, in turn, are expected to set very high standards, to work hard, and to take personal responsibility for their own learning process.

Examples of humanistic student-faculty Interaction at the Dugoni School:

Includes

• Good work ethic
• Constructive feedback
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Addressing the issue
• Celebrating achievement
• Excellence
• High ethical standards
• Professional responsibility
• Increasing independence
• Attainment of competency

Excludes

• Minimum effort
• Authoritarian behavior
• Public criticism
• Ignoring the problem
• Dwelling on the negative
• Expedience
• Ethical compromise
• Avoiding responsibility
• Continued dependence
• Tolerance of inability

Standing Committees

In keeping with sound shared governance principles, the School of Dentistry incorporates the expertise and perspective of students, faculty, and administrators in the decision-making process through use of the committee system. Committees are designated according to areas of concern and authority as "faculty," "administrative," or "joint faculty-administrative" committees. Standing committees are listed below.  

Faculty Committees

The faculty has primary responsibility for recommending policy in the following areas: curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, research, faculty status, and those aspects of student life which are related to the educational process. Final review and decision rest with the dean, president, and Board of Regents.

• Academic Advisory Committee
• Admissions Committee, DDS
• Admissions Committee, IDS
• Curriculum Committee
• Dental Faculty Council
• Faculty Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee
• Research Committee
• Student Academic Performance and Promotions Committee
• First-Year Advisors Committee

Joint Faculty-Administrative Committees

Joint committees consider areas of major importance to faculty and administration. Administrative officials hold ultimate authority, but faculty members' and students' consultation and advice are of great importance.

• Ethics Committee
• Clinical Quality Initiatives Committee
• Student Appeals Committee

Administrative Committees

The administration has primary responsibility for maintenance of existing institutional resources and the creation of new resources. The dean plans, organizes, directs, and represents the School of Dentistry with general support from the faculty, the president, and the Board of Regents. The dean initiates, innovates, and assures that School of Dentistry standards and procedures conform to policy established by the Board of Regents and to standards of sound academic practice. Administrative committees are those in which administrative responsibility is primary and members appointed by the dean serve in an advisory capacity.

• A. W. Ward Museum Committee
• Infection Control Committee
• Managers and Directors Committee
• Strategic Plan Outcomes Committee
• Committee on Continuing Dental Education
• Store Committee
• Student Clinic Advisory Committee
• Student Financial Aid Committee

Curriculum

Biomedical, preclinical, and clinical science subjects are integrated and combined with applied behavioral sciences in a program to prepare graduates to provide excellent quality dental care to the public and to enter a changing world that will require them to be critical thinkers and lifelong learners. The 36-month curriculum leading to the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery begins in July and is divided into twelve quarters, each consisting of ten weeks of instruction, one week of examinations, and a vacation period of between one and four weeks.

Integrated biomedical science instruction in anatomy, oral histology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, mircrobiology, immunology, virology, mycology, and nutrition is offered over 10 quarters in increasing detail, followed by multidisciplinary presentations of basic science foundations for clinical topics such as the importance of saliva, tissue aging, nutrition, and infection control. Beginning in the second quarter and continuing throughout the curriculum, students learn to apply basic science knowledge to clinical problems.  Integrated preclinical instruction in direct and indirect restorative dentistry and dental anatomy is concentrated in the first four quarters with students learning to work from a seated position in a modern preclinical simulation laboratory.  Preclinical instruction in removable prosthodontics, occlusion, and implants is offered in quarters 5-7. Clinical work with patients is initiated in the fifth quarter.

The school is a pioneer in competency-based education, an approach that replaces the traditional system of clinical requirements with experiences that ensure graduates possess the knowledge, skills, and values needed to begin the independent practice of general dentistry. Pacific is also known for its humanistic approach to dental education, stressing the dignity of each individual and their value as a person.

The Clinical Practice Strand supports comprehensive patient care which is based on the concept of private dental practice where the student assumes responsibility for assigned patients' overall treatment, consultation, and referral for specialty care. Second-year students practice clinical dentistry approximately 15 hours per week and third year students practice approximately 33 hours per week. Students learn to provide comprehensive dental care under the direction of a team of clinical faculty led by the Group Practice Leader (GPL). The GPL is responsible for mentoring students and ensuring they are receiving adequate clinical experiences to demonstrate competency upon graduation.  In the second year, students treat patients in a discipline-based model where they are supervised by trained and calibrated faculty in specific clinical disciplines, including oral diagnosis and treatment planning, periodontics, endodontics, restorative dentistry, and removable prosthodontics. In the third year, students treat patients in a generalist model, where under faculty supervision they provide all care for their patients.

The second- and third-year class is divided alphabetically into six group practices. There are approximately 24 second-year and 24 third-year students in each group practice.  The GPL manages the group and assumes overall responsibility for the care of patients by students and faculty. Specialists in endodontics manage complex cases in a specified area of the clinic, including test cases. Periodontists manage most periodontal procedures. 

There are four exceptions to the comprehensive care model: oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, oral medicine/facial pain, and radiology. Students are assigned to rotations for one to three weeks in each of these disciplines, except for the oral medicine/facial pain rotations which are one day each. In orthodontics, students participate with faculty and orthodontic residents in adjunctive orthodontic care and in oral development clinics. Third-year students also rotate through the Special Care Clinic where they treat patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition, each student provides care in the hospital operating room on patients with specific health issues.

Advanced clinical dentistry and evaluation of new developments and topics that involve several disciplines are learned in the third year in conjunction with patient care. Third-year students participate in patient care at multiple extramural sites located in treatment facilities around the Bay Area, including acute care hospitals and community clinics.  At extramural clinic sites, students are taught by Pacific faculty in conditions that more closely resemble private practice, and typically treat 4-6 patients per day.  Rotations occur at a number of different times, including weekdays during the academic year. Students find these experiences valuable, teaching them how to provide excellent patient care in a condensed time frame. Students may elect to participate in externships to specialty programs during academic break periods.

Behavioral science aspects of ethics, professionalism, communication, human resource and practice management, and dental jurisprudence are integrated across the curriculum. Epidemiology and demography of the older population, basic processes of aging, and dental management of hospitalized patients, geriatric patients, and those with the most common disabling conditions are studied during the third year.

Students are counseled individually with regard to establishing a practice and applying for postgraduate education. A weekend conference in the senior year acquaints students with opportunities for postgraduate education and with alumni views of the realities of dental practice.

Admission Requirements

Doctor of Dental Surgery Requirements

Details on admission requirements for the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree are found here.  From here you can navigate to admission requirements for all degrees offered at the School of Dentistry.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Only under unusual and compelling circumstances does the School of Dentistry accept transfer students. Incompatibility of dental education programs generally inhibits transition from another dental school to the University of the Pacific's program. Students requesting such classification must reapply and resubmit an application through the American Dental Education Association's Application Service (AADSAS) to join the first-year class if a transfer is approved and granted. No student will be admitted to advanced standing beyond the second year. Special action regarding transfer is required.

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Basic requirements for admission to the course of study that leads to the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery: completion of required pre-dental education, minimum 40 hours of dental shadowing experience, completion of the Dental Admission Test (DAT), submission of complete application materials through the American Dental Education Association’s Application Service (AADSAS), and appearance at the school for a personal interview.

The Dugoni School utilizes a holistic application review process where it considers not only an applicant's academic performance, GPA and DAT scores, but also personal characteristics, leadership/life experiences, extra-curricular activities, and potential for academic, clinical, and professional success as determined by the admissions interview and information provided in the AADSAS application. In addition, students must demonstrate they are capable of meeting the dental school's technical standards with or without accommodations. 

Pre-dental education must be completed at a college or university from which subject matter is accepted for credit toward advanced standing at University of the Pacific or universities with equal standing. At least three years of collegiate work, including 135 quarter or 90 semester units, is recommended. Courses from a community college are acceptable if they are transferable as equivalent to pre-dental courses at a four-year college.

Students are encouraged to develop their course of study with the assistance of a pre-dental advisor. Pre-dental advisors can identify courses that meet School of Dentistry requirements and help prepare individuals for the rigors of professional education and practice. They are also aware of courses that would best prepare a student for competitive scores on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).

Number of Required Pre-dental Courses

Biological Sciences with Laboratory*		4
General Physics with Laboratory		2
Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory		2
Organic Chemistry*		2
English Composition, Communication or Speech **		2

*

Predental students are strongly advised to complete one course in anatomy and physiology as part of the biological sciences requirement. The admissions committee requires applicants to complete two semesters of organic chemistry or, upon direction of the predental advisor, one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry. In addition to the aforementioned recommended courses, students are highly encouraged to take histology / cell biology, microbiology and biochemistry.

**

One course in composition or technical writing is required. Other courses should develop written or verbal communication skills. Courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) do not meet this requirement.

Online Courses: The Dugoni School prefers prerequisite coursework to be completed in a traditional classroom setting. Prerequisite courses completed online will be evaluated in the context of your entire academic record. Note: online prerequisite courses completed during the spring, summer, and fall 2020 and 2021 terms fulfill admissions requirements as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Pass/Fail evaluations in required subjects are unacceptable unless accompanied by a narrative transcript provided by the awarding school.

Although it is recommended that applicants have a baccalaureate degree, no specific major is required or preferred. Upper-division courses that extend knowledge of required subjects and/or those in areas such as statistics, economics, computer science, business administration and the humanities are recommended.

The Dental Admission Test

The DAT is available year round at testing centers around the country. To be considered for admission, the exam must have been taken within 24 months of the date of the application. Information and applications are available from the Dental Admission Test Program, Division of Education, American Dental Association at 800-621-8099 or online at www.ada.org.

Dental Shadowing and Research Experience

Applicants are required to have a minimum of 40 hours of dental shadowing experience. Research is not required for admission, but strongly recommended.

Application Materials

The School of Dentistry participates in the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). AADSAS is an information clearinghouse which transmits to a dental school the biographical and academic data required by admission committees, thereby relieving the applicant of the burden of completing multiple and repetitious individual applications. All AADSAS applicants must submit an online application at the ADEA web site, www.adea.org/aadsas.

You will need to read/complete the following sections of the AADSAS application:

1. Fee Assistance Program (optional),
2. Add Programs, Submit Application and Check Status tabs,
3. Personal Information,
4. Academic History,
5. Supporting Information, and
6. Program Materials.

You will need to submit the following documents:

1. Official transcripts from each college and university attended, and
2. Three letters of evaluation or committee letter*.

Payment for the ADEA AADSAS application is by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) only.

Completed application materials must be received by AADSAS no later than February 1 for an applicant to be considered for the class entering in July; however, it is recommended that students apply as early as June. A nonrefundable online payment of $75 is required by the school before the processing of an application is initiated. The University of the Pacific does not require any secondary application.

*

If the applicant’s undergraduate institution has a pre-health science advisory committee, a committee evaluation is recommended. Otherwise, three letters of evaluation are required, two of which should come from predental or upper division science course professors. At the applicant’s discretion, up to two additional letters may be submitted if these provide supplemental information regarding the applicant’s character, special abilities, and professional motivation. Evaluations from health care professionals who know the applicant well are encouraged.

Personal Interview

Applicants whose credentials appear to meet pre-dental requirements may be invited to the school for an interview with one or more members of the Admissions Committee and a current dental student. Applicants selected for an interview are notified by phone (or email) of available dates for the interview. During the interview, the applicant’s interest in dentistry, future plans, maturity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and personal qualities needed for successful work with patients are assessed. In addition, applicants participate in an orientation seminar, meet informally with current students and tour the school.

Selection Factors

The Admissions Committee carefully considers each applicant’s scholastic record, scores on the DAT, personal statement, letters of evaluation, evidence of manual dexterity (including the perceptual ability portion of the DAT), other personal attributes and qualities as well as a demonstration of his/her/their capability to meet the dental school's technical standards and understanding about a career in the dental profession. Applicants who are offered the opportunity to enroll must complete planned coursework at a specified performance level. 

The Admissions Committee has a firm policy of not discriminating against any applicant because of age, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital status, race, color, gender, or sexual orientation. Established review procedures ensure applicants an equal opportunity to be considered for admission. The Executive Admissions Committee reserves the right to override admissions recommendations made by faculty interviewers.

Accelerated / Pre-Dental Programs

In cooperation with College of the Pacific, the School of Dentistry offers an accelerated pre-dental program, the pre-dental advantage program, for incoming university freshmen. These programs award a bachelor of science college degree in addition to a DDS degree upon qualification and successful completion. The programs were initiated in 1984 and have been refined over the years.

Admission into the Pre-Dental Advantage Program

The pre-dental advantage program only admits students to start directly after high school. Changes from other majors within the University of the Pacific or transfers from other institutions are not possible. Any freshman applicant who selects "pre-dental" from the list of majors on his/her/their application for undergraduate admission is automatically considered for all programs.

Previous coursework:

1. Students interested in completing the undergraduate portion of the program within 2 years need to transfer courses (AP, IB, Early College) that satisfy three General Education (GE) categories (excluding Scientific Inquiry) before they start at Pacific. The online ROAR tool indicates the courses and grades that can transfer to Pacific satisfying GE requirements.

2. Biological Sciences and Inorganic Chemistry coursework is expected to be completed at the University of the Pacific. If one or more of these courses are completed elsewhere, they must be replaced with more advanced courses approved by the Pre-Dental Program Advisor.

Undergraduate Preparation

3+3 Bachelor's / DDS

The program allows for completion of all pre-dental and general education requirements and the courses for a biological sciences or chemistry major in three years (six regular semesters). Students admitted to the pre-dental advantage program who fulfill academic/non-academic requirements are guaranteed an interview at the Dugoni School, including:

• Complete all pre-dental program course requirements and dental school prerequisites
• Achieve an overall Grade Point Average of 3.05 or above in coursework from Pacific and other institutions, BBCP (bio, biochem, chemistry, and physics), science, and cumulative
• Dental Admissions Test exam scores of 18 or above in all categories
• Submit a completed dental school application, including three letters of evaluation from two Pacific science faculty and one dentist, by September 1 of the application cycle
• Complete at least 40 hours of shadowing a general dentist

Before advancing to Dental School, admitted students must complete all the undergraduate requirements of a BS degree.

Freshmen admitted into the pre-dental advantage program will follow the 3+3 modality (three years of undergrad preparation and three years of dental school). At the end of the first year, students who meet specific academic requirements and receive approval from their pre-dental advisor can apply to accelerate to a 2+3 modality. They can also decelerate into a 4+3 modality if more time is desired to prepare for dentistry, or they can take no action and progress in the 3+3 modality. 

The 2+3 modality provides the minimum foundation in pre-dental education through two years of study on the Stockton campus for a select group of highly qualified students. At the end of the first academic year and summer, students who meet the following criteria and receive approval from their pre-dental advisor will take a second year of classes in Stockton, apply to the Dugoni School of Dentistry, and be guaranteed an interview at the Dugoni School:

The biology coursework completed in San Francisco adds to the previous work in Stockton and allows these students to graduate with a BS in Biological Sciences during the fourth year of the program. In addition, they earn the DDS degree with the completion of the dentistry curriculum at the end of the fifth year. Criteria for change into the 2+3 modality:

1. Completion of CHEM 025, CHEM 027, CHEM 121, CHEM 123, BIOL 051, BIOL 061, CORE 001, CORE 002, COPD 093, and courses that satisfy 5 different GE categories (excluding Scientific Inquiry) and the Diversity Requirement. 

2. GPA and DAT (Dental Admission Test) scores above the minimum marks. Currently, the following GPAs are considered, and each must be 3.7 or higher: Overall GPA (all coursework); Pacific GPA (all coursework at Pacific); BBCP GPA (all biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and physics); Science GPA (all science coursework at Pacific). DAT must be taken by September 1 of your sophomore year, and currently, you must earn an Academic Average score of 25 or above and 18 and above in all other categories.

3. Completion of all academic and non-academic requirements and submission of an application to the DDS program at Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.

4. Submission of a completed Program Change Form to the Office of the Registrar signed by the Pre-Dental Advisor. Before advancing to the Dental School, admitted students must complete the undergraduate requirements of the BS in Biological Sciences or BS in Biological Sciences with Department Honors, except for the DS and BMS courses, which will be taken within the DDS program.

Biological Sciences / Other Majors

The biological sciences major (and other Pacific majors), designed to prepare students' applications and preparation for all dental schools, does not guarantee an interview at the Dugoni School. However, if a student meets specific criteria during their undergraduate studies, their application will be strongly considered for an interview: 

• Complete all pre-dental program course requirements and dental school prerequisites
• Achieve an overall Grade Point Average of 3.05 or above in coursework from Pacific and other institutions, BBCP (bio, biochem, chemistry, and physics), science, and cumulative
• Dental Admissions Test exam scores of 18 or above in all categories
• Submit a completed dental school application, including three letters of evaluation from two Pacific science faculty and one dentist by September 1 of the application cycle
• Complete at least 40 hours of shadowing a general dentist

Pacific reserves the right to change criteria for students entering in subsequent years. Students selected for an interview are not guaranteed admission to the Dugoni School. 

School of Dentistry Expectations for Admission

To be admitted to the School of Dentistry, pre-dental and accelerated students must:

1. meet all course requirements for their respective pre-dental programs, including specified Grade Point Average and Dental Admissions Test minimums
2. successfully complete an interview, if granted, at the School of Dentistry
3. file a competitive and complete AADSAS application by September 1
4. submit the $75 application fee
5. obtain at least three letters of evaluation from two science faculty and one from a dentist
6. complete 40 hours of shadowing at a dental clinic

International Dental Studies

Endodontics