U.S. dental schools and colleges reported significant developments in the first quarter of 2026, ranging from new facilities and funding to program launches and leadership changes. The updates reflect ongoing efforts to expand capacity, modernize infrastructure, and address workforce gaps across dental education.

Funding and infrastructure expansion

Multiple institutions secured major financial commitments. UT Health San Antonio received a $6.5 million gift for pediatric-focused professionals in dentistry, medicine and nursing. West Virginia University School of Dentistry obtained $5 million in state funding for improvements to its main student clinic, while Tom Arkle donated $1.4 million to the same institution. Marquette School of Dentistry received a $2 million gift to establish its first endowed directorship. University of Minnesota requested $100 million in state funding to upgrade and expand its dental school. Dental schools across the U.S. received more than $263.4 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2025.

New programs and closures

Several schools launched new educational initiatives. Ferris State University appointed Deborah Brown, DMD, to lead development of a dental therapy program. Texas Tech Hunt School of Dental Medicine is launching an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program. Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine plans to accept its first class of students later in 2026 to address workforce gaps and increase accessibility. The Community College of Baltimore County opened the first virtual reality lab for dental hygiene students in the U.S. University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry added the department of population oral health, its first new department in more than 30 years. Temple University received approval to open a dental clinic in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. However, University of Minnesota's Boynton Health Dental Clinic in Minneapolis closed suddenly after more than a century of operation. Lane Community College proposed closing one of its dental clinics to help balance its budget.

Technology integration and leadership

PDS Health Technologies partnered with the University of the Pacific on an Epic deployment to enhance medical-dental integration. Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine appointed Denver Jenkins, DDS, as director of advanced education in general dentistry. A.T. Still University of Health Sciences named Kneka Smith dean of its School of Dentistry & Oral Health. Mohamed Masoud, BDS, became director of research at the Georgia School of Orthodontics. Devinn Geeson, DDS, acquired three continuing education brands in the dental industry. A coalition of dental organizations urged the Department of Education to modify implementation dates for upcoming student loan changes.