Curriculum

The School of Dental Medicine provides a distinctive and innovative curriculum that prepares students for the practice of general dentistry. LECOM’s evidence-based, high-quality dental education program equips students to deliver patient-centered care, ensuring optimal therapeutic and economic outcomes, while promoting disease prevention and enhancing education for both patients and providers.

LECOM offers the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree through a full-time, four-year program. The first three years are spent at the Bradenton, FL campus while the fourth year is completed at either the Erie, PA or DeFuniak Springs, FL dental clinics. The curriculum is structured to provide two years of foundational science through Problem-Based Learning (PBL) sessions, complemented by pre-clinical instruction with lectures, laboratories, and an early introduction to a hands-on, clinical training environment.

PBL emphasizes self-directed learning in a team-based, mentored, small-group setting, focusing on case-based study. Several unique components distinguish the LECOM curriculum, including:

  • Early exposure to clinical dentistry in the first year, where students assist and observe third-year dental students as they interact with and treat patients in the LECOM Dental Group Practices, utilizing a vertical integration practice model.
  • A patient-based simulation-clinic to hone practical skills.
  • Integration of digital dentistry and other advanced dental technologies.
  • use of chairside scanning systems in both simulation and clinic settings.
  • A dedicated fourth year spent in community-based primary care clinics in DeFuniak Springs, FL, and Erie, PA providing comprehensive hands-on experience.

Throughout the program, faculty assess professional competencies, empowering students with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in interprofessional, interdisciplinary, and multicultural environments, preparing them to become proficient and compassionate dental professionals.