Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview of Programs

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine, located in Alton, Illinois, in the Greater St. Louis area, is an academic unit of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Established in 1972, the school has been dedicated to educating dentists and improving the oral health of the region through patient care, research, scholarship, and service. With state-of-the-art clinical facilities, a new multidisciplinary preclinical simulation laboratory, and advanced microscopy capabilities, the SIU School of Dental Medicine offers a wide array of programs and opportunities for aspiring and practicing dental professionals.

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Program

The SIU School of Dental Medicine's core offering is a four-year academic program that culminates in a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. This structured curriculum ensures that all students receive a comprehensive education in both the biomedical and clinical aspects of dentistry.

Curriculum Breakdown

The first two years of the DMD program concentrate on the biomedical sciences, including:

Anatomy
Microbiology
Physiology
Pathology

Alongside these foundational courses, students are introduced to preclinical dental sciences, such as:

Operative dentistry
Prosthodontics
Pediatric dentistry
Community health

The third and fourth years build upon this foundation, focusing on more advanced dental treatments and the integration of basic, medical, and social sciences in addressing dental diseases. Patient care is a central component of these clinical years, provided in state-of-the-art facilities at the Alton campus and the East St. Louis Center. The Main Clinic, built in 1984 and renovated in 2005, features 72 patient-care stations where students gain practical experience.

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Advanced Education Programs

Beyond the DMD program, the SIU School of Dental Medicine offers several advanced education opportunities for dentists seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)

The Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program is a one-year certificate program designed to refine patient care skills acquired during pre-doctoral education. Training takes place at the Alton campus, the East St. Louis Center, and Touchette Regional Hospital, providing residents with diverse clinical experiences. The AEGD program is a fully accredited one-year program that offers an optional second year. The program is designed to refine and enhance the resident’s clinical skills and scientific knowledge while bridging the gap between dental school and general dental practice. The program provides the resident with broad clinical experience in all phases of general dentistry in addition to implant dentistry. The faculty and staff at SIU are dedicated to help every resident reach his/her maximum potential. Our residency program offers several distinct rotations, each with diverse patient populations and each supported by an exceptional team of faculty and staff members. Our AEGD program is a one-year program with an optional second year. Both options provide the opportunity for residents to increase their knowledge through direct patient care, lectures, seminars and workshops. In the second year, residents have greater flexibility to custom design a program permitting emphasis in his/her area of interest, including research. Approximately 85% of your time will be devoted to advanced clinical care. The remaining 15% is didactic coursework. The school accepts Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) scores but do not require them. Applicants will need forward official transcripts from undergraduate college(s) and dental school. c/o Dr. 2800 College Ave., Bldg.

Implant Fellowship

For dentists interested in specializing in implant dentistry, the school offers a one-year, non-certificate fellowship program. This intensive training program provides a comprehensive patient care environment for developing advanced skills in implant dentistry, with training conducted at the Alton campus.

Master of Science Programs

In collaboration with St. Louis University Graduate School, the SIU School of Dental Medicine offers Master of Science programs in endodontics and periodontology. These unique programs combine the resources of both institutions to provide residents with the education necessary for specialty practice in these fields.

International Advanced Placement Program (IAPP)

The International Advanced Placement Program (IAPP) is a full-time, 27-month program designed for qualified graduates of dental programs outside the United States and Canada. This program offers the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from SIU SDM. Following successful completion of an initial three-month didactic review and intensive skills development course (Clinical Certification Course), that is designed to assure congruence with our traditional students, candidates will merge with the junior class to complete the final two years of the D.M.D. curriculum.

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Pre-Dental Opportunities at SIUE

For students interested in pursuing a career in dentistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) offers several pre-dental opportunities to prepare them for the rigors of dental school. Pre-dentistry is not a major at SIU. As a pre-dental student, you are indicating your intention to apply to dental schools. Students will need to select a major in which to earn a degree at SIU. The most popular majors are Biological Science, Biochemistry, and Physiology. Pre-dental students have also selected Microbiology, Psychology, and Public Health. Approximately 80% of all dentists practice general dentistry and many are small business owners. We encourage students to take a few business classes to supplement their science-based curriculum.

BS/DMD Honors Program

A special combined arts and sciences dental curriculum is available that leads to the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine (BS/DMD Honors Program). This program allows students to complete the pre-professional curriculum in just three years at the Edwardsville campus, followed by the four-year professional portion at the School of Dental Medicine in Alton, Ill. After successful completion of the first year of the combined program, a student is offered a tentative acceptance to the dental school, provided the student meets and continues to meet or exceed the conditions of the three-year pre-professional program. Students admitted to the School of Dental Medicine at the end of their junior year at SIUE may transfer appropriate credits toward the completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with a specialization in medical science, or a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry with a specialization in medical science. For details, see the biological sciences and chemistry sections of this catalog.

MEDPREP Program

Pre-dental students can participate in the traditional track or may be interested in the Master's degree option. Students in the pre-dental track take many classes with MEDPREP students in the pre-medical and pre-P.A. tracks but also focus on preparation specifically for the DAT and dental school. The five-semester, two-year MEDPREP pre-dental program starts in June each year. MEDPREP pre-dental students have successfully gone on to dental schools across the country, including:

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, Alton, IL
University of Illinois College of Dentistry
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Marquette University School of Dentistry
AT Still University - Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health
University of Iowa College of Dentistry
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Georgetown University School of Dentistry
Howard University College of Dentistry
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
And many more!

Alliance: Direct Dental School Admission

MEDPREP has partnered with the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton, Illinois (in the St. Louis metroplex area) to directly admit MEDPREP students who complete MEDPREP and meet Alliance qualifications.

Alliance Qualifications (in brief):

Meet current SIUSDM GPA requirement (currently 3.0 cumulative and science GPAs), or last 40 hour (including MEDPREP) science and cumulative GPAs of 3.25.
Meet SIUSoDM minimum prerequisite course requirements.
Minimum of 16 on each DAT section, and minimum of DAT 16 Academic Average.
Completes SIUSoDM application (AADSAS, plus any additional required forms) by Nov.

Pre Dental Curriculum

Dr. Tayler Hill is the MEDPREP Pre-Dental Advisor.

Pre Dental Program Features:

DAT exam preparation
Foundational science coursework
Dental clinical exposure and dental coursework
GPA enhancement

Admissions Information

The SIU School of Dental Medicine has specific admissions requirements and preferences for prospective students.

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average
DAT Natural Science
DAT Perceptual Ability
Cumulative GPA
Science GPA

Prerequisites

Required Coursework: Required Course Credits (Semesters/Quarters) Required Lab

Recommended courses include: Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Histology, Immunology, Genetics, Neural Science/Neural Physiology

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit: AP Credit Accepted No Yes Community College Coursework Accepted Yes Yes Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours: 60

Required Shadowing Hours:

Not required, but highly recommended; most students enter with 50-100 hours

Letters of Recommendation:

Option 1: Two science professor letters and one letter of choice Option 2: One pre-health professions committee letter

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT Canadian DAT Accepted? Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission? DAT Score Considered Yes No No All scores, but the most recent is most important

Supplemental Information:

Mandatory Casper Participation in ADEA AADSAS Required Supplemental Application Supplemental Application Fee No Yes No (only fee) Yes: $60 for all students

Interview Format

Your scheduled visit to SIU SDM will consist of a writing exercise, interview, a tour of our school and student panel session with lunch/refreshments. You can expect to be on campus for approximately four and a half hours.

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2024:

Year	In-State Tuition	Out-State Tuition	Additional Fees	Estimated Living Expenses
D1	$41,202	$41,202	$19,525	$17,250
D2	$41,202	$41,202	$17,814	$17,250
D3	$40,058	$40,058	$10,939	$17,250
D4	$31,198	$31,198	$7,903	$17,250

Research Opportunities

The SIU School of Dental Medicine is committed to advancing the field of dentistry through research and scholarship. The School has broad capabilities in microscopy, including scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy, as well as other sophisticated equipment with which to conduct biomedical research.

Annual SIU School of Dental Medicine Research Day

The annual SIU School of Dental Medicine Research Day includes public activities for students, alumni, faculty, and residents.

Summer Research Program

The Summer research program allows students to gain research and extra clinical experience

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