Dental Medicine

The mission of the UNE College of Dental Medicine is to improve the health of Northern New England as well as rural and underserved areas while shaping the future of dentistry through excellence in education, discovery, and service.

The D.M.D. degree is awarded after successful completion of four (4) years of professional study in the College of Dental Medicine. The College seeks to matriculate compassionate students who demonstrate a commitment to patient-centered care, social responsibility, and professionalism. Students are treated as members of the profession and supported in a learner-centered environment grounded in trust, collegiality, and high ethical standards. The College is committed to providing a safe and effective environment in which students can learn; apply knowledge; develop skills and values; provide comprehensive, person-centered, evidence-based care; and develop to the level of an independent, competent oral health care provider. 

The first two (2) years of the curriculum focus on extensive hands-on dental simulation experience, beginning in the very first semester of the program, as well as integrated biomedical sciences and dental sciences content. Students work closely with faculty and peers to acquire foundational biomedical knowledge in the context of its clinical application. Critical thinking skills are emphasized as students learn how to access and evaluate information, including the latest scientific research, as well as how to use that information to provide evidence-based care to their patients. Interested students are also provided opportunities to conduct oral health research under the guidance of faculty mentors. What’s more, our program educates students on the business side of dentistry, including practice management concepts and leadership skills, and we emphasize the importance of self-assessment and lifelong learning to personal and professional growth. 

Students engage in clinical experiences across all four (4) years of the program, commencing during the first semester of the program primarily through peer-to-peer experiences. During the second year, students begin to provide limited patient care in the Oral Health Center on UNE’s Portland campus, and they gradually progress to providing comprehensive patient care, which continues during the third year. Throughout their clinical experiences, students practice as associates in a group practice led by clinical faculty mentors and provide patient-centered care commensurate with their individual level of education and training. The fourth year of the program focuses on clinical practice both at the UNE Oral Health Center and at community-based clinical sites across Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island) and beyond. Each fourth-year student is required to complete a ten (10)- to twelve (12)-week externship rotation at one (1) of these sites, which include Federally Qualified Health Centers, non-profit clinics, private practices, etc. 

Public health is an essential component of our curriculum, and our students frequently discuss issues related to access to care and health policy. Throughout the four (4)-year program, D.M.D. students participate in service-learning experiences, such as school-based programs aimed at preventing childhood caries; conducting oral assessments for individuals with developmental challenges; and delivering oral health education to older adults at long-term care facilities. These experiences are designed to prepare new graduates with the skills needed to address access to dental care for society’s most vulnerable and underserved populations. The College also provides opportunities for dental students to learn and work with students of other health professions at UNE. Through these experiences, our students grow to appreciate the value of interprofessional communication and collaboration in delivering high-quality, comprehensive care to their patients. 

Ultimately, our graduates will be ethical, caring, competent oral health care providers who will improve the oral health, overall health, and quality of life of people in their communities.

The College of Dental Medicine is fully accredited by CODA, the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

*The purpose of the catalog is to provide a comprehensive list of required courses. The College of Dental Medicine can provide a degree map listing which courses should be taken in each stage of this timeline.

The D.M.D. curriculum is Pass/Fail. Students must earn a Pass for every course to earn the D.M.D. degree.

Academic Program Standards

Complete confidence in the honor and integrity of the health professions student and health care professional is essential. Such confidence depends entirely on the exemplary behavior of the individual health care provider in their relations with patients, faculty, and colleagues. Strict honesty as a personal way of life should be nurtured during the period of education for professional service. The dental student shall conduct all aspects of their life with honor and integrity. This includes accountability to oneself and to relationships with fellow students, future colleagues, faculty, and patients who come under the student’s care or contribute to their training and growth, as well as members of the general public. This applies to personal conduct that reflects on the student’s honesty and integrity in both academic and non-academic settings, whether or not involving a University-sponsored activity. Upon accepting admission to the University, each student subscribes to and pledges complete observance to the University Conduct Policies as outlined in the University of New England Student Handbook program. A violation of these standards is an abuse of the trust placed in every student and could lead to suspension or dismissal.

Technical Standards

Abilities and Skills

Candidates for the Doctor of Dental Medicine program must have the intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities, with or without accommodations, to acquire the knowledge, technical, and clinical skills needed to successfully complete the curriculum in order to pursue a career in dentistry. The essential academic standards presented in this document are pre-requisite for matriculation, subsequent promotion from year to year, and ultimately graduation from the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. These standards pertain to all matriculated students. All required courses in the curriculum are necessary in order to develop essential skills required to become a competent Dentist.

Students, including students with disabilities, must have the capacity to manage their lives and anticipate their own needs. Students must be able to demonstrate the following abilities and skills with or without reasonable accommodation(s):

Observation

A student must be able to observe a patient accurately, at a distance and close up, interpreting non-verbal communications while performing dental operations or administering medications. A student must be able to perform dental examinations and treatments that require the use of sight and touch. A student must be able to see fine detail, focus at a variety of distances, and discern differences and variations in color, shape, and texture that are necessary to differentiate normal and abnormal soft and hard tissues. A student must be able to use tactile senses to diagnose directly by palpation and indirectly by sensations transmitted through instruments. A student must also possess the visual acuity to read charts, records, radiographs, small print, and handwritten notation.

Communication

A student must be able to: communicate effectively and sensitively with patients; convey and exchange information at a level allowing development of a health history; identify problems; explain alternative solutions; and give directions during treatment and post-treatment. A student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the healthcare team. A student must have sufficient facility with English to: retrieve information from texts and lectures and communicate concepts on written exams and patient charts; elicit patient backgrounds; describe patient changes in moods, activity, and posture; and coordinate patient care with all members of the health care team. A student must be able to communicate in lay language so that patients and their families can understand the patient’s conditions and, thereby, be more likely to comply with treatment and preventative regimes.

Motor, Strength, and Mobility

A student must possess sufficient motor functioning to execute movements essential to providing oral health care to patients. A student must possess the motor skills to perform palpation, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers; basic laboratory tests; and diagnostic and restorative procedures. Such actions require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional uses of the senses of touch and vision. A student must be able to perform basic life support including CPR, to transfer and position patients with disabilities, to physically restrain themselves around the patient and chair in a sitting or standing position. A student must promote and support the ability of coworkers to perform prompt care. A student must be able to operate controls, use high-speed or low-speed dental handpieces for tooth preparation, and use hand instrumentation including scalpels for surgical procedures. A student must be able to maintain strength and posture and to reach and manipulate equipment to all positions in order to control the operating environment.

Sensory

A student must be able to acquire a predetermined level of required information through demonstrations and experiences in basic and dental science courses. Such information includes, but is not limited to, information conveyed through: a) physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations, b) microscopic images of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states; and c) demonstration of techniques using dental models. A student must be able to acquire information from written documents, and to evaluate information presented as images from paper, films, slides, or video. A student must be able to benefit from electronic and other instrumentation that enhances visual, auditory, and somatic sensations needed for examination or treatment.

Cognitive

A student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize. A student must be able to comprehend three (3)-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities. A student must be able to perform these problem-solving skills in a timely manner.

Behavioral and Social

A student must possess the emotional health required for full use of their intellectual skills, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. A student must be able to endure physically-taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interests, and motivations are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational processes. A student must be able to manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them. A student must be able to interrelate among colleagues, staff, and patients with honesty, integrity, respect, and nondiscrimination.

Disabilities

Graduates of the D.M.D. program must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical, administrative, and leadership situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care.

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine acknowledges and complies with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990, as amended, and requires minimum technical standards be present in students accepted into the Doctor of Dental Medicine program. The college will engage in an interactive process with applicants with disabilities, but the College reserves the right not to matriculate any applicant who cannot meet the technical standards set forth in this section, with reasonable accommodations.

Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a student in the Doctor of Dental Medicine program must be able to perform in an independent manner. Every applicant is considered without regard to disability. Once accepted, students must complete all elements of the curriculum with or without reasonable accommodations. In the case of a documented disability, the College must be fully satisfied that the applicant can make progress throughout the curriculum.

Throughout the D.M.D. program, a student will be expected to maintain the technical standards and demonstrate them through their coursework, interaction with peers and faculty, and in their professional experiences. Students who fail to demonstrate the technical standards while in the program will be evaluated and appropriate action (e.g., remediation, counseling, or dismissal) will be taken. Because this expectation is separate from the academic achievement, simply maintaining a passing grade is not sufficient. Additionally, individuals who would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others are not considered suitable candidates for continued matriculation.

Applicants are not required to disclose the nature of their disability(ies), if any, to the Admissions Committee. However, any applicant with questions about these technical standards is strongly encouraged to discuss their specific issues(s) with the Student Access Center prior to the interview process. If appropriate, and only upon the request of the applicant, reasonable accommodations will be provided.

When a letter of acceptance to the D.M.D. program is emailed, a web link to the technical standards for completion of the curriculum will be included. Academic and technical standards are also included in the CDM Student Handbook, and students sign a document acknowledging receipt of the Student Handbook during first-year orientation. The provision of or request for an accommodation for a disability is always voluntary for the student. An applicant should be able to evaluate themselves for compliance with these technical standards. In the event that accommodation is requested, the student must submit documentation of disability with the proposed accommodation from a certified specialist to UNE’s Student Access Center. A continuing student who develops a disability should request accommodations based on the limitations of the disability through the Student Access Center. Individuals unable to meet the technical standards for the D.M.D. program may be unable to progress and/or complete the D.M.D. program.

The College’s Admissions Committee will consider the applicant based on the criteria for admission of all applicants. An applicant who discloses a disability and requests accommodation in the admission process may be required to submit, in writing, the request for accommodation and pertinent supporting documentation. The pertinent information may include a history of accommodations granted previously in other education programs. Request for accommodation may be initiated with UNE’s Student Access Center.

For more information on disabilities and accommodations, please contact the UNE Student Access Center.

Students are governed by the policies published in the catalog year and with the cohort under which they entered. If a student needs to repeat their first year, they will be governed by the policies published under the catalog year, with their new cohort, rather than the policies published in the catalog year their original cohort entered. 

Academic and Professional Standards Committee

The College of Dental Medicine’s Academic and Professional Standards Committee (APSC) is charged with the development, distribution, and implementation of policies to aid in the evaluation of dental student academic, clinical, and professional development. The APSC is responsible for overall review of student progress and making decisions regarding promotion, potential disciplinary and corrective actions, and completion of graduation requirements for each student. The APSC will convene to evaluate student progress at the conclusion of each academic term, generally within fifteen (15) business days. Students who have not successfully maintained academic, clinical, ethical, technical, and/or professional standards will be invited to meet with the APSC to offer additional information for the committee to consider before it makes a decision regarding an appropriate course of action. The APSC shall follow guidelines in full accord with the rules of the University of New England and the requirements of due process. The Dean of the UNE CDM will appoint faculty and staff to the APSC and designate a chair of the committee.

The APSC may also be convened to address a student’s alleged violation(s) of an ethical and/or professional standard, University Conduct Code, or for other circumstances that the Dean (or designee) deems appropriate. The review of the matter by the committee will be afforded due consideration and process as governed by University policy.

Committee Procedures

A student under review by the APSC will be notified in writing of the reason and given the opportunity to meet with the committee at a specified date, time, and location. The student will inform the chair at least one (1) day before the meeting if they wish to be present at the APSC meeting. The student will be afforded at least fifteen (15) minutes, though time allotted may be increased at the discretion of the committee chair. The student may request that the committee consider other sources of information, such as witness testimony or other supporting documents. The student may ask a UNE faculty representative to accompany them to the meeting. The faculty representative cannot address the APSC in any way during the student’s comments, though they may confer with the student. If available, a designee from Graduate and Student Affairs will be present at the meeting should the student need additional consultation. The student and faculty representative will not be present for deliberations; however, the Graduate and Student Affairs designee will participate in the deliberations. The APSC will have an opportunity to review the additional information, if presented, and will then make a final decision. The student will be notified of the decision in writing by the APSC Chair or Dean’s designee. Notification must be either sent by USPS mail or hand-delivered to the student.

Grading Policies

All courses within the curriculum are evaluated as Pass/Fail. Students should refer to the course syllabus for the grading policy specific to each course.

The grade designations on the transcript are:

• Pass (P): Student earned an overall grade of 69.50 and above and met all requirements stated in the course syllabus
• Fail (F): Student earned an overall grade of 69.49 or below or did not meet all requirements stated in the course syllabus
• Incomplete (I): Student has completed a majority of the work in a course but extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control have resulted in the student being unable to finish all required work for issuance of a final grade. Examples of valid extenuating circumstances may include illness, family emergency, or other non-academic and urgent matters. University policy states that all grades of "I" will automatically convert to an "F" after four (4) to six (6) weeks, depending on the duration of the academic term in question.
• Pass (P) with notation “F grade remediated” beneath the course title: Student has completed a course remediation (see Course Remediation)

Letters of Commendation (LOC) are awarded to students achieving superior performance in a course, as determined by the Course Director and outlined in the course syllabus. A student will not be eligible for an LOC in a course they have to remediate or retake. LOCs are not noted on the official transcript.

If a course will permit a student to retake assessments and/or redo assignments while the course is in progress, the syllabus must outline the assessments retake and/or assignments redo criteria and plan.

Official grades are submitted to the Registrar’s Office by Course Directors, at which time the online student records system is updated. Official grade reports and unofficial transcripts will be available on the student records system throughout the academic year. Class rank is not reported on transcripts.

Students must earn a grade of "Pass" in all courses. Students who receive a "Fail" in a course will be reviewed by the APSC. The APSC, after consultation with the Course Director and review of the student’s overall performance in all other UNE CDM courses (concurrent and previous), may decide on one of the following courses of action for the student:

• Remediate the course
• Repeat the course
• Repeat the academic year
• Dismissal from the program

Promotion

Promotion is defined as academic and professional progression from one (1) academic year to the next. The APSC will review student progress and make decisions regarding promotion of each student. Students may be ineligible for progression from one academic year to the next if any of the following apply:

• The student has a grade of "I" or "F" in a required course without an approved course remediation plan
• The student has a grade of "I" or "F" in the remediation of a previously failed course
• The student needs to repeat one (1) or more courses
• Failure to meet or maintain ethical and/or professional standards as outlined in the Code of Professional Conduct found in the Student Handbook
• Failure to meet or maintain technical standards
• Unpaid tuition and fees
• Failure to meet the Integrated National Board Dental Examination Policy found in the Student Handbook

An essential element of the academic program is professionalism. Professionalism will be emphasized throughout the curriculum and is a stand-alone element in determining academic advancement and achievement. Students may be ineligible for progression from one (1) academic year to the next if the student has unprofessional conduct violations.

The end-of-academic-year promotion process does not preclude the APSC from deciding on an adverse action (e.g., dismissal, repeat the year, etc.) as a result of a student review at any other APSC meeting (e.g., mid-year, etc.) if the student has failed to meet or maintain the academic, clinical, technical, ethical, and/or professional standards deemed appropriate by the APSC.

Course Remediation

Remediation is the process for addressing deficiencies in a student’s knowledge, skills, and/or professional behavior. The educational objectives that underlie remedial teaching and evaluation should be the same as the educational objectives that underlie regular courses in the curriculum. Students receiving an “F” grade in a course may be offered a formal course remediation plan developed by the Course Director and approved by the APSC. Alternatively, the Course Director may determine that a student is “not remediable.”

Decisions to allow a student to proceed with remediation of a failed course will be made by the APSC on an individual basis after considering all pertinent circumstances. The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other UNE CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations after consultation with the student’s faculty advisor/Group Practice Leader, Course Director, Dean (or designee), clinical preceptor, and the student involved, as is appropriate.

Students who are offered the opportunity to remediate a course failure may have a modified academic or clinical schedule, which can lead to a delayed graduation and additional tuition and fees.

Upon the student’s successful completion of a course remediation, a “Pass” will be reported to the Registrar’s Office and become part of the official student transcript, along with the notation “F grade remediated.”

Students will be offered no more than one attempt to remediate a failed course. Failure to earn a passing grade on the course remediation will result in one of the following courses of action for the student:

• Repeat the course
• Repeat the academic year
• Dismissal from the program

The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other UNE CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations. Grades earned during an attempted remediation of a course will be reviewed critically by the APSC.

Course Repeat

Decisions to allow a student to proceed with repeating a failed course will be made by the APSC on an individual basis after considering all pertinent circumstances. Courses in the CDM program are offered once per year, therefore, the student must wait until the next time the course is offered to repeat the course and will be responsible for all tuition and fees. The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other UNE CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations after consultation with the student’s Faculty Advisor/Group Practice Leader, Course Director, Dean (or designee), Clinical Preceptor, and the student involved, as is appropriate.

Students who are offered the opportunity to repeat a failed course may have a modified academic or clinical schedule, which can lead to a delayed graduation and additional tuition and fees.

Upon completion of a repeated course, a new listing and assigned grade are placed on the student's transcript. The original course listing and grade remain on the student's transcript.

Students will be offered no more than one (1) attempt to repeat a failed course. Failure to earn a passing grade on the course repeat will result in one of the following courses of action for the student:

• Repeat the academic year
• Dismissal from the program

The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other UNE CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations. Grades earned during an attempted repeat of a course will be reviewed critically by the APSC.

Academic Year Repeat

Students who are required to repeat an academic year must repeat all courses in their entirety. Failure of any course in a repeat year may result in dismissal from the program. A student may not repeat the same academic year more than once.

D.M.D. Program Duration

The D.M.D. program must be completed in a maximum of six (6) years total (one and a half (1.5) times the expected completion period). This is inclusive of Leaves of Absence and repeating an academic year.

Probation or Academic Suspension

Probation is a serious warning that a student’s academic performance or professional conduct must improve in order for the student to continue enrollment at the College of Dental Medicine.

Students may be placed on Probation or Academic Suspension for the following reasons:

• Inadequate academic progress as determined by the Academic and Professional Standards Committee. This includes, but is not limited to, receiving an "F" in any course.
• When required to repeat an academic year for academic reasons.
• Violating the Code of Professional Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Students on probation are expected to remove themselves from all elected officer responsibilities and leadership roles in co-curricular activities associated with the University and/or with professional associations. Students on probation must meet with a faculty member designated by the APSC at least once per month. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty member to arrange these meetings.

The APSC will review all students on academic probation at each end-of-term APSC meeting to consider removal of probation status for those students that have successfully remediated a course failure or improved academic, clinical, or professional performance. Probation status for students found responsible for behavioral, ethical, and/or professional standard violations will be for a specified period of time (up to one (1) academic year per incident). In those cases, probation will expire at the specified date identified in the letter from the Dean (or designee) that specified probationary status.

Students on academic suspension are not registered as an active matriculate and should use this time to remediate the deficiency for which the academic suspension was levied.

Dismissal

The University may require withdrawal at any time it deems necessary to safeguard its standards of scholarship, conduct, and orderly operations. The Dean of the College of Dental Medicine (or designee), after due consideration and process, may dismiss a student at any time before graduation if circumstances of legal, moral, behavior, ethical, professional, health, or academic nature justify such an action. The APSC is charged with reviewing student academic, clinical, ethical, and professional performance. The APSC may decide to dismiss a student in order to satisfy its obligation to maintain student performance standards. A student may be considered for dismissal when, but not limited to, any one (1) or more of the following circumstances apply:

• Received a grade of “Fail” in one or more course(s)
• Received a grade of “Fail” in a remediated course, or for a failure to remediate a course
• Violating the Code of Professional Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook
• Failure to meet or maintain Technical Standards as outlined in the Student Handbook
• Failure to meet the Integrated National Board Dental Examination Policy found in the Student Handbook
• Received a grade of “Fail” in any course during a repeat year

Graduation

To be eligible for graduation, a student must:

• Not be on academic suspension or probation
• Have earned a grade of “Pass” in all required coursework and have no outstanding grades of "I" or "F"
• Meet the Integrated National Board Dental Examination Policy found in the Student Handbook
• Have successfully completed all prescribed academic requirements, including:
  • All courses/modules (including clinical externship)
  • Final Student Progress Review meeting with Group Practice Leader
  • Have demonstrated competency for all UNE CDM Competency Statements
  • Have completed the UNE CDM Graduate Exit Survey
  • Completed and submitted a UNE CDM D.M.D. Graduation Sign-Out Sheet
• Have demonstrated appropriate ethical, professional, and personal conduct, as defined in the UNE Student Handbook and the College of Dental Medicine Academic Standards, thus making it appropriate to award the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine
• March with their class in the graduation ceremony, unless the Dean (or designee) has granted an exception due to unique circumstances
• Have complied with all the legal and financial requirements of the University and College

Extended, Returning, or Repeating Fourth-Year Students

Students who are deficient in meeting expectations at the time of review for graduation will be categorized as follows:

• Extended Fourth-Year Students: Students who will complete all expectations by mid-August of the following academic year and are expected to graduate in August.
• Returning Fourth-Year Students: Students who will complete all expectations by mid-December of the following academic year and are expected to graduate in December.
• Repeating Fourth-Year Students: Students who will complete all expectations within one (1) year of the original graduation date and are expected to graduate in May of the following academic year.

Students with these designations will be responsible for applicable tuition and registration fees. It will be the student’s responsibility to complete the application to graduate. Please consult the UNE Registrar’s website.

Student Appeal Process

Academic Progression Appeal

The APSC is responsible for the review of student academic progress. A student may submit a written appeal of an academic progression decision to the Dean of the College within seven (7) business days of the decision according to the guidelines in the University Student Handbook. Please refer to the UNE Student Handbook for the detailed policy and process information; it is available online at http://kjft.shorinji-kempo.net/studentlife/handbook.

A written appeal of an academic progression decision must be delivered to the Dean in writing and must be based on: 1) new evidence that could not have been presented to the academic review officer or committee at the time of the original decision, or 2) procedural errors in the original review process that had a substantial impact on or otherwise prejudiced the original determination. The Dean (or designee) will make a determination whether grounds are present in the appeal to warrant a review. The appeal is not intended to afford a full rehearing of the case but to serve as a method of reviewing the written content and grounds for appealing as submitted by the student. The Dean (or designee) will inform the student of their decision in writing within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the appeal.

If the Dean (or designee) deems that the appeal would be better addressed by a committee, an appropriate appeal committee will be convened and a review will be conducted. Unless deadlines have been extended by the Dean (or designee), the final findings and recommendations of the Appeal Review Committee will be forwarded to the Dean (or designee) no later than thirty (30) business days subsequent to the Committee's first meeting. The Dean (or designee) will make a decision and report it to all parties involved within ten (10) working days of receipt of the Committee’s findings and recommendations. The decision of the Dean (or designee) in response to the appeal is final. If an appeal is upheld by the Appeal Review Committee, the matter may be remanded to the APSC for re-opening of the review and reconsideration of the original finding and/or sanction(s).

Grade or Penalty Appeal (Excluding Academic Progression Appeal)

Assignment of Grades

The academic standards for successful completion of a course and assignment of a grade are established by the Course Director and guided by the UNE CDM Academic Guidelines. The Course Director bears the responsibility of ensuring that written academic standards are outlined in the course syllabus that is provided to each student at the beginning of each course. The Course Director assigns final grades based upon these published academic standards.

Basis for Appeal

Every effort should be made to resolve a difference over a grade (e.g., grade within a course or a final course grade) or penalty (e.g., exclusion from a course, lab, or clinical experience) on an informal basis through a discussion between the student and the Course Director. It is up to the Course Director’s discretion whether or not to change the grade/penalty after discussion with the student and a review of the circumstances.

If the above informal procedure does not resolve a dispute concerning a grade to the student’s satisfaction, the student may submit a written appeal of the grade or penalty. This appeal mechanism is limited to possible errors in calculating or recording a grade/penalty and to allegations of mistakes or arbitrary or capricious grading. “Arbitrary or capricious” grading means (1) the assignment of a grade/penalty to a student on some basis other than performance in the course; (2) the assignment of a grade/penalty to a student by application of standards different from the standards that were applied to other students in that course; or (3) the assignment of a course grade/penalty based on a substantial and unreasonable departure from the written academic standards for that course.

The appeal mechanism is not intended for review of the instructor’s evaluation of the student’s academic performance. If a student feels the course was poorly designed, they received poor instruction, or students were graded too severely (provided that all the students in the class were graded in the same fashion), these concerns are more appropriately communicated on end-of-semester course evaluations. Furthermore, the appeal mechanism is not to be used to dispute the published academic standards for a course, which are the prerogative of the Course Director under which the course is administered.

It is the responsibility of the student to substantiate the assertion that an incorrect final grade has been assigned.

Appeals Process

• The first level of the appeal is the academic course from which the grade or penalty was issued. Within five (5) business days after receipt of the grade or penalty in question, the student must request, in writing, a review by the Course Director. The student should then meet with the Course Director to discuss their concerns and to present any evidence that an erroneous or arbitrary or capricious final grade has been assigned. The Course Director should document this meeting and send a follow-up email to the student that outlines the basis for the decision to either uphold or change the grade or penalty.
• If the student's concerns are not resolved through a meeting with the Course Director, the student may submit a written appeal to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (ADAA; or designee) within five (5) business days after the receipt of the grade appeal decision from the Course Director (see Student Grade/Penalty Appeal Form). This written appeal must contain information to substantiate the student’s assertion, including a copy of the course syllabus and other pertinent material to support the argument that a grade/penalty change is warranted. The ADAA (or designee) will review the appeal to determine if there were errors made or arbitrary or capricious grading/penalties. If the ADAA believes the aforementioned to be true, they will notify the Course Director and solicit a response. The ADAA (or designee) will then decide to either uphold the grade with stated reasons or recommend a change in grade with stated reasons. A written decision will generally be communicated within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the ADAA (or designee) is final.

Competencies for the New General Dentist

(Adopted from the American Dental Education Association)

(Journal of Dental Education July 2011)

The general dentist is the primary oral health care provider supported by dental specialists, allied dental professionals, and other health care providers. The practice of general dentistry requires a dentist to possess the ability to incorporate understanding, skills, and values in an integrated response to clinical and other professional situations. The competency statements describe the performance of the University of New England College of Dental Medicine graduates as they enter dental practice settings, rather than that of students in individual courses. This document is viewed by the College as dynamic. As the practice of dentistry evolves, the College will revisit its competency statements. 

Domains

• Critical Thinking
• Professionalism
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Health Promotion
• Practice Management and Informatics
• Patient Care
  • Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning
  • Establishment and Maintenance of Oral Health

1. Critical Thinking

Graduates must be competent to:

1.1. Evaluate and integrate emerging trends in health care as appropriate.
1.2. Utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
1.3. Evaluate and integrate best research outcomes with clinical expertise and patient values for evidence-based practice.

2. Professionalism

Graduates must be competent to:

2.1. Apply ethical and legal standards in the provision of dental care.
2.2. Practice within one’s scope of competence and consult with or refer to professional colleagues when indicated.

3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Graduates must be competent to:

3.1. Apply appropriate interpersonal and communication skills.
3.2. Apply psychosocial and behavior principles in patient-centered health care.
3.3. Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse populations.

4. Health Promotion

Graduates must be competent to:

4.1. Provide prevention, intervention, and educational strategies.
4.2. Participate with dental team members and other health care professionals in the management and health promotion for all patients.
4.3. Recognize and appreciate the need to contribute to the improvement of oral health beyond those served in traditional practice settings.

5. Practice Management and Informatics

Graduates must be competent to:

5.1. Evaluate and apply contemporary and emerging information including clinical and practice management technology resources.
5.2. Evaluate and manage current models of oral health care management and delivery.
5.3. Apply principles of risk management, including informed consent and appropriate record keeping in patient care.
5.4. Demonstrate effective business, financial management, and human resource skills.
5.5. Apply quality assurance, assessment, and improvement concepts.
5.6. Comply with local, state, and federal regulations including OSHA and HIPAA.
5.7. Develop a catastrophe preparedness plan for the dental practice.

6. Patient Care

A. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning
Graduates must be competent to:

6.1. Manage the oral health care of the infant, child, adolescent, and adult, as well as the unique needs of women, geriatric, and special needs patients.
6.2. Prevent, identify, and manage trauma, oral diseases, and other disorders.
6.3. Obtain and interpret patient/medical data, including a thorough intra/extra oral examination, and use these findings to accurately assess and manage all patients.
6.4. Select, obtain, and interpret diagnostic images for the individual patient.
6.5. Recognize the manifestations of systemic disease and how the disease and its management may affect the delivery of dental care.
6.6. Formulate a comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and/or referral plan for the management of patients.

B. Establishment and Maintenance of Oral Health
Graduates must be competent to:

6.7. Utilize universal infection control guidelines for all clinical procedures.
6.8. Prevent, diagnose, and manage pain and anxiety in the dental patient.
6.9. Prevent, diagnose, and manage temporomandibular disorders.
6.10. Prevent, diagnose, and manage periodontal diseases.
6.11. Develop and implement strategies for the clinical assessment and management of caries.
6.12. Manage restorative procedures that preserve tooth structure, replace missing or defective tooth structure, maintain function, are esthetic, and promote soft and hard tissue health.
6.13. Diagnose and manage developmental or acquired occlusal abnormalities.
6.14. Manage the replacement of teeth for the partially or completely edentulous patient.
6.15. Diagnose, identify, and manage pulpal and periradicular diseases.
6.16. Diagnose and manage oral surgical treatment needs.
6.17. Prevent, recognize, and manage medical and dental emergencies.
6.18. Recognize and manage patient abuse and/or neglect.
6.19. Recognize and manage substance abuse.
6.20. Evaluate outcomes of comprehensive dental care.
6.21. Diagnose, identify, and manage oral mucosal and osseous diseases.

Glossary of Terms

Competency: A complex behavior or ability essential for the general dentist to begin independent, unsupervised dental practice; it assumes that all behaviors and skills are performed with a degree of quality consistent with patient well-being and that the general dentist can self-evaluate treatment effectiveness.

Critical thinking: The process of assimilating and analyzing information; this encompasses an interest in finding new solutions, a curiosity with an ability to admit to a lack of understanding, a willingness to examine beliefs and assumptions and to search for evidence to support these beliefs and assumptions, and the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.

Curriculum guidelines (content): The relevant and fundamental information that is taught for each category of foundation knowledge; these are to be used as curriculum development aids and should not be construed as recommendations for restrictive requirements.

Domain: A broad, critical category of activity for the general dentist.

Emerging technologies: Current and future technologies used in patient care, including technology for biomedical information storage and retrieval, clinical care information, and technologies for use at the point of care.

Evidence-based dentistry: An approach to oral health care that requires the judicious integration of systematic assessments of clinically relevant scientific evidence relating to the patient’s oral and medical condition and history integrated with the dentist’s clinical expertise and the patient’s treatment needs and preferences.

Foundation knowledge and skills: The basic essential knowledge and skills linked to and necessary to support a given competency; these would serve to help guide curriculum in dental schools, assist educators in removing irrelevant, archaic information from current curricula, aid in including important new information, and help test construction committees develop examinations based upon generally accepted, contemporary information.

General dentist: The primary dental care provider for patients in all age groups who is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs.

Health promotion: Public health actions to protect or improve oral health and promote oral well-being through behavioral, educational, and enabling socioeconomic, legal, fiscal, environmental, and social measures; it involves the process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health; includes education of the public to prevent chronic oral disease.

Informatics: Applications associated with information and technology used in health care delivery; the data and knowledge needed for problem solving and decision making; and the administration and management of information and technology in support of patient care, education, and research.

Interprofessional health care: The delivery of health care by a variety of health care practitioners in a cooperative, collaborative, and integrative manner to ensure care is continuous and reliable.

Management: Includes all actions performed by a health care provider that are designed to alter the course of a patient’s condition; such actions may include providing education, advice, treatment by the general dentist, treatment by the general dentist after consultation with another health care professional, referral of a patient to another health care professional, and monitoring the treatment provided; it may also include providing no treatment or observation.

Patient-centered care: The ability to identify, respect, and care about patients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs; relieve pain and suffering; coordinate continuous care; listen to, clearly inform, communicate with, and educate patients; share decision making and management; and continuously advocate disease prevention, wellness, and promotion of healthy lifestyles, including a focus on population health.

Problem-solving: The process of answering a question or achieving a goal when the path or answer is not immediately obvious, using an acceptable heuristic or strategy such as the scientific method.

Special needs care: An approach to oral health management tailored to the individual needs of people with a variety of medical conditions or physical and mental limitations that require more than routine delivery of oral care; special care encompasses preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Admissions Requirements

Applicable to the 2024–2025 Application Cycle

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following is applicable to courses completed during the Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021 semesters only:

• Applicants who had the option of taking a prerequisite course for a letter grade or Pass/Fail must have chosen the letter grade option for the course to count toward the prerequisite requirements. If the applicant did not have the option to choose a letter grade for a prerequisite course due to COVID-19, we will consider Pass/Fail grades on a case-by-case basis pending verification from the institution’s Registrar’s Office that a graded option was not available for the prerequisite course.
• While letter grades are preferred for non-prerequisite courses, Pass/Fail grades will also be acceptable.

Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) 4-year Degree Program

Application

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE CDM) participates in the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application Service (ADEA AADSAS). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

Degree Requirement

Applicants must have completed a minimum of ninety (90) semester (one-hundred and thirty-five (135) quarter) credits at a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent, at the time of enrollment. However, a baccalaureate degree is preferred.

• All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to ADEA AADSAS. Please see the ADEA AADSAS application for additional information and instructions.

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements

Additional Recommended Courses

• Human Physiology (strongly recommended)
• Immunology (strongly recommended)
• Pharmacology
• Histology
• Public Health
• Ethics
• 3-Dimensional Art (e.g., sculpture)
• Genetics
• Business
• Communications

Other Important Prerequisite Coursework Considerations

• All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better ("C minus" grades are not acceptable).
• AP credits cannot be applied toward any prerequisite course.
• Upper-level courses in any of the necessary prerequisite subject areas completed with a grade of "C" or better are acceptable.
• Prerequisite courses may be in progress or planned at the time of application. All courses must be successfully completed with an official transcript submitted to the UNE Office of Graduate Admissions prior to the start of the program.
• Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed in the summer/fall term should be submitted and verified by ADEA AADSAS during the Academic Update period.
• Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed after the ADEA AADSAS Academic Update periods should be submitted directly from the University's Registrar to UNE’s Office of Graduate Admissions prior to the start of the program.

All planned or in-progress coursework should be listed on the ADEA AADSAS application at the time of application submission; not doing so may result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements.

Online courses offered through UNE’s Online Science Prerequisites are acceptable to fulfill prerequisites.

Standardized Tests

The U.S. Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required to be taken for the first time no later than October 1 of the application year. First-attempt exam scores from after the October 1 DAT deadline will not be considered.

• Applicants may choose to take the DAT a second time after October 1 and have those scores considered.
• All official scores must be submitted directly to ADEA AADSAS.
• The DAT must have been taken within five (5) years of the application deadline.

Letters of Evaluation

Two (2) letters of evaluation are required, and must be submitted via ADEA AADSAS

• One (1) letter must be from a science professor.
• It is recommended that the second letter come from a dentist.
• Committee letters are accepted in place of the two (2) required letters.
• Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
• All letters must be submitted electronically via the ADEA AADSAS application. Letters of recommendation dated within the last three (3) years are strongly preferred.

Volunteer/Experience Hours

Community Service: Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment.

Clinical Dental Experience: Required minimum of thirty (30) hours of dental shadowing/experience.

• All experiences should be documented in the ADEA AADSAS application.

Personal Statement

• Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for specific writing prompts and additional information.

Interviews

Interviews are a required part of the application process and are done by invitation only.

• Applicants are selected for interviews on a rolling basis.
• Interviews are typically conducted between August and December; spring interview sessions may be held as needed.
• The UNE College of Dental Medicine reserves the right to adjust interview dates, modalities, and processes as needed. Applicants will be notified immediately if changes to the format or timing of interviews occur at any point during the application cycle.

Given the normally heavy volume of applications, it is strongly encouraged that candidates submit and complete their AADSAS application as early as possible in the cycle to ensure full consideration for an interview.

Supplemental Fee

• All verified applications will undergo a preliminary admission review, after which select competitive applicants will be invited to submit the UNE Dental Medicine supplemental processing fee of $55 in order to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
• Upon receipt of an invitation to complete the UNE Dental Medicine supplemental processing fee, please be sure to make payment promptly and by the deadline listed in the invitation.

International Applicants

International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:

• Official course-by-course evaluation by World Education Service (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). The completed credential evaluation should be submitted directly to ADEA AADSAS. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the UNE website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of a UNE-approved English language proficiency test.
• Applicants should refer to the Graduate Admissions criteria outlined on the English Language Proficiency webpage for specific information and minimum score requirements.
• Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for test score submission instructions.

Other Requirements/Information

Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following additional compliance requirements:

• Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to UNE’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
• Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by clinical affiliations).
• All students must have the ability to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of the Dental Medicine profession.
• UNE follows the ADEA AADSAS “traffic” rules. Those offered admission are notified via email beginning on the designated notification date and continuing until the class is full.
• Only those applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be considered for admission. However, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Policy Exceptions

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Transfer Credit

• No transfer credit granted.

Experiential Learning

• No credit will be awarded for experiential learning.

Doctor of Dental Medicine advanced standing track (D.M.D. AST) for International Dentists

The D.M.D. AST is offered on a space-available basis only. Please visit the UNE CAAPID profile page for current information.

Application

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE CDM) participates in the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (ADEA CAAPID). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

Degree Requirement

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a dentist's degree from a non-U.S./Canadian dental school.

All applicants must provide a notarized, school-issued document confirming the conferred foreign dental degree (B.D.S., D.D.S., D.M.D., Odontology, etc.).

• Submit, through ADEA CAAPID application, original dental school, non-dental school, and all postgraduate program transcripts. For all foreign transcripts, applicants must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

Standardized Tests

English-Language Proficiency Tests:

• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of an English language proficiency test, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Official score reports are required and must be submitted as a part of the completed application.
• Applicants should refer to the Graduate Admissions criteria on the English Language Proficiency webpage for specific information and minimum score requirements.

Additional Tests:

• Passage of both NBDE Part I and Part II exams (or INBDE) is mandatory, preferably within the last five (5) years. Official scores must be submitted through ADEA CAAPID.
• Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) results will be accepted if submitted via ADEA CAAPID, but this is not required.

Letters of Evaluation

Three (3) letters of evaluation are required and must be submitted via ADEA CAAPID

Letters of evaluation should be submitted from the following individuals:

• Dean or chief/senior administrator of the applicant’s dental school (Dean level preferred).
• Dental school clinical instructor who is able to evaluate the applicant’s potential.
• One professional reference who can attest to the applicant’s character, conduct, and professional ability.
• Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
• Three (3) letters of evaluation are required, and no more than four (4) will be accepted. Only letters submitted through ADEA CAAPID will be accepted.

All letters must be written in English, or translated by a certified US translator at the applicant’s expense. The letters must also include the evaluator’s current contact details. Letters of recommendation dated within two (2) years of application are strongly preferred.

Interview and Bench Test

Interviews are conducted by invitation only. Only candidates with completed ADEA CAAPID and supplemental applications will be considered for an interview.

• Interviews for full consideration to the D.M.D. AST include an evaluative interview (virtual or in-person, as determined by UNE CDM), an on-campus bench test, and a written exam and/or writing sample.
• Applicants are invited to interview on a rolling basis at the discretion of the UNE CDM admissions committee.
• The fee to complete the bench test will be $500 and must be received by UNE CDM prior to the bench test date.

Residency Requirement

All applicants must provide proof of US citizenship (US passport, US birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization) or proof of permanent resident status (Green Card), or other appropriate immigration documentation.

• It is the candidate’s responsibility to maintain legal immigration status for the duration of enrollment in the D.M.D. AST program.

Supplemental Fee

All complete applications will undergo preliminary admission review, after which select applicants will be invited to submit the required, non-refundable UNE Dental Medicine supplemental processing fee of $100 in order to continue moving forward in the application review process.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Policy Exceptions

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit granted.

Advanced Standing

Please see application and admissions details above for the D.M.D. Advanced Standing Track (AST) for International Dentists.

Experiential Learning

No credit will be awarded for experiential learning.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.