University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) Dental School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, located in Lexington, trains approximately 55–65 DMD students per year with a strong emphasis on Appalachian and rural Kentucky oral health. UK Dental co-locates with UK's Academic Medical Center, providing interprofessional training alongside UK medical and pharmacy students. The school has an active research enterprise in oral biology, dental materials, and community oral health, and its graduates are disproportionately likely to remain in Kentucky to practise.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Strong Kentucky resident preference (public state institution). Dental shadowing, letters of recommendation from a licensed dentist, and community service — ideally in underserved settings — expected.
GPA median
3.60 overall / 3.55 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
12.4%
Class size
60
In-state preference
Strong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants
87%
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Kentucky residency, Appalachian community awareness, dental experience, academic achievement.
Notes
Estimates from ADEA AADSAS data and public class profiles; hedged. DAT AA median approximately 19–22. Strong Kentucky preference.
Specialities offered
General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Interview Format
How University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) interviews applicants.
Format
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
Interview window
October–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions; strong Kentucky resident preference
Post-interview chances
Approximately 40–55% post-interview for Kentucky residents (estimated).
What to expect at a University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) interview
UK Dental interview day includes one or two traditional one-on-one sessions with faculty, each approximately 30–45 minutes, plus a clinic tour. UK interviewers place strong emphasis on applicants' awareness of Appalachian Kentucky's oral health crisis — the state has among the highest rates of tooth loss and untreated dental disease in the United States. Questions cover manual dexterity, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics, tobacco-related oral disease (highly prevalent in Appalachia), and the applicant's specific interest in serving Kentucky communities.
What makes University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) different
UK College of Dentistry is one of two dental schools in Kentucky and has a particular mission focus on Appalachian oral health. Kentucky has the highest rates of tooth loss among US adults and significant dental access barriers in its rural eastern counties. UK Dental works with the UK Appalachian Regional Health programme and operates community dental clinics in Eastern Kentucky, giving students hands-on experience with underserved rural populations.
Tutor insight
Appalachian oral health is central to UK Dental's identity — know the statistics and understand why Kentucky has among the worst oral health outcomes in the US (tobacco, poverty, dental access, Medicaid coverage gaps). Kentucky residency is a major advantage; out-of-state applicants need a compelling reason to train at a state mission school. The UK-UK Medical Center co-location is a genuine interprofessional asset worth mentioning.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
405 dentistry questions inside
Interview questions matched to University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Medium·MMI · PanelQ1
Substance Use and Dental Health: Treating Patients in Recovery
Patients in recovery from substance use disorders — including alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, and other substances — often present with significant oral health consequences of their substance use: severe dental erosion from alcohol or methamphetamine, xerostomia from methadone or buprenorphine maintenance therapy, neglected dental care during active addiction, and high dental anxiety related to past experiences of receiving inadequate pain management. These patients also have specific needs related to pain medication management during dental procedures and may have strong preferences about what medications they can safely receive. How do you approach a patient who discloses they are in recovery from alcohol use disorder and has been sober for two years, and who presents with multiple areas of decay and dental anxiety?
Likely follow-up · The patient asks whether it is safe for her to receive nitrous oxide during her treatment, given her alcohol use disorder history. She is concerned about the recreational potential of inhalation sedation. How do you discuss this with her?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Hard·MMI · PanelQ2
Volunteering Abroad: Ethics of Dental Mission Trips
Short-term international dental mission trips — in which US dental students or practitioners travel to low-income countries to provide free dental care for one or two weeks — are popular among pre-dental and dental students. Critics argue that these trips may do more harm than good: providing episodic care without follow-up, undermining local dental economies, performing procedures beyond the volunteers' training level, and serving as resume-building tourism rather than genuine service. Supporters argue that mission trips provide care that would otherwise not exist and give volunteers valuable experiential learning. How do you evaluate the ethics of dental mission trips?
Likely follow-up · If you participated in a dental mission trip in which you performed extractions on patients who might have benefited from restorative care that was simply not available — is this the right call, and how do you think about it?
Apply to University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) with confidence
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University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) - Frequently asked questions
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Strong Kentucky resident preference (public state institution). Dental shadowing, letters of recommendation from a licensed dentist, and community service — ideally in underserved settings — expected.
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview. UK Dental interview day includes one or two traditional one-on-one sessions with faculty, each approximately 30–45 minutes, plus a clinic tour. UK interviewers place strong emphasis on applicants' awareness of Appalachian Kentucky's oral health crisis — the state has among the highest rates of tooth loss and untreated dental disease in the United States. Questions cover manual dexterity, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics, tobacco-related oral disease (highly prevalent in Appalachia), and the applicant's specific interest in serving Kentucky communities.
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (DMD) typically interviews in October–February.
Decisions are released Rolling admissions; strong Kentucky resident preference.
UK College of Dentistry is one of two dental schools in Kentucky and has a particular mission focus on Appalachian oral health. Kentucky has the highest rates of tooth loss among US adults and significant dental access barriers in its rural eastern counties. UK Dental works with the UK Appalachian Regional Health programme and operates community dental clinics in Eastern Kentucky, giving students hands-on experience with underserved rural populations.
