LSU Health School of Dentistry in New Orleans, founded in 1968, is Louisiana's only dental school and trains approximately 65–75 DDS students per year. Co-located with LSU Health New Orleans Medical School and University Medical Center New Orleans, the school offers interprofessional training in one of the country's most culturally rich and clinically complex healthcare environments. LSU Dental serves a diverse patient population including uninsured and Medicaid patients across New Orleans and beyond, with community outreach programs across Louisiana.
What makes it different
LSU Health School of Dentistry is the only dental school in Louisiana and is part of the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, co-located with LSU Health Medical School. This provides genuine interprofessional training opportunities with medical students and residents. The New Orleans location exposes students to one of the most culturally diverse and historically underserved patient populations in the United States, with high rates of uninsured patients and significant oral health disparities.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year DDS curriculum with integrated biomedical and clinical sciences. Clinical training begins Year 2 at LSU Dental's New Orleans clinic. Community dental clinics and outreach sites across Louisiana in Years 3–4.
Research strengths
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) has notable research strength in Oral biology, Community oral health, Periodontal disease, Oral cancer, Biomaterials.
Interview
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) interviews via Traditional one-on-one faculty interview. LSU Dental interview day includes one or two traditional one-on-one faculty sessions, each approximately 30–45 minutes, plus a clinic and campus tour. As the only dental school in Louisiana, interviewers are attentive to applicants' connections to the state and understanding of Louisiana's oral health challenges — including high rates of uninsured patients, post-Katrina healthcare recovery issues, and Louisiana's diverse Creole, Cajun, and immigrant patient populations. Questions cover manual dexterity, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics scenarios, and career goals in Louisiana's dental context.
Intake
Approximately 65–75 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 1968, based in New Orleans, LA. Programmes offered: General Dentistry, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
