LSU Health School of Dentistry in New Orleans was founded in 1968. It is Louisiana's only dental school, and it trains about 65 to 75 DDS students a year.
It shares a site with LSU Health New Orleans Medical School and University Medical Center New Orleans, so students get interprofessional training in one of the country's most culturally rich and clinically complex healthcare environments. LSU Dental serves a diverse patient population across New Orleans and beyond, including uninsured and Medicaid patients, and runs community outreach programs across Louisiana.
What makes LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) 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.
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) 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.
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) research strengths
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) is strong in these research areas:
- Oral biology
- Community oral health
- Periodontal disease
- Oral cancer
- Biomaterials
How the LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) interview runs
Format: Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
LSU Dental interview day includes one or two traditional one-on-one faculty sessions of about 30 to 45 minutes each, plus a clinic and campus tour. It is the only dental school in Louisiana, so interviewers pay close attention to your connections to the state and your grasp of Louisiana's oral health challenges.
Those include high rates of uninsured patients, the long tail of post-Katrina healthcare recovery, and the state's diverse Creole, Cajun, and immigrant patient populations. Questions cover manual dexterity, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics scenarios, and your career goals in a Louisiana context.
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) intake
Approximately 65–75 students per year.
LSU Health School of Dentistry (DDS) at a glance
Founded in 1968. Based in New Orleans, LA.
Programmes offered:
- General Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
