Lyon College School of Dental Medicine is the newest dental school in the United States. It received accreditation and welcomed its first class in 2025. The dental school sits in Little Rock's Riverdale neighborhood, though Lyon College's main campus is in Batesville.
The school was set up to address the acute dental workforce shortage in rural Arkansas, one of the most dental-underserved states in the country. As a pioneer program, Lyon Dental keeps cohorts small and focuses on rural and community dental practice.
What makes Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) different
Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Lyon Dental is the newest accredited US dental school, offering a rare opportunity to be part of a founding cohort. Its rural Arkansas setting and mission directly address the dental workforce gap in one of the most underserved states in the country. Applicants who genuinely want to practice in rural America will find Lyon's mission compelling.
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. Three-year (accelerated) DMD curriculum with a strong rural health focus. Clinical training planned at Lyon's dental clinic and community and rural sites across Arkansas. The program is designed to address dental access gaps in rural and underserved Arkansas communities, with rotations expected at federally qualified health centers and rural community dental sites.
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) research strengths
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) is strong in these research areas:
- Rural dental health
- Dental access disparities
- Community dentistry
- Preventive dentistry
- Oral health education
How the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) interview runs
Format: Traditional one-on-one or panel interview at the dental school campus in Little Rock, AR
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine is a newly accredited program, opened in 2025. It runs traditional faculty interviews at its Little Rock campus, at Riverfront Plaza in the Riverdale neighborhood. Interview processes at new programs usually evolve over the first few cycles. Expect sessions of roughly 30 to 45 minutes.
They assess motivation for dentistry, commitment to serving rural Arkansas communities, manual dexterity experience, and your grasp of the oral-systemic health connection. As the newest accredited US dental school, Lyon is especially interested in applicants who can thrive in a pioneering program and add something to its founding cohort culture.
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) intake
Approximately 80 students per year (inaugural class June 2025; 240 at full enrollment across the three-year program).
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (DMD) at a glance
Founded in 2025. Based in Little Rock, AR.
Programmes offered:
- General Dentistry
- Rural Health Dentistry
- Community Dentistry
- Preventive Dentistry
- Oral-Systemic Health