The University of New England College of Dental Medicine, established in 2013 and located in Portland, Maine, is the only dental school in the state. As part of UNE's health sciences campus, DMD students train alongside medical, osteopathic, pharmacy, nursing, and social work students in an interprofessional environment. UNE Dental emphasizes community-centered care and oral-systemic health integration, with clinical training at its Portland dental clinic and community rotation sites across Maine.
What makes it different
UNE College of Dental Medicine is the only dental school in Maine and one of few in northern New England. Located on UNE's Portland health sciences campus, the program benefits from co-location with UNE's medical and osteopathic colleges, nursing, pharmacy, and social work — providing one of the most genuinely interprofessional dental education environments in the Northeast. Maine's rural and coastal geography offers distinctive clinical rotation contexts not available at urban schools.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year DMD curriculum with integrated interprofessional health education. Clinical training begins Year 2 at UNE's Portland dental clinic. Community dental rotation sites across Maine, including rural and coastal communities, in Years 3–4.
Research strengths
University of New England College of Dental Medicine (DMD) has notable research strength in Oral-systemic disease, Community oral health, Interprofessional education research, Rural dentistry, Biomaterials.
Interview
University of New England College of Dental Medicine (DMD) interviews via Traditional one-on-one faculty interview. UNE Dental interview day includes a traditional one-on-one faculty session of approximately 30–45 minutes, plus a campus and clinic tour. UNE is a health sciences university with medical, osteopathic, pharmacy, and other health programs on its Portland campus — interprofessional education is a genuine program theme. Questions cover motivation for dentistry, manual dexterity, oral-systemic health awareness, ADA ethics, and understanding of Maine's dental access challenges (the state has limited dental providers, particularly in rural and northern areas). The conversational tone is a hallmark of UNE's small class interviews.
Intake
Approximately 70 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 2013, based in Portland, ME. Programmes offered: General Dentistry, Community Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
