Dental Schools in Tennessee
3 DDS/DMD dental programs in our catalogue for Tennessee. Compare DAT score requirements, GPA profiles, in-state preference and AADSAS application strategy.
About Tennessee: Pop. ~7.1M; Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville each host academic medical centres. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is internationally regarded; Meharry Medical College serves a historically significant mission in physician training for underserved communities.
In-state context: Vanderbilt School of Medicine is a private school admitting nationally with no in-state preference. University of Tennessee and Meharry have moderate in-state and mission-focused admissions criteria respectively.
Major health systems: Vanderbilt University Medical Center · HCA Healthcare (national HQ, Nashville) · Community Health Systems · Ballad Health · Regional One Health (Memphis)
DDS vs DMD — what is the difference?
Both DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry / Doctor of Dental Medicine) are equivalent degrees. The title used depends solely on the university, not on any difference in training, scope of practice, or licensure. All CODA-accredited programs lead to the same dental licence. Applications go through AADSAS (ADEA) for most schools. The DAT (Dental Admission Test) is required by virtually all programs.
3 Dental Programs in Tennessee
- Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Knoxville, TN
Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine is a private dental school located in Knoxville, Tennessee, part of Lincoln Memorial University's expanding health sciences enterprise. LMU Dental was established with a founding mission to address the severe dental workforce shortage in Appalachian Tennessee and the surrounding region, where oral health disparities are among the worst in the United States. The school trains community-oriented dentists through early patient contact, rural clinical rotations, and an emphasis on primary dental care for underserved populations.
DMD9.0% acceptance - Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (DDS)
Nashville, TN
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, founded in 1886, is one of the nation's oldest dental schools and the only historically Black dental school still operating independently. Located in Nashville, Meharry has trained a disproportionately large share of Black dentists in the United States. The school is deeply committed to serving underserved and minority communities, and its graduates are concentrated in safety-net dental practices, community health centres, and public health dentistry across the South and beyond.
DDS5.5% acceptance - UTHSC College of Dentistry (DDS)
Memphis, TN
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, founded in 1878, is Tennessee's only public dental school. Located in Memphis, the college trains dentists for practice across Tennessee — particularly in rural and underserved communities — and operates one of the largest dental clinics in the Mid-South. The college emphasises comprehensive clinical training with high patient volume and a strong public health focus.
DDS5.5% acceptanceStrong in-state pref.
Applying to dental school in Tennessee?
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