Feb. 6, 2026
Smiles in the Making: Preparing Dentists of the Future
Pitt Dental Medicine clinics are models for clinical education and comprehensive care.
TOPICS: Education | Impact | School of Dental Medicine | Schools
71,000 plus smiles
By Dan Ayer
No, it’s not the sell-out crowd after a Panthers’ win in the latest version of the Backyard Brawl.
There’s another group of Panthers who are creating those happy faces. Dental students and residents at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine conducted more than 71,000 appointments in fiscal year 2025.
The innovative practice in the Oakland neighborhood has become a model for clinical education and comprehensive care. Students do much more than just observe during their training; Pitt’s program happens chairside with real patients in a clinical environment.
However, that’s just the beginning of how Pitt Dental Medicine has positioned itself head and molars above other schools. Students are directly providing patient care by their third year. The result is a one-of-a-kind practice that not only prepares highly skilled dentists but also delivers compassionate, comprehensive care. Under close faculty supervision, students are the primary providers, performing everything from routine cleanings to complex procedures.
“Our students are the doctors,” says Pamela Tisot, assistant professor and vice chair, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Comprehensive Care. “They’re the ones helping guide decisions, treating patients, and learning how to manage comprehensive care within a team model.”
That team-based model is central to the Pitt Dental Medicine experience. Students are grouped into integrated teams that mimic a real dental practice. Fourth-year students serve as lead practitioners, third-years as associate dentists, and second-years contribute in clerical and supportive roles. This structure teaches students not only how to perform procedures, but how to manage a patient roster, work collaboratively, and ensure continuity of care—skills that are critical to a successful dental practice.
Dental students and residents at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine conducted more than 71,000 appointments in fiscal year 2025.
Chairside Care
This immersive, hands-on model goes beyond technical training. Students receive exposure to diverse patients, including those with special needs, complex medical conditions and mental health challenges. By providing these unique care opportunities, students have the opportunity to learn the importance of empathy and adaptability.
Recently, a student performing a routine head and neck exam identified a lesion on a dental patient that turned out to be cancerous. The early detection led to timely treatment and a successful patient outcome, demonstrating the real-world stakes and responsibilities that students experience during their training.
“We focus a lot on human-centered care,” says Tisot. “That means teaching students how to have difficult conversations, how to explain treatment plans clearly, and even how to disclose mistakes—because those moments are where trust is built.”
Care for All
Students aren’t the only ones getting a comprehensive experience. The practice also offers specialty services, including oral surgery, prosthodontics and anesthesiology. This enables patients to receive complete care under one roof, while offering students exposure to a wide variety of dental disciplines. The school even maintains a dedicated special needs clinic, which serves patients who require sedation or have conditions that make traditional dental visits difficult or impossible.
“It’s not just about checking off requirements,” says Kelly Wagner, assistant professor of periodontics and preventive dentistry and assistant dean for clinical administration and quality care, School of Dental Medicine.
“This depth of service transforms the student experience. It’s about learning to see patients as whole people. We want our students to understand how oral health intersects with mental, social and systemic health. That’s what it means to provide comprehensive care.”
The practice’s patient population is equally varied, ranging from long-time community members to individuals traveling several hours for care they can’t find elsewhere. It also provides an essential service to the community. 50% of patients have Medicaid, which many dental practices do not accept. Many patients also pay out of pocket, and the school has prices much lower than private practices. If not for the Pitt, many of these patients would be without essential dental care.
High Stakes, High Satisfaction
Despite the stress of training in such a demanding, high-stakes field, alumni have deep gratitude for their time at Pitt Dental Medicine.
“They don’t always see it while they’re in the middle of it,” says Tisot. “But once they graduate and begin practicing, they realize just how well they were prepared—for the clinical work, for patient communication and for the complexity of managing real-world care.”
With its innovative approach to providing students with real-world clinical experience and the comprehensive nature of the care available to patients, Pitt Dental Medicine has created a vision for dental education with a bright future.