Fast Facts

The ECU School of Dental Medicine calls every region of North Carolina home—from Ross Hall at ECU to our eight statewide community service learning centers (CSLCs) in rural and underserved communities.

We prepare students for successful careers through an award-winning model and curriculum, forefront technology and a revolutionary approach to education and research. Students complete clinical rotations at the CSLCs, learning about region-specific needs and demographics in addition to top-quality dental instruction.

Our mission of education, research, patient care and service creates smiles and fulfills promises of better access to oral health care for all North Carolinians.

  • We graduated our inaugural class in 2015, leading the way in the school’s mission to improve the oral health care of the people of North Carolina while educating the next generation of primary care dentists.
  • We now have more than 250 alumni; many of whom are completing dental residencies or military obligations, while nearly 90% of graduates are engaged in primary care dentistry in North Carolina.
  • The on-campus clinics and statewide community service learning centers have treated nearly 68,000 patients from all of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
  • Students admitted to the school represent 84 North Carolina counties; only North Carolina residents are admitted.
  • The eight CSLCs are in Ahoskie, Brunswick County, Davidson County, Elizabeth City, Lillington, Robeson County, Sylva and Spruce Pine.
  • Each CSLC provides an economic impact of well over $1 million in its respective community.
  • Fourth-year students complete 27 weeks of intensive clinical experience in a real delivery-system setting at the CSLCs and clinics.
  • More than 425 patients have been served through the school’s Patient Care Funds, which fully or partly cover the cost of dental procedures for patients who meet certain financial criteria. The funds are supported by gifts and donations from supporters and friends.
  • Our school’s graduates have an average debt of $125,000, compared to the national average of $250,000.
  • Among our clinics at ECU and the CSLCs, we provide oral health care for patients from infants to 95+ years, and we have specialized equipment and treatment space for special-needs patients.
  • We earned a 2019 Gies Award from the American Dental Education Association for the innovative model of placing the CSLCs strategically across the state to educate dental students and residents while addressing North Carolina’s oral health care disparities.