The Lyon College Experience
As you explore the possibilities that the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine has to offer, envision yourself becoming a part of a legacy that transforms lives, one smile at a time. Your journey here will be challenging, rewarding, and inspiring – preparing you to excel in the ever-evolving world of oral health.
Ready for a journey towards a career in oral health?
Apply NowView the Commission on Dental Accreditation Posting Form for Third Party Comments
Third Party Comments Notice
**Please note: The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (LCSDM) has entered into the accreditation process. Accreditation is only granted by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Student acceptance/enrollment is contingent upon CODA granting initial accreditation to LCSDM.
A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards may be obtained by contacting the commission by calling 1-312-440-4653 or by email. Individuals who are interested in submitting third party comments may contact the Commission for submission guidance. Third party comments should be emailed to the appropriate Commission staff. Staff emails are found at: https://coda.ada.org/about-coda/coda-staff
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) will review complaints from students, faculty, staff and other interested parties that relate to the proposed dental school’s capacity compliance with the accreditation standards. Complaints can be addressed to president@lyon.edu
Dental Admissions
Description of Admission Criteria for Predoctoral (DMD) Dental Education Program
- Applicants are considered on a competitive basis with attention given to the undergraduate grade-point average, with an emphasis on the last 30 credits of science prerequisites, Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores, evaluation by pre-professional advisors and/or university professors, extramural achievements, and interviews conducted by members of the LCSDM Admissions Committee.
- Impacting factors affecting academic performance are also taken into consideration.
- No single criteria carries a specific weight in the School’s comprehensive full-file candidate assessment process.
Dental Admission Test (DAT)
- DAT scores will be considered on an individual basis as part of the overall evaluation of the candidate’s entire academic record, but must meet the minimum requirement of a 17 for Academic Average.
- DAT scores older than five years at the time of application will not be accepted.
Transcript of College Credit
- The minimum requirement for admission into the predoctoral (DMD) dental education program will be 90 semester hours of credit from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university.
- The following courses, completed with a minimum grade of C, must be documented on the candidate’s transcript.
Letters of Evaluation
Letters of evaluation are not required but encouraged. This preference can be
met in two ways.
- If a candidate attends a school that has a Health Professions Advisory
Committee (HPAC), a letter of evaluation from the HPAC Chair or a
Pre-Health Professions Program Director/Committee Chair is welcome. - Or, this preference can be met with two letters of evaluation. These letters could be from science faculty who can
evaluate the applicant’s performance and potential for success in dental
school. A third optional letter can be from another faculty member in any
discipline or from a health professional who knows the student well.
Shadowing at Dental Offices and/or Clinics
- Candidates for admission to LCSDM will be expected to provide evidence of
observation and volunteering (i.e. shadowing) at several types of dental practices or clinics such as community health centers or federally qualified health centers with oral healthcare facilities. - Candidates will be expected to discuss their observations and experiences at these oral healthcare facilities in their essays and during interviews.
Criminal Background Check
- A required criminal background check will be a component of the final
acceptance process for matriculation at LCSDM. - Details concerning
criminal background check policies will be provided in the LCSDM Dental
Student Handbook.
Minimum Required Courses for Admission to DMD Education Program
English
- 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours of
college-level English. - Any course accredited
by the English Department that fulfills a general
education English requirement of a
baccalaureate degree will be accepted. - Remedial
or developmental courses or English As a Second
Language courses are not accepted.
Biological Sciences
- 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of
Biological Science are required. - Includes all
Biological Science courses applied toward a
baccalaureate degree in traditional science
fields, such as General Biology, Biochemistry,
Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics,
Ecology, Immunology, Parasitology and Anatomy
& Physiology.
General Chemistry
- 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours as
required for college science majors. - Physical Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
also satisfy the requirement.
Organic Chemistry
- 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours as
required for college science majors.
Biochemistry
- 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours of
biochemistry are required. - This requirement
is in addition to the Biological Science
requirement of 12 hours and may not be used to
fulfill the Biological Science requirements.
Physics
- 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours, as
required for college science majors.
Tuition
- Lyon Institute of Health Sciences will not be charging out-of-state tuition.
- Our model is a continuous, three-year, 9 trimester program. Tuition + fees for each trimester are $34,000.
How the Application Process Works
To fill its inaugural class, the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine will receive applications through an application link on the College’s website. Following initial accreditation by CODA, LCSDM will utilize the American Dental Education Association’s Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). At that time, applicants will be directed to review information on the AADSAS website. For an anticipated first-class matriculation in June of 2025, LCSDM is now accepting applications. The LCSDM seeks to admit a diverse student population with demonstrated academic capabilities and commitment to the profession of dentistry. Every application will receive a holistic, full-file review considering a spectrum of quantitative and qualitative factors that are subsequently described. However, minimum standards will exist for each domain of the admissions criteria.
- Science GPA in undergraduate or graduate courses: 2.8
- Academic Average on the DAT: 17
- Total undergraduate course credit hours: 90
- Grade of C or higher for all required courses
- Shadowing at multiple dental offices and/or clinics
- Healthcare-related and other community service
- One letter of evaluation from the undergraduate Health Professions Advisory Committee or pre-health professions program director, OR two letters of evaluation, preferably from science faculty (preferred but not required until LCSDM is authorized to participate in AADSAS)
Official transcripts and DAT scores should be sent to adocuments@lyon.edu following the application submission.
The LCSDM Admissions Team will review applicant files and contact students starting mid-September, 2024 to begin scheduling interviews.
Beyond Boundaries:
Lyon College’s Dental Frontier
#4
Dentistry ranks #4 in Best Healthcare jobs (and averages $40K more than the previous 3).
#8
Dentistry ranks #8 in Best STEM jobs (and averages more income than any of the top 7).
#10
Dentistry ranks #10 out of 100 for Best Jobs.
Faculty & Staff
The Educational Force Fueling Lyon College's Dental Medicine Program
Founding Dean | Burke Soffe, DMD, MEd
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Burke Soffe is the founding dean of the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine. Prior to joining the Lyon College family on July 1, 2023, he served as assistant dean for faculty development and curriculum at Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine.