About Detroit Mercy Dental
Mission, Vision and Values
Mission
Rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry educates and inspires a community of compassionate healthcare professionals dedicated to excellence in patient care, research, teaching and service within a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Vision
To lead innovation in dental education and advance oral health for all communities.
Values
UDM School of Dentistry Core Values give us reason to SMILE
S — Service
We serve our patients, communities, and the dental profession with compassion, responsibility, and a commitment to the common good.
M — Mutual Respect
We foster an inclusive, welcoming culture that honors the dignity of every individual through collaboration and empathy.
I — Integrity
We act with honesty, accountability, and ethical purpose in all aspects of education, research, leadership, and patient care.
L — Lifelong Learning
We embrace lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity, and innovation to support continuous professional and personal growth.
E — Excellence
We uphold the highest standards in education, research, and patient care through continuous improvement and professional rigor.
Together, these values—SMILE—define who we are, shape our culture, and guide our mission to serve with competence, compassion and purpose.
History of the School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry was founded in 1932, graduating its first class of students in 1935. It was originally located in the path of what became the Chrysler Freeway and moved in 1963 to East Jefferson Avenue, one mile east of the core of Detroit. In 1997, the School relocated into a new teaching and patient care facility on the University of Detroit Mercy's Outer Drive Campus. In January 2008, the School relocated to the Corktown Campus. The new facility is comprised of two, four-story buildings, containing 190 clinical operatories, state-of-the-art classrooms, and a simulation laboratory with a seating capacity of 100. The dental hygiene program was initiated in 1950, the postdoctoral endodontic program in 1959, and the postdoctoral orthodontic program in 1963. In 2004, advanced education programs in general dentistry and periodontics were initiated.
Accreditation
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry’s programs in dental hygiene, predoctoral dental education and advanced specialty education (Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Endodontics, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, and Periodontics) are accredited without reporting requirements by the America Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The University of Detroit Mercy is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Commission on Dental Accreditation Complaint Policy
The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty staff, or students. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedures for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60600 or by calling (800) 621-8099 ext: 2719