East Carolina University welcomes its inclusion in the Plan for Dentistry in North Carolina, an initiative of the University of North Carolina system to address the dental and oral health challenges facing our rapidly growing state. ECU will thereby enhance its ability to fulfill its mission to the people of North Carolina with the addition of dental education, research and services.

East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill collaboratively developed an approach which will complement their respective missions; that being the creation of a new School of Dentistry dedicated to educating primary care dentists and developing a new model of dental training.  The School of Dentistry has been provided funds to build new facilities for education, the provision of clinical services, and research space.  A review team comprised of national and recognized experts applauded this outstanding cooperation between the two universities, and urged its continuation and further development to leverage scarce resources and ensure the people of North Carolina continue to benefit from its premier university system.

The core facility of the School of Dentistry at East Carolina University is being located on the Health Sciences campus in Greenville, North Carolina. During the first three years, our student’s dental education will take place primarily on the Greenville campus. The fourth year educational experience will take place primarily in dedicated community clinical service learning centers located in rural and dentally underserved areas around the state.

In addition to the program to prepare dentists, East Carolina University plans to offer an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program, as well as a specialty program in Pediatric Dentistry.  These will complement the ECU General Practice Residency program that already exists.