UF College of Dentistry

A little throwback for your Thursday...

Here's a look into the past, where it all began for the UF College of Dentistry.

Did you know that in 1966, our first faculty offices were set up in temporary World War II buildings? Before the 12-story Dental Sciences Building was finished, the college had to get creative to bring its modern vision for dental education to life.

By 1969, UFCD established its first patient care area: a modest four-operatory clinic in the "Surge Area" just west of the UF Academic Health Center. When our charter class of 24 dental students arrived in 1972, they studied in these facilities before assisting when the college moved into the permanent Dental Sciences Building in 1975.

Those early days laid the foundation for decades of excellence. Swipe through to step back in time with us and see what Gator Dentistry looked like in the beginning.

A Dean's Eye View

Enjoy this snapshot from Dean Garcia's window today. It's really happening and, in just a few years, the UF College of Dentistry will be transformed into an amazing new gateway to the UF campus and the UF Academic Health Center. You can learn more at the link below. Cheers!

https://dental.ufl.edu/dental-building-project/

Earning a white coat requires countless hours of study and the backing of a strong support network.

Last week, the Class of 2028 celebrated their Professional Coating Ceremony milestone alongside the parents, partners, friends and faculty who helped them reach this point.

For the next two years of their dental school journey, these students will apply their foundational coursework knowledge directly to patient care in our clinical spaces as they work toward earning their D.M.D. degree.

The Professional Coating Ceremony for the class of 2028 will be streamed TODAY at 3PM (EST). Tune in as they’ll reach a new milestone on their road to their finish line!

2026 Spring UF College of Dentistry White Coat Ceremony

“The dentists who emerge from the University of Florida are among the very best in the country,” Dean A. Isabel Garcia said during the college's 2026 Commencement Ceremony.

On May 15, the UF College of Dentistry celebrated 155 graduates -- 94 new D.M.D.s and 61 residents completing advanced specialty training -- while honoring the charter class that laid the foundation more than 50 years ago.

Read about this milestone moment and the voices that made it memorable:

A Half-Century of Gator Dentists, and Counting » College of Dentistry » University of Florida UF College of Dentistry celebrates Class of 2026 Commencement while honoring the Charter Class that started it all.

Just an hour until our 2026 Commencement commences! Final prep includes Abel Gilbert, who coordinates the family hooders (we call him Hoodini), giving instructions on how the hooding works.