Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences

The Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences provides graduate, predoctoral and dental hygiene students with an educational foundation in the basic sciences, including instruction in microbiology, biochemistry, nutrition, anatomy, pharmacology and physiology.

Research is a chief priority at Pitt Dental Medicine and it continues to be a strength of the department, with many faculty maintaining vigorous research programs in the areas of Craniofacial Regeneration and Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, and a number of other areas of study. We are consistently ranked as a top-tier dental school. Research at the school not only establishes national and international prominence, but also promotes high-quality instruction. Through sharing their research knowledge, faculty encourage students to develop critical thinking regarding the scientific basis of practice and appreciation of the rapid changes within the profession.

The department provides unique graduate training programs, including  MS and PhD Academic Programs in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, which cover a wide range of topics at molecular, cellular and organismic levels, as well as translational and clinical studies. The mission of the graduate studies program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences is to foster intellectual curiosity, excellence, and creative vision in the students, and to prepare them as future leaders in the fields of academic dentistry and dental and craniofacial research.

Learn about the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences faculty & staff