Compassionate, Innovative Dentists
Since its founding in 1905, the School of Dentistry has prepared more than 5,000 dentists for lives of professional excellence, community leadership and compassionate care.
Thousands of our tremendous alumni are now working around the world, with more Creighton dentists serving rural, underserved communities than graduates from any other private dental school in the country.
In 2018, the school started a bold new chapter with the construction of a 200,000-square-foot clinic and facility, which has already driven significant growth in our educational opportunities and the amount of care we can provide our patients in the region.
- Nearly 50,000 patient visits to the school’s dental clinic annually.
- 4,500+ alumni with 8 countries where alumni are practicing.
- 2,500 dental visits provided in elementary schools by the Healthy Smiles program annually.
Want to connect with other alumni, plan a visit to campus, mentor a student or get involved? Contact alumni@creighton.edu today!
Upcoming Events
School of Dentistry News
How Love (and Dentistry) Led Creighton Alumna to Transform a Town
Sara Pilakowski Kleven, DDS’16, took a chance on love 10 years ago. She had no idea she would soon embrace an entire community.
When Creighton closed the dental school (and how alumni saved it)
Eighty years ago, in May of 1945, Creighton University closed the School of Dentistry (founded in 1905), seemingly for good.
Transforming dental care in the Dominican Republic
For decades, Creighton dental students and faculty serving in the Dominican Republic have relied on little more than their educated intuitions and experience to diagnose patients—until now. Thanks to a generous gift from Jim Bongers, DDS’80, portable X-ray machines and other diagnostic equipment will transform how these future dentists provide care in the DR.
Our legacy grows stronger
"A Creighton dentist is a dentist who lives for and with others. Creighton dentists see beyond a patient’s oral health. They embody cura personalis and care for the whole person.
“As Creighton strives to make a difference in Omaha and around the world, we take great pride in knowing that our legacy grows stronger because of you.”
— School of Dentistry Dean Jillian A. Wallen, BDS, MS
A new era for Creighton's dental school
Great things are happening in the School of Dentistry, including a growing number of patients and many exciting service opportunities.
School of Dentistry Board Members
T. Patrick Burchfiel, BS'00, DDS'04
Terry F. Lanphier, BS'78, DDS'82, MBA'10
Susan Bon Tiede, DDS'91
Thomas D. Berry, DDS'83, MD'88
Marie Halbur G'Sell, BS'02, DDS'06
Richard L. Kozal, DDS'67
Richard M. Tempero, DDS'71, MD
Katherine Taylor DiPrima, DDS'01
Dennis R. Higginbotham, DDS'67
Donal D. Scheidel, DDS'81
Scott M. Radniecki, BS'08, DDS'12
Timothy H. Bagnell, DDS'91
Marc-Philippe H. Hermes, DDS'12
Timothy J. Kappenman, DDS'87
Eugene Low, DDS'67
Bree Koch, BSCHM'11, DDS'16
Thomas Lengowski DDS'72
Jim Stephenson, DDS'06
Anastasia Haupt, DDS'12
Bryan Hohenstein, DDS'01
Steven Ludford, BS'79, DDS'8
Steve Nikodem, DDS'91
John Campbell, BS'83, DDS'87
Anton Diy, DDS'14
Chris Douville, DDS'92
Jason Genta, DDS'11
To recommend a dental alumnus or alumna for nomination to the board, please click here to complete the form.
Fundraising Priorities
Here are a few great ways you can support the School of Dentistry. For more info, contact PaulFindley@creighton.edu.
Scholarships
Scholarships give dental students a world of possibilities they might not otherwise encounter. Our donors help our students achieve their dream of becoming a dentist, instilling them with a passion for service and justice that lasts a lifetime.
Faculty Recruitment, Retention and Development
We produce practice-ready dentists through a values-driven education. To continue doing so, we will hire a diverse group of excellent clinicians, researchers and educators.
Technology Need: CEREC Machines
Using our 22 Ceramic Reconstruction, or “CEREC” machines, our faculty and students practice patient care using sophisticated design systems to build high-quality, metal-free dental restorations in a single visit.
Technology Need: Cone Beam
Dental Cone Beam Computed Technology, or CT scans, use diagnostic imaging when traditional dental X-rays are insufficient. A CT scan can discover pathologies in the jaw bones and surrounding structures.
Scholarship and Programmatic Opportunities
Because of our generous donors and friends, Creighton maintains one of the lowest private-school tuition rates in the nation for dental education direct costs. But the school requires additional scholarship dollars to recruit a diverse group of students.
Support of Service Mission
Through various programs and community-based support, we will continue to offer the most vulnerable citizens in Omaha and beyond the finest dental care available, for free or at significantly reduced rates.