Dentistry Accreditation

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a standards-based process that reviews dentistry programs ensuring they possess the essential processes and meet the mandated elements consistent with quality in dental education.

Schulich Dentistry graduate and postgraduate programs are reviewed for accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).

The CDAC, in consultation with its partners, develops and approves requirements for educational programs educating and training dentists, dental specialists, dental interns/residents, dental hygienists and dental assistants. CDAC also develops and approves requirements for institutional dental services.

Within the accreditation process, CDAC continuously develops, approves and revises its accreditation requirements. As a result, educational programs and dental services are invited to apply for review against current requirements.

Accreditation is a critical component of ongoing quality improvement for education programs at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The School is dedicated to improving its programs on an ongoing basis and appreciates the external lens on its programs as provided through various reviews and regular accreditation. 

What is the accreditation status of Schulich Dentistry programs?

All Schulich Dentistry programs are accredited. This includes Graduate Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), the Internationally Trained Dentists (ITD) and the General Practice Residency programs.

What was the process toward accreditation?

In 2017, four of Schulich Dentistry’s programs - Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Internationally Trained Dentists (ITD) and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), and Graduate Orthodontics underwent an accreditation process.

The programs were accredited and in November 2018 and the CDAC advised of areas for improvement with recommendations within the DDS, ITD and the OMFS programs. No recommendations were provided for the Graduate Orthodontics Program.

In 2019, the General Practice Residency (GPR) program underwent an accreditation process, also led by the CDAC. It was accredited with reporting requirements that we continue to address.

Schulich Dentistry has been working diligently to meet the areas for improvement and recommendations within its programs. In late 2020, the CDAC reported to the School that the areas for improvement for the DDS and ITD programs have been met and the accreditation status has been upgraded to Approved (without reporting requirements). In January 2022, the OMFS Program was also upgraded to Approved (without reporting requirements). The next update regarding the status of the GPR program will be received in November 2022.

For more information about accreditation contact:

Carlos Quiñonez
Vice Dean & Executive Director, Dentistry
c/o Sherri Moore: smoore25@uwo.ca | 519.661.2111 x. 80367