University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine - School Facilities

School Facilities

Educational

The School of Dental Medicine facility occupies Salk Hall and the adjoining Salk Hall Dental Annex and is located on the University’s upper campus near UPMC hospitals and the School of Medicine.

• Simulation Clinic: This unique teaching laboratory—one of the first such facilities at a U.S. dental school—allows students to develop practical dental treatment skills in a hands-on fashion through patient simulation. Students practice their craft on mannequins linked to computers that facilitate evaluation by instructors.
• The Salk Hall Dental Annex/Adjacent Clinics: The School of Dental Medicine clinical facilities include 254 operatories for general and specialized dental treatment, most of which are semi-private treatment rooms. New, state-of-the-art clinical facilities include the Multidisciplinary Implant Center and the Center for Patients with Special Needs.
• Lecture Facilities: The recently renovated lecture facilities in Salk Hall include comfortable seating and new teaching stations with multimedia support areas.
• The Robinson Student Computer Center: This computer laboratory/classroom offers a contemporary environment for teaching and developing skills in information technology.
• Student Lounges: Equipped with a small kitchen and e-mail kiosks for easy access to the Internet, the dental student lounges provide students with an accessible and useful place to study and socialize.
• Edward J. Forrest Continuing Education Center: A premier facility designed specifically for continuing education, the Center includes five fully equipped operatories, a sterilization and storage room, and a laboratory that will accommodate twelve persons for hands-on activities. The Center also includes a reception area, staff offices, conference area, and the W. Arthur George Auditorium, which can seat approximately sixty attendees.

Clinical

The School of Dental Medicine treats many patients in its clinical facilities, offering the full range of dental services. Treatment is provided by dental hygiene students, third- and fourth-year dental students or by specialty residents and is supervised by faculty members. Patients who prefer treatment by faculty members rather than students may choose University Dental Health Services, the School of Dental Medicine’s faculty practice. UDHS dentists also offer comprehensive services, ranging from routine dental care to various specialty areas.

A number of the School of Dental Medicine’s clinical offerings are specialized for certain groups of patients.

• Center for Patients with Special Needs: The Center provides comprehensive dental care to patients with disabilities. It is equipped with six dedicated, multi-specialty treatment rooms including two private treatment areas equipped for general anesthesia, a designated recovery area for sedation and general anesthesia patients, and a dedicated waiting and reception area.
• Multidisciplinary Implant Center: Because they look and feel more like natural teeth, implants offer a superior alternative for tooth replacement, and the MIC offers a high-quality facility and a collaborative environment for providing this increasingly common treatment. Housed in 2,900 square feet (270 m2) of space, the MIC features nine operatories, including two full surgical suites.
• Emergency Clinic: The School of Dental Medicine is equipped to handle dental emergencies for patients who do not have access to such care elsewhere. Dental emergencies may include acute pain, swelling, or bleeding, for example.
• Cone-beam computed topography unit: The CBCT unit uses a cone-shaped X-ray rather than a linear one to create three-dimensional images that have many applications in dental medicine. CBCT imaging can be helpful in planning implants, orthognathic surgery, and evaluating pathology, among other dental procedures. Dentists practicing in the Pittsburgh region may schedule patients for CBCT scans as an additional resource in their course of treatment.

Other

The School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Museum features a host of dental artifacts used by early 20th century practitioners. It also includes works of fine art by alumnus Dr. Frederick Franck (DDS ’42) and Mr. Virgil Cantini. The Dental Museum is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.