On September 26, 1894, when the Dental Department of the Milwaukee Medical College commenced, there were nine faculty members for the 30 entering freshmen. Dean of the school was professor of oral surgery Benjamin G. Maercklein. The dental clinic consisted of 16 chairs and a technique laboratory.[2]
Henry L. Banzhaf of Wisconsin was named dean of the Dental Department in 1902, and remain in that position for 42 years.
In 1907, Milwaukee Medical College became affiliated with Marquette College, a liberal arts college in Milwaukee, which added combined dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy departments, and became a university.
In 1921, Dean Banzhaf was granted permission to build a new dental building, which would be ready in 1923. It featured 167 chairs, gaining the reputation for being the "largest dental clinic under one roof".[citation needed] It contained one of the first labs to be established in connection with a dental clinic.[citation needed] In the early 1970s, the 1921 dental facility was gutted.
In August 2002 a new dental facility was completed at 1801 W Wisconsin Ave., which had been planned around technological improvements and innovative teaching methods.[3]
In 2003, the Marquette University School of Dentistry pioneered a patient-centered clinical curriculum.
In September 2012, the university broke ground on a 40,000-square-foot expansion that provides for the school more clinical space and updated state-of-the-art technologies; assists with the retention and recruitment of quality faculty; and allows space for additional students to address future workforce needs. Features include an additional 24-chair clinic, an expanded faculty practice, a new 5,000-square-foot laboratory for clinical research, an expanded and upgraded simulation laboratory, a midsized technology-rich classroom space, and additional student space, faculty offices, and support space.
In June 2023, Marquette University named Dr. Elsbeth Kalenderian as dean of the School of Dentistry, becoming the first woman to serve in the position.[4]
Academics
Marquette University School of Dentistry awards the following degrees:[citation needed]
Master of Science in Dental Biomaterials
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The school comprises the following departments:[citation needed]
The School of Dentistry treats underserved patients at seven clinics around the state, sees 26,000 unduplicated patients annually and serves 66 of the state's 72 counties.[6]
Marquette School of Dentistry enrolls 100 freshmen each year, 50 Wisconsin residents and 50 non-residents.[citation needed] The school received nearly 2,700 applicants from all 50 states and several countries for the Class of 2028.
