Students will find a challenging dentistry program at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. Departments at the college include Endodontics, Oral Biology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. Dental hygiene students can attend Kennedy-King College to get started on their way towards a degree. Additionally, the Illinois School of Health Careers offers dental assisting programs at both of the school’s campuses in Chicago. Students can take classes in downtown Chicago, also known as the Loop, or on the northwest side of town near O’Hare International Airport. For future dental hygienists, courses at suburban Prairie State College will enable students to earn their associate of applied sciences degree. The college is located 25 miles south of downtown in Chicago Heights.
Dental students in most disciplines who want to stay in Chicago after graduation will be pleased by projections issued by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The agency predicts that jobs for dental hygienists and assistants will increase in Cook County, where Chicago is located, over the decade between 2002 and 2012. An increase of more than 27% is projected for dental hygienist positions, from 1,404 to 1,792 jobs for a net gain of 388 new jobs. Projections for dental assistants show an increase of more than 27% also. There were 6,823 positions for dental assistants in 2002, and an expected 1,878 new assistants will join their ranks by 2012, for a total of 8,701 dental assistant positions in Cook County.
Dental Schools, Programs & Courses
in Chicago
Subjects listed are highlights of programs
and/or courses offered.
Those who have experienced life in Chicago know that the “Second City” likes to be first at almost anything, and dental students considering Chicago should know the programs available to them are second to none. That may be a cause, or an effect, of the role this city plays in leading the dental industry in the U.S. and beyond. Almost every influential national dental organization is based in Chicago. The American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and American Association of Women Dentists are just some of the groups headquartered here, making the city an example of dentistry professionalism and leadership to the world.
Other Resources for Dental Education and Careers in Chicago