College of Dentistry

- Programs & Admissions Overview
- - DDS and Dual Degree
    Learn about the application process for our dentistry and dual-degree programs.
  - Dental Hygiene
    Find information about applying for our bachelor's program in dental hygiene.
  - Advanced Standing Dentistry
    Find details on the process of applying for our Advanced Standing Dentistry Program.
  - Residency Programs
    Find admissions details for our six postgraduate programs.
- - Academic Programs
    Find an overview of our academic programs and links to more detail.
  - Learning Spaces & Technology
    Technology is fully integrated into student education, with repeated hands-on access to the tools of modern dentistry.
  - Wellness
    Wellness is an imiportant aspect of the student experience at the College of Dentistry.
  - Student Resources
    Find links to resources within our college and across the university.
- Research Overview
- - Biomaterials
    Biomaterials research is one of the fastest growing areas at the College of Dentistry and actively collaborates with a multidisciplinary group of partners across UNMC.
  - Bioregulation
    Our Bioregulation Research Group is working to understand and manipulate the immune system, inflammation and bone physiology to lead to more effective treatment of numerous conditions.
  - Oral Cancer
    Researchers in our college are focused on oral cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer, with a goal of significantly advancing our understandingor oral cancer progression and drug resistance.
  - Clinical Research
    The Cruzan Center for Dental Research was established to conduct well-designed clinical trials and clinical studies. It receives funding from the NIH, private foundations and industry.
- - Research Tools
    Students and faculty in our college have access to resources to aid cutting-edge research.
  - Student Research
    Every student in our college completes does research with guidance from our faculty, gaining insight into how they can help shape the future of oral health.
  - About Our Research
    Our research team is collaborating across UNMC to strengthen the college's research portfolio and expand opportunities for innovation in biomaterials, regenerative therapies and drug delivery.
Patient Care
- Engagement Overview
- Patient Care Engagement
  We are part of the dental safety net for Nebraska, with outreach that allows our students, faculty and staff to provide care for underserved populations across the state.
- Educational Engagement
  From providing children's dental health starter kits to our Special Olympics Special Smiles Program, we provide community education about dental health.
- Extramural Rotations
  Our fourth-year dental students rotate to established dental practices with established dentists who serve as preceptors and mentors.
- Biomonitoring
  Dental practices rely on this service through our college to document the effectiveness of sterilization equipment.
- Vet Smiles Clinic
  The VETSmile Dental Clinic at the UNMC College of Dentistry addresses the urgent need for accessible dental services within the veteran community.
- Continuing Education
  We provide engaging courses that education dental professionals on the latest techniques and advancements in the field.
Our Faculty
News

Gerry Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD

Dean, UNMC College of Dentistry
Professor, Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry

Send Email

Gerry Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD

Gerard Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD, is Dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry and a professor in the Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry.

With an expertise in clinical research and esthetic dentistry, he is a reviewer for The New England Journal of Medicine, JADA, The Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry and The Journal of Dental Education. He is on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Compendium and Inside Dentistry, where he is Editor Emeritus. He is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and the Academy of Dental Materials. Dr. Kugel has his PhD in Dental Materials and earned his Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.

Dr. Kugel has published over 200 articles and over 400 abstracts in the field of restorative materials and techniques. He has given over 400 lectures both nationally and internationally and has done funded research on a wide range of topics. Dr. Kugel spent 40 years in private practice in Boston and has a Professor Emeritus appointment at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Education

Doctorate of Dental Medicine: Tufts University, DMD, PhD program, 1985
Master’s Degree, Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Tufts University, 1993
PhD: Dental Materials, University of Siena (Tufts Affiliated program), 2004
Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership: Sloan School of Management, MIT, 2008-2010

Research Interests

Dental Materials and Clinical research