College of Dentistry

The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) Program is a 6-year program under DLSMHSI awarded by the Commission on Higher Education in 2022. It is an undergraduate program that requires a full-time mode of study. It aims to produce graduates who are adept in the prevention, diagnosis, identification, and management of oral needs and diseases of the individual and the community.

The required units to finish the program are 254 credit units including Physical Education and the National Service Training Program. The medium of instruction is in English and will require lecture and lab classes in the basic medical courses of Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology among other basic medical courses, after which a candidate will be immersed in the core dental courses of Operative Dentistry, Prosthodontics, and Oral Medicine with pre-clinical laboratories.

The pre-clinical laboratories utilize dental simulators that recreate real-life scenarios.  With this, the student will be able to use dental equipment and materials on the dental simulator in preparation for clinical dentistry.

Skills development with the applied knowledge gained from lectures will be honed in this stage. This prepares the candidate to apply acquired knowledge and skills in the first 4 years of study into the last 2 years of clinical work. The application of all knowledge and skills will be practiced in the comprehensive care treatment of patients with the development of the right attitude unique from a De La Salle dentist.

The DDM program aims to produce Lasallian dentists who are scientifically knowledgeable, technically capable, and socially sensitive in the maintenance of oral health. The graduates shall promote oral health as an integral part of general health and the total well-being of an individual.

The outcomes expected from every DLSMHSI dentist are anchored on the following CHED CMO #3, s.2018:

1. Provide quality oral health care.
2. Communicate effectively.
3. Plan and deliver community and extension dental services.
4. Engage in research activities.
5. Apply business principles, entrepreneurship, practice and processes.
6. Practice lifelong learning and continue to be a lifelong learner.
7. Practice ethical/ legal/ moral principles and social accountability.
8. Demonstrate nationalism, internationalism, and dedication to service.
9. Utilize a systems-based approach to healthcare.
10. Collaborate with interprofessional teams.

• Graduates of the DDM Program can pursue a general dental practice after passing the Dentist Licensure Examination. Engaging in private dental practice is the backbone of every DDM graduate.  Other employment opportunities for private practitioners with a DDM degree are the following number as above:

• General Dental Practitioner (Private practice, hospital dentist, LGU dentist, private company dentist, and school dentist)

• Researcher / Innovator

• Teacher of the profession

• Dental practice specialist as recognized by the PRC

• Provider of Oral Health Services as a dentist and officer in the AFP, PNP, and other investigative agencies

• Manager and entrepreneur

• Consultant in a pharmaceutical company or allied industry consultants