Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM)

What Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) does

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) is New Jersey's only dental school and the state's largest provider of oral healthcare, operating as a constituent school within Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey since the 2013 merger of the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The institution was founded in 1956 as the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026. RSDM delivers education across the Traditional DMD Program, Internationally Educated DMD Program, postgraduate specialty residencies (oral surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, orofacial pain), Masters/PhD programs in Oral Biology, and Continuing Dental Education, with a combined 3.7% acceptance rate across DMD tracks and a Class of 2026 graduating 160 students. Patient care is delivered through student clinics, faculty practices in Newark and New Brunswick, graduate specialty clinics, a Special Care Center, and community clinics in Northfield and Somerdale, generating 136,000+ patient visits annually.

RSDM's core technology platform combines a clinical education model with translational research capabilities, anchored by the NIH-funded Clinical Research Center directed by Georgios Kotsakis and the Georges E. Sara Digital Dentistry Center. Proprietary research assets include approximately 16 global patents covering leukotoxin-based therapeutics for white blood cell diseases (with FDA IND approval obtained for Phase 1 trials in leukemia/lymphoma), predatory bacteria Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus for antibiotic-resistant infections, a digital denture workflow using 3D-printed standardized impression trays that reduces visits from five to two, and a Rutgers-led non-opioid analgesic protocol (400mg ibuprofen + 500mg acetaminophen) demonstrated superior to hydrocodone for post-extraction pain. Faculty research output includes 30,000+ combined citations with publications in The Lancet and PNAS.

RSDM's business model operates as a public academic institution funded through four streams: tuition and fees across degree programs (subscription/recurring model), patient care services delivered across the clinic network (subscription/recurring), clinical research grants primarily from NIH (licensing/royalty and grant funding model with the leukotoxin platform recently generating first commercial license to an animal health company), and donor/foundation support underwriting community programs such as Vet Smiles, Give Kids a Smile Day, Ryan White Program, and Holocaust Survivors Program. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for educational programs or patient care services, with patient fees determined on a service-by-service basis. Revenue is consolidated within the Rutgers public university system and not separately reported.

Name

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM)

Legal name

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

Website

https://sdm.rutgers.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine is New Jersey's only dental school and the state's largest oral healthcare provider, educating predoctoral and postgraduate dental students, delivering 136,000+ patient visits annually across Newark and community clinics, and conducting NIH-funded translational research with patented therapeutic and digital dentistry platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Education and Oral Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Dentists (621210), Offices of Dentists (6212), Offices of Dentists (62121), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Dental Schools (EDAHAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dental Specialty-Only DSOs (Single-Specialty Platforms) (HLABAKAJ), General Dentistry Group Practices (HLABAKAB), Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group Practices (HLABAKAE)

Keywords

• Dental education services
• Oral healthcare services
• Dental specialty residency
• Continuing dental education
• Clinical dental research

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Patient care services: RSDM generates revenue through patient care delivered at student clinics, faculty practices, and community clinics. Services span general dentistry, specialty care (oral surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, orofacial pain), and oral healthcare programs including Vet Smiles, Holocaust Survivors Program, and Ryan White Program.
2. Dental education programs: Revenue from tuition and fees for the Traditional DMD Program, Internationally Educated DMD Program, postgraduate residency programs, and Masters/PhD programs in Oral Biology.
3. Continuing Dental Education (CDE): Revenue from continuing education courses, clinical preceptorship programs, and MaxiCourse for dental professionals seeking advanced training and credentialing.
4. Clinical research grants: NIH-funded multi-site clinical trials generate grant revenue, including an $11.5M NIH-NIDCR grant for opioid analgesic reduction study led by Dean Cecile Feldman, and a $2.4M NIH grant for antibiotic research led by Georgios Kotsakis.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RSDM educates dental professionals through predoctoral DMD programs (Traditional and Internationally Educated), postgraduate specialty residencies, Masters/PhD programs in Oral Biology, and Continuing Dental Education courses. It concurrently delivers comprehensive patient dental care across general dentistry and all specialties through on-campus student clinics, faculty practices, graduate specialty clinics, a Special Care Center, and community clinic sites. The institution also conducts NIH-funded translational and clinical research through its Clinical Research Center.

Product overview

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) is New Jersey's only dental school, operating as a comprehensive dental education institution offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include Traditional DMD and Internationally Educated DMD programs for dental degrees, supplemented by Postgraduate specialty programs and Masters/PhD research degrees. Patient care services are delivered through Student Clinics, Faculty Practices, Graduate Specialty Clinics, and a Special Care Center. RSDM also operates community outreach programs including the Vet Smiles Program for veterans, Ryan White Program for HIV/AIDS patients, and Holocaust Survivors Program. The institution maintains a Clinical Research Center for translational research and offers Continuing Dental Education and MaxiCourse programs for professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vet Smiles Program: Program providing dental care to veterans, started with donations from HealthCare Foundation of New Jersey, New Jersey Health Foundation, and Delta Dental of New Jersey.
• Clinical Research Center
• Georges E. Sara Digital Dentistry Center

Products and services

• Traditional DMD Program Four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree program for students with traditional undergraduate backgrounds, providing comprehensive clinical training across all dental specialties at RSDM's Newark campus.
• Internationally Educated DMD Program Specialized DMD degree program for dentists who received their dental training outside the United States, providing a pathway to U.S. dental licensure and practice in New Jersey and other states.
• Postgraduate Specialty Residency Programs Advanced specialty residency training programs in endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, orofacial pain, and general practice residency for licensed dentists.
• Masters and PhD Programs in Oral Biology Graduate-level research degree programs in Oral Biology leading to Masters or PhD degrees, supporting the school's research enterprise.
• Continuing Dental Education and MaxiCourse Continuing education courses, the MaxiCourse program, and Clinical Preceptorship Programs for licensed dental professionals seeking advanced training, license renewal credits, and specialty credentials. Tuition is available through the CDE portal.
• Student Dental Clinics On-campus teaching clinics at the Newark campus where predoctoral and resident students provide comprehensive dental care to patients under faculty supervision, available by phone at (973) 972-4242 or online appointment booking Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
• Faculty Dental Practices (Newark and New Brunswick) Faculty dental practices at two locations (Newark and New Brunswick) providing patient care by licensed faculty dentists across general dentistry and specialties, accepting a wide range of insurance plans.
• Graduate Specialty Clinics Specialty dental clinics providing advanced treatments in endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and orofacial pain, serving patients referred for specialized care.
• Special Care Center Dedicated dental facility providing care for patients with special healthcare needs and complex medical conditions requiring specialized accommodations and care protocols.
• Vet Smiles Program Free dental care program for eligible Essex County veterans (all treatments except implants) and other New Jersey veterans (dentures only). Program has served 175 veterans and is funded by the HealthCare Foundation of New Jersey, New Jersey Health Foundation, and Delta Dental of New Jersey.
• CODE Program (HIV/AIDS Patients) Community Oriented Dental Education Program serving patients living with HIV/AIDS, providing specialized oral healthcare and compassionate, judgment-free access to care. Recognized as a national model since 2002.
• Holocaust Survivors Program Specialized dental care program for Holocaust survivors.
• Ryan White Program Dental care program for patients affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Clinical Research Center NIH-funded research facility conducting translational clinical research examining biological mechanisms underlying peri-implant bone loss and identifying druggable targets for improving dental and biomedical implant success. Directed by Georgios Kotsakis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over-the-counter combination (ibuprofen + acetaminophen) provided superior pain relief vs opioids for the first 24 hours after wisdom tooth extraction, with better sleep quality, less interference with daily activities, and patients on opioids were twice as likely to call back requesting additional medication.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Dental Association FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSDM participates in the nationwide Give Kids a Smile initiative during National Children's Dental Health Month, providing free dental care to underserved children.
• Mary Eliza Mahoney Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSDM partners with this federally qualified health center (run by RSDM alumna Baseemah Marshall) to provide pediatric oral healthcare, combining RSDM pediatric residents and DMD candidates with FQHC infrastructure.
• American Dental Education Association (ADEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSDM's Jill York served as main facilitator for ADEA's Student Leaders for Social Change Program opening session in Montreal, Canada, mentoring dental students from the US and Canada in leadership and social responsibility.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSDM prosthodontics resident Ali Farhat will complete a fellowship in maxillofacial prosthetics at Memorial Sloan Kettering following his RSDM residency.
• Rutgers Health Joy at Work CommitteeminorOthersInternal committee using Rutgers Health Joy at Work Mini-Grant to create community-building events for RSDM faculty and staff including harp recitals, board game gatherings, and community lunches.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Columbia's dental school is a direct peer: a private, research-intensive dental school offering DMD, specialty residencies, and PhD programs in the Northeast with NIH-funded research and faculty practices. Comparable in academic positioning to RSDM despite private status.
• Tufts University School of Dental Medicine: Tufts Dental is a direct peer: private dental school with DMD, international DMD, specialty residency, and CDE programs in the Northeast. RSDM Associate Dean Janine Fredericks-Younger is a Tufts DMD alumna, reflecting overlapping faculty pedigree and curriculum design.
• University of Maryland School of Dentistry: Maryland's dental school is a direct peer: public dental school serving as the only dental school in its state, with DMD, specialty residency, and PhD programs, plus faculty practice and clinical research. Closest functional analog to RSDM as a public, monopoly dental school with strong research profile.
• University of Michigan School of Dentistry: Michigan Dental is a direct peer: public dental school consistently ranked among the top US dental schools, with DMD, specialty residency, PhD, and large NIH-funded research enterprise. Comparable in research output, NIH funding, and clinical scope.
• University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine: Penn Dental Medicine is a direct peer: private Ivy League dental school with DMD, specialty residency, and PhD programs, plus faculty practice and NIH-funded research. Notable because RSDM Dean Cecile Feldman is a Penn DMD alumna, indicating strong institutional ties and shared talent pipeline.
• UCSF School of Dentistry: UCSF Dental is a direct peer: public dental school with DMD, specialty residency, and PhD programs, plus NIH-funded research and community-oriented clinical care. Comparable in mission alignment (access to care for underserved populations) and public-university research profile.
• Harvard School of Dental Medicine: Harvard Dental is a direct peer: research-intensive dental school offering DMD, specialty residency, and PhD programs with strong NIH funding. Comparable in academic prestige and research focus, though significantly smaller in clinical volume than RSDM's 136,000+ annual visits.
• NYU College of Dentistry: NYU's dental school is a direct peer: large-scale dental school offering DMD, international DMD programs, and specialty residencies with high patient volume and research programs. Geographic neighbor serving similar Northeast applicant pool and patient demographics.
• University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine: Pitt Dental is a direct peer: public dental school offering DMD, international DMD, specialty residency, and CDE programs with NIH-funded research. Comparable in regional positioning, public-university affiliation, and scope of community programs.
• Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine: BU Dental is a direct peer: private dental school in the Northeast offering DMD, specialty residency, and CDE programs with NIH-funded research and faculty practice operations. Comparable in size and scope to RSDM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rutgersschoolofdentalmedicine
• Facebookfacebook.com/rutgerschoolofdentalmedicine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/rutgers-school-of-dental-medicine
• Instagraminstagram.com/rutgerssdm
• Xx.com/RUdental

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM)