Ajman, UAE: Gulf Medical University's (GMU) College of Dentistry has announced that its Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program continues to strengthen its clinical training infrastructure with 120 dental chairs at the university's affiliated Thumbay Dental Hospital, providing students with extensive hands-on clinical exposure.
According to a press release, the 120-chair teaching hospital enables students to gain supervised experience in treating patients without the clinical capacity constraints faced by many dental schools. Before entering patient clinics, students receive practical training in a dedicated preclinical laboratory equipped with phantom-head simulation units that replicate real clinical conditions.
The university stated that its integrated clinical skills and simulation network, inaugurated in 2026, brings together six training facilities on the Ajman campus, including a Dental Simulation Centre and the Thumbay Institute of Clinical Simulation, allowing students to develop clinical competencies in a controlled environment before treating patients.
GMU said its BDS program became the first undergraduate dental program in the UAE to receive accreditation from the Australian Dental Council (ADC) in January 2024. The program is also accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education, while the internship program conducted at Thumbay Dental Hospital holds a five-year accreditation from the National Institute of Health Specialties.
The five-year competency-based BDS curriculum spans 15 semesters and 200 credits, with emphasis on diagnosis, treatment planning, restorative and surgical procedures, patient management and digital dentistry. The college's Digital Dentistry Laboratory is equipped with intraoral scanners, 3D printers and CAD/CAM technology, and is supported through collaborations with dental technology companies including Exocad, Shofu and Alliedstar.
The College of Dentistry also offers postgraduate Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programs in Periodontics, Endodontics and Orthodontics, along with residency programs, a Clinical Certificate in Dental Implantology and a Diploma for Dental Assistant.
Established in 1998, Gulf Medical University said its integrated academic health system connects students with teaching hospitals, research facilities and an international alumni network. The university added that admissions are currently open for its dental programs.