The School of Dentistry admitted its first dental class in September, 1957. Four years later twenty-three individuals received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. In 1961 the School introduced a four-year program in dental hygiene. Advanced training programs were initiated as follows: the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program in 1961; the General Practice Residency Program in 1963; the Orthodontic Graduate Program in 1968; the Endodontic Graduate Program in 1979; the Master of Science Program in Dental Hygiene in 1987; and the Advanced Education Program in General Dentistry in 1991. In addition, a dental hygiene degree completion program has been offered since 1985.

Since the School's inception, 1542 dentists have earned the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery; 599 hygienists have earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene; and 271 individuals have completed postdoctoral programs. More than half of all residents admitted to the School of Dentistry have remained in West Virginia after graduation, and approximately 71% of the practicing dentists in the State are WVU alumni.

The School of Dentistry's Continuing Education Program offered its first course in 1961 and now offers thirty to forty courses per year. An average of 500 West Virginia dentists benefit from this program each year.

A faculty intramural practice plan was initiated in 1971. The Family Practice Dental Center began operation as part of the School of Dentistry and the Department of Family Practice of West Virginia University Medical Center in 1975. In September of 1990 the School of Dentistry began offering treatment in the Physicians Office Center. The School of Dentistry also has facilities at the Charleston Division of the Health Sciences Center and the CAMC Ambulatory Care Center.

A state-wide remote-site program, initiated in 1976, provides students experience in hospital and community based dentistry. This program also affords dental care and dental health education to children and adults from rural areas. More recently the School became a participant in the Kellogg Initiative funded for the University of West Virginia System and began tracking selected students into a rural-based health sciences education program in the fall of 1992. Currently, all dental and dental hygiene students provide oral health care in dental offices throughout the State.

Both the dental and dental hygiene curricula have been revised and updated over the years to keep abreast of current information and techniques. In 1989 a nationally recognized preclinical simulation teaching laboratory was completed. In 1992 a state-of-the-art dental instrument sterilization system was implemented along with infection control guidelines mandated by the American Dental Association.

Due to the combined efforts of dedicated and skilled faculty and staff, the School of Dentistry has grown and flourished. The School has gained national prominence under the direction of deans Dr. J. Ben Robinson, who served as consultant from 1953 to 1957 and dean from 1957 to 1958; Dr. Kenneth V. Randolph, who served from 1958 to 1968; Dr. W. Robert Biddington, who served from1968 until 1991 when he was appointed Vice President for Health Sciences; and current dean Dr. Louise Veselicky.