The Graduate program in Dentistry began its activities in 1979. Over the years, the department has taken on the challenges involved in offering a high-quality education in human resources and, in the 1990’s, underwent a full restructuring. This process was guided by the following basic principles: flexible curriculum, integration among the areas of knowledge, and the streamlining of course loads. Additionally, a new philosophy was defined, geared toward a qualified professional and academic education of professors and researchers, through both the broadening of knowledge and the development of research, which represents the core of our teaching philosophy, in such a way as to train personnel, critically understand and interpret pertinent literature, and concretely experience the situations presented by society in each area of knowledge. To achieve this profile, a new teaching methodology was drafted, geared towards a more participative and problematizing approach to teaching.

Currently, the Graduate Program in Dentistry offers Masters (M.S.) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in seven main areas of concentration: General Dentistry, Endodontics, Oral Medicine, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral Pathology, Periodontics, and Dental Public Health. Our department has received the certification of international excellence (Level 6) by CAPES, a Brazilian governmental agency linked to the Ministry of Education.

In 2014, we began the academic program of Professional Masters in Public Health Dentistry, which has been recognized as a level 4 program by CAPES.
To date, 415 Masters theses and 150 Doctoral dissertations have been defended, and 20 students have graduated from the Professional Masters program.