Open since 1981, the center is a cooperative venture between the School of Dentistry and the City of Ann Arbor . The city owns the building, but leases it to provide oral health care services. The U-M School of Dentistry is one of the nation's leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, and patient care. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout southeast Michigan and the state. Classroom and clinic instruction trains future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies.
Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide.