History of BCD
The story of Baylor College of Dentistry is one of vision, determination and dedication. Founded in 1905 in Dallas as State Dental College, BCD has evolved from a small, struggling trade school to one of the nation’s finest dental colleges, now part of the young and aggressive Texas A&M University System Health Science Center.
The 10 decades since the college’s founding were challenging. State Dental College came close to bankruptcy several times during its first 10 years before affiliating with Baylor University and changing its name to Baylor University College of Dentistry. The merger strengthened its overall educational program, which flourished during the 1920's.
The college, like many other institutions, also struggled during the Great Depression and World War II. But strong leadership enabled it to overcome its physical and financial challenges during the 1950s, opening one of the first dental hygiene schools in the state, building a new dental clinic and expanding and improving its programs and faculty.
In 1969, the State of Texas asked the dental school to assume a state-supported role to educate students who were Texas residents.
Two years later, the college ended its formal affiliation with the Baptist General Convention and Baylor University, becoming a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, state-supported institution with its own board of trustees and changing its name to simply Baylor College of Dentistry.
BCD went through two more significant changes in the 1990s — merging in 1996 with The Texas A&M University System and, in 1999, becoming a founding member of The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center.
Since its founding, Baylor College of Dentistry has graduated 8,000 dentists and dental hygienists. The college has produced four presidents of the American Dental Association, two presidents of the American Dental Hygienists Association, an assistant dental surgeon general as well as numerous scholars, authors, scientists, inventors and dental practitioners.
The dental school’s oral health sciences education programs, research, specialized patient care and continuing dental education are nationally recognized as is the college’s commitment to institutional effectiveness. It is also internationally recognized for educating outstanding clinicians.
To learn more about the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene, click here.
