Crowning 120 Years of Texas A&M Dentistry

While a routine visit to the dentist may seem easy to overlook, its impact can be felt daily—sometimes found in the relief of pain and other times in the restoration of confidence behind a smile. For the past 120 years, Texas A&M University’s College of Dentistry has been a steady presence in this exchange, building trust between the institution and its graduates and the communities in Texas they serve.

The college was established in the early 1900s as the State Dental College, a private, three-year dental school above a grocery store in downtown Dallas with a mission of educating dentists for the state. At this time, less than half of all dentists in Texas had a college education, and even fewer held formal dental degrees. In 1906, the college graduated the state’s first class of just four dentists: one from Texas, two from present-day Oklahoma and one from Japan.
 

In the decades that followed, the college continued to evolve under Baylor University’s leadership. When Baylor College of Medicine—whose faculty taught basic science classes at the dental school—moved to Houston in the 1940s, the dental school remained in Dallas, rebuilding its faculty and expanding its reach. By the 1950s, the school opened a new clinic and launched one of the nation’s earliest dental hygiene programs. In 1971, the college parted ways with Baylor University to receive state funding and was renamed Baylor College of Dentistry, a turning point that would bring further growth.

By the late 1990s, the college merged with The Texas A&M University System, becoming a founding member of the Texas A&M Health Science Center in 1999. In 2013, it took on its current name: the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry. Today, the college enrolls nearly 600 students across dental, dental hygiene, graduate degrees (both master of science and doctoral levels) and dental specialty programs.
 

Amid decades of change, the school’s central mission to educate dentists, dental hygienists, dental specialists and scientists to serve the people of Texas has remained steady. “While our programs and reach have expanded, that founding purpose continues to guide everything we do today,” said Dr. Lily T. Garcia, BCOD ’84, the college’s current dean. “It lives on in our faculty and staff. Some of the professors who once taught me are still here, and their enduring commitment is part of the culture we’re proud to uphold.”

When Garcia returned to the college as dean in 2022, she brought with her an ambition to honor the college’s roots, recognizing where it stands now to shape where it’s headed next. Her vision is summed up in two words: charging forward.

Caring for North Texas

Under Garcia’s leadership, this vision has taken shape through key initiatives focused on addressing gaps in care for Texans. To this end, the college has established several funding resources to help patients cross the finish line in their treatment, in other words, receive the full benefits of comprehensive oral healthcare.  The key fund to support patients who may need help in finishing their treatment is called the Gap in Care Fund.
 

In addition to prioritizing students’ well-being, the college is also working to expand financial support for students. With one of the lowest costs of attendance among dental schools in the country, the college is committed to remaining accessible, and scholarships offer another layer of support.

“Anytime we can help offset the cost of school for students who have earned their spot in our program, it makes a difference,” Garcia said. “Last year, we proudly offered more scholarships than ever before, and everyone in the dental class earned something,” Spence added.

Alumni have also played a role in reinforcing this goal, as the Class of 1998 recently established the Baylor College of Dentistry Class of ’98 Endowed Scholarship to help future Aggie dentists afford the path to a career in dentistry. As Texas faces a need for more dental hygienists and providers, the college views scholarship support as not only a gift but also a reinforcement of professionalism and belief.

“The scholarship from the Class of 1998 is about heart and trust,” Garcia said. “We are grateful to have alumni who believe in our students and reinvest in the people who will carry this profession forward.”