The 76 students who comprise the inaugural class of the UNLV School of Dentistry will arrive on campus Aug. 18 for a week of orientation activities before the start of classes the following week.

"The arrival of this first class of dental students marks yet another milestone for UNLV as it grows in reputation and stature as a major urban university emphasizing three critical areas -- academics, research, and service," said university President Carol C. Harter. "It is an exciting time for all of us in the UNLV community, and, we trust, for people throughout Nevada."

UNLV Provost Raymond Alden said, "At last, Nevada, which is sorely in need of more dental practitioners, will be able to educate dentists right here at home. We expect that many of the dentists we educate will open practices in Nevada, thereby making the state's residents the beneficiaries of the skills the students learn here at UNLV."

Patrick Ferrillo, the new dean of the School of Dentistry, promised that Southern Nevada residents will benefit from the presence of the dental school even before the first class graduates in May 2006.

"The school already has opened dental clinics staffed by licensed dentists, and these are expected to increase in number and scope during the next few years. The commitment of UNLV and the School of Dentistry to providing service to the state's residents -- as well as a top-notch education to the dental students -- is a strong one," Ferrillo said.

"We also will provide leadership in the area of research," he said. "I look forward to seeing our faculty collaborate with others on campus in developing some joint research projects."

Statistics on the inaugural dental school class show:

-- 52 are male, 24 are female

-- 43 are Nevada residents, 33 come from other states

-- ages range from 21 to 44, with the average age being 26.9

-- 10 are Asian or Pacific Islander

-- four are Hispanic

-- two are African-American

A total of 1,257 potential students applied for the inaugural class. Of the 131 applicants accepted for admission, 76 have enrolled and will be in the first class. Acceptance into the program was based on applicants' scores on the national Dental Achievement Test, grade point averages, and personal interviews.

A variety of academic and social activities await the new students during the orientation week that begins Aug. 18.

The culminating event will be the White Coat Ceremony, which is set for 10 a.m. Aug. 23 in the Beam Music Center. At the ceremony, which will be attended by dignitaries from both the university and the dental community, each student will be presented a white coat, symbolizing induction into the life of a medical professional.

When classes begin on Aug. 26, the students will start their formal dental studies with courses such as Physiological and Anatomical Concepts; Oral Cancer: Cause, Cure and Prevention; Epidemiology for Oral Health Sciences; and Financing Health Care and Public Health. For more information about the UNLV School of Dentistry, call 895-2451.