The University of New England College of Dentistry welcomed its inaugural class of 64 students in August 2013, becoming the first dental school in northern New England. Shortly thereafter, the College opened a new Oral Health Center on the University of New England's Portland campus. As one of the few private universities in the United States with a comprehensive health education mission (which also includes medicine, pharmacy, nursing and a range of allied health professions programs), the University of New England plays a unique and transformative role in the field of dental medical education. Our program also gives us the opportunity to apply existing expertise in clinical simulation, clinical education, and interprofessional education to an entirely new discipline. Our program blends time-tested methods with innovations in dental medical education. Enabling students to provide care to simulated patients in their first year, then provide direct patient care in the Oral Health Center in their second and third years, and finally gain clinical experience in communities throughout the N.H. region.