Extramurals

Community-Based Clinical Rotations during Fourth Year of Dental School

For over 50 years, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry has administered a community-based clinical rotation (extramurals) where students are educated on-site in dental practices in different communities within and outside the state of Iowa. This is required for all Iowa Dentistry graduates and consists of a 5-week clinical rotation in the final year of a student's dental education. For this rotation, students report to a dental site off-campus and learn about the practice setting and the community they serve, provide hands-on dental care to patients under the supervision of their site faculty, and participate in community-based outreach.

In 2025-26 , extramurals are available at 17 different sites, 12 in Iowa and 5 outside of Iowa. Some of these sites are community-based health centers, some are private practices, and one is a hospital-based practice. Please note that while some extramural sites arrange and pay for housing, some sites do not. During this 5-week rotation, students are responsible for arranging and paying for logistics, travel, and accommodation at those sites that do not arrange and pay for housing during this 5-week rotation. 

Iowa Sites (2025-26)

  • Ames – Primary Health Care Medical and Dental
  • Burlington – Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa
  • Cedar Rapids – Eastern Iowa Health Center
  • Davenport  – Community Health Centers, Inc
  • Des Moines - Broadlawns Medical Center
  • Fort Dodge – Private Practice
  • Muscatine – Private Practice
  • Pocohantas – Private Practice
  • Ottumwa -- River Hills Community Health Center
  • Sioux City – Siouxland
  • Spirit Lake – Private Practice
  • Storm Lake – United Community Health Center

Sites Outside of Iowa (2024-25)

  • Colorado - Salud Family Health Centers
  • Michigan - Indian Health Service, Sault Ste. Marie Health Clinic
  • Minnesota - Indian Health Service, Cass Lake Hospital
  • South Dakota – Prairie Winds Dental
  • Wisconsin – Marshfield Community Health Center