The Faculty of Dentistry, the School of Dentistry (now the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Toronto) was founded by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario in 1875. Seven years earlier, in 1868, the College had been given the dual responsibilities of licensing and dental education when the Province of Ontario, in one of its first legislative actions, passed the "Act Respecting Dentistry".

The School began its affiliation with the University of Toronto in 1888 when it established the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.). It was not until 1925, however, that the Royal College of Dental Surgeons formally relinquished its teaching function in order to permit the School to become a Faculty of the University of Toronto. At that time the College agreed that the University should conduct all examinations and forward to the College annually the list of those candidates for the Ontario Licence who had met the conditions prescribed for the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.

The Faculty is now the largest dental school in Canada. Not only does it graduate approximately 60 qualified dentists each year, but it also educates specialists in Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, Endo-dontics, Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Anaesthesia, Dental Anaesthesia, Oral Pathology and Medicine, Oral Radiology, and Dental Public Health.

In addition to its teaching function, the Faculty of Dentistry has a major commitment to dental research. In this connection, it is important to realize that dental research is carried out only in the Faculties of Dentistry at a few large universities; there is virtually no research by private industry or government bodies. The Faculty has a long tradition of research and is now not only the foremost dental research centre in Canada, but also has established a well earned international reputation. It currently attracts about $4,500,000.00 annually in research funds and some of the staff has earned international distinction. Major research areas in the Faculty include multidisciplinary approaches in the field of biomaterials, dental implantology, facial pain, growth and development, and periodontal physiology. Most, if not all, teachers in the Faculty are also involved in research.