Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics Certificate

Admissions Requirements

  1. Graduation from a Dental School with a D.D.S., D.M.D., or non-U.S. equivalent prior to matriculation.
  2. Completed online PASS application for admission to the Graduate Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Program.
  3. Please email the department:
    1. A 2x2 inch photo
    2. A copy of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
    3. A copy of the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) results if an international student and English is a second language
    4. A copy of the National Boards Part I results.
  4. Application deadline can be found on the program's website. 

Degree Requirements

Certificates will be awarded upon the student's successful completion of the prescribed curriculum with a 3.0 minimum grade point average, recommendation of the program director to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and certification by the dean to the president.

The M.S. in Dental Science degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete the certificate and the required courses in the Graduate School.

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
FallCredit Hours
ORTH 5020Clinical Orthodontics 11
ORTH 5030Case Analysis Seminars 11
ORTH 5035Current Literature Review 11
ORTH 5015Orthodontic Biomechanics1
ORTH 5010Introduction to Orthodontics 10.5
ORTH 5013Orthodontic Treatment Planning 10.5
INTD 5013Perio/Pros/Endo/Orth Interdisciplinary Course 1 11
MSDS 5090Grad Research Methodology 12
MSDS 5121Biostatistics 11
MSDS 5020Dental Biomed Core 1 14
PATH 5035Oral Pathology 12
Spring
ORTH 5030Case Analysis Seminars 11
ORTH 5020Clinical Orthodontics 11
ORTH 5037Orthodontic Lecture Series 11
ORTH 5012Orthodontic Lab Technique0.5
ORTH 5090Research 10.5
INTD 5013Perio/Pros/Endo/Orth Interdisciplinary Course 1 11
MSDS 5021Dental Biomed Core 2 11
 Total Credit Hours: 21.0
Second Year
FallCredit Hours
ORTH 5020Clinical Orthodontics 11
ORTH 5035Current Literature Review 11
ORTH 5030Case Analysis Seminars 11
INTD 6019Pharmacotherapeutics1
INTD 6014Perio/Pros/Endo/Orth Interdisciplinary Course 2 11
ORTH 5037Orthodontic Lecture Series 11
Spring
ORTH 5030Case Analysis Seminars 11
ORTH 5020Clinical Orthodontics 11
ORTH 5035Current Literature Review 11
ORTH 5037Orthodontic Lecture Series 11
ORTH 5028ABO Literature Review1
INTD 6014Perio/Pros/Endo/Orth Interdisciplinary Course 2 11
 Total Credit Hours: 12.0
Third Year
FallCredit Hours
ORTH 5020Clinical Orthodontics 11
ORTH 5011Orthodontic Techniques1
ORTH 5030Case Analysis Seminars 11
ORTH 5035Current Literature Review 11
ORTH 5037Orthodontic Lecture Series 11
ORTH 5014Literature Seminars0.5
ORTH 5070Practice Management0.5
INTD 6115Perio/Pros/Endo/Ortho Interdisciplinary Course 3 11
Spring
ORTH 5030Case Analysis Seminars 11
ORTH 5020Clinical Orthodontics 11
ORTH 5037Orthodontic Lecture Series 11
ORTH 5035Current Literature Review 11
INTD 6115Perio/Pros/Endo/Ortho Interdisciplinary Course 3 11
 Total Credit Hours: 12.0
1

  This course is shared with the certificate and the M.S. Dental Science.

Objectives/Program Outcomes

The Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics Certificate Program at the health science center School of Dentistry is designed to prepare students to acquire the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide comprehensive orthodontic care and correct malocclusions and limited skeletal deformities in children and adults, including those with special health care needs.

Program Outcomes: At the completion of the program the student will:

  1. Demonstrate competency and proficiency as a clinical orthodontic specialist in evidence-based clinical practice.
  2. Demonstrate the understanding of and competency in professional and ethical behavior in clinical practice.
  3. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge base of etiology of dental malocclusions, dentofacial deformity, growth and development and management of malocclusions according to accepted standards of care in orthodontics.
  4. Complete a research project that includes protocol development, data collection and analysis, preparation of a publishable quality scientific paper and presentation of findings at a scientific meeting.

INTD 5013. Perio/Pros/Endo/Orth Interdisciplinary Course 1. 1 Credit Hour.

A seminar that brings together the residents and graduate staff from the periodontic, prosthodontic,endodontic and orthodontic postdoctoral programs to share clinically relevant multidisciplinary information. Patient diagnostic evaluations and treatment plans are evaluated in an interactive environment. Selected topics involving new advancements are presented and discussed.

INTD 6014. Perio/Pros/Endo/Orth Interdisciplinary Course 2. 1 Credit Hour.

This seminar brings together the residents and graduate staff from the periodontic, prosthodontic, endodontic and orthodontic postdoctoral programs to share clinically relevant multidisciplinary information. Patient diagnostic evaluations and treatment plans are evaluated in an interactive environment. Selected topics involving new advancements are presented and discussed.

INTD 6019. Pharmacotherapeutics. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is designed to review general principles of pharmacology; current and accepted pharmacotherapy for the medical management of pain, infection, and selected systemic diseases; and associated adverse drug events. It is based on the top 200 drugs dispensed by U.S. community pharmacies for the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of disease with special reference to dentistry.

INTD 6115. Perio/Pros/Endo/Ortho Interdisciplinary Course 3. 1 Credit Hour.

This is a seminar that brings together the residents and graduate staff from the periodontic, prosthodontic, endodontic and orthodontics postdoctoral programs to share clinically relevant multidisciplinary information. Patient diagnostic evaluations and treatment plans are evaluated in an interactive environment. Selected topics involving new advancements are presented and discussed.

MSDS 5020. Dental Biomed Core 1. 4 Credit Hours.

The Biomedical Core Course will provide a multidisciplinary approach to basic science instruction as it relates to the clinical practice of dentistry. Both basic science and clinical science faculty will participate to provide a sound base of material required by each program. Individual programs will supplement the Biomedical Core Course in the basic science areas particular to that discipline. This combination of core instruction with individual supplementation should provide the advanced education student the appropriate background in biomedical science.

MSDS 5021. Dental Biomed Core 2. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is a continuation of MSDS 5020 Dental Biomedical Core Course 1.

MSDS 5090. Grad Research Methodology. 2 Credit Hours.

This course is an introduction to methods and techniques used in dental research. Topics will include basic assumptions and concepts of scientific research, selecting research topics, specifying objectives and hypotheses, literature reviews, and experimental design.

MSDS 5121. Biostatistics. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is designed to prepare the advanced education dentist with the knowledge of common statistical methods in order to critically evaluate the literature and to perform necessary analyses in support of their own research projects, particularly those directed at the completion of the Certificate from the Dental School and/or the Master of Science degree from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

ORTH 5010. Introduction to Orthodontics. 0.5 Credit Hours.

The expected to gain understanding of basic clinic operations, laboratory procedures and collection of orthodontic database including study models, photographs, and orthodontic clinical exams.

ORTH 5011. Orthodontic Techniques. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is designed to present to the students all modern orthodontic techniques, approached and appliance. The prerequisite for the course is solid biomechanics and understanding of importance of setting specific treatment goals for each patient. Discussions are led by the instructor on the cases treatment by the residents where the theoretical knowledge is applied.

ORTH 5012. Orthodontic Lab Technique. 0.5 Credit Hours.

The students are exposed to didactic teaching and practical hands on instruction about the design and fabrication of various orthodontic appliances including removable appliances, retainers and special custom designed appliances for complex orthodontic patients.

ORTH 5013. Orthodontic Treatment Planning. 0.5 Credit Hours.

The principles of the initial and advanced treatment planning are presented in this case based course. The student will learn how to effectively use databases including cephalometrics and 3-D imaging into making treatment decisions and presenting the treatment options to the patient.

ORTH 5014. Literature Seminars. 0.5 Credit Hours.

The students are taught to critically analyze and present current orthodontic literature, make effective presentations and learn how to categorize a research study within the hierarchy of research publications.

ORTH 5015. Orthodontic Biomechanics. 1 Credit Hour.

This course is designed to equip the student with knowledge of basic biomechanics and utilization of fundamental physical principles in orthodontics. It includes application of biomechanical principles in the design of the appliance and predictable tooth movement to achieve orthodontic movement goals.

ORTH 5020. Clinical Orthodontics 1. 1 Credit Hour.

During this clinical course, the student will be exposed to and learn all modern orthodontic techniques, approaches and appliances through treatment of about 65 orthodontic patients started by the student. In addition, about 20 transfer cases will be assigned to each student at the beginning of each year. The course will result in clinical competency of the student and preparation of at least six board quality cases for certification straight out of the residency program.

ORTH 5028. ABO Literature Review. 1 Credit Hour.

This series of seminars focuses on the literature required by the American Board of Orthodontics for the written board examination which the residents take during the spring semester of the second year. The seminars include in-depth coverage of the presented articles and topics and board-provided materials for preparing for the board written exam.

ORTH 5030. Case Analysis Seminars 1. 1 Credit Hour.

In this series of seminars, one resident is selected for each class to present a case of their choice with an in-depth analysis of the development of treatment planning, design of the appliance, and progress and outcome of the treatment. Other students in the audience are encouraged to ask questions and develop a discussion about the case and treatment approaches used.

ORTH 5035. Current Literature Review 1. 1 Credit Hour.

During this series of seminars attended by multiple of orthodontic faculty, the residents are presenting selected papers on current orthodontic topics. The seminars include in-depth discussion of the methodology, design of the study, interpretation of the results and conclusions based on the presented results. This course is designed to familiarize the student with all areas of current orthodontic literature and is a supplement to all didactic courses.

ORTH 5037. Orthodontic Lecture Series 1. 1 Credit Hour.

This series of orthodontic didactic lectures is a multifaceted course taught by several faculty during the course of the program. The topics covered in the course include periodontal consideration in orthodontics, orthodontic radiology, oral pathology, anatomy and histology and principles of growth and development.

ORTH 5070. Practice Management. 0.5 Credit Hours.

The practice Management course for orthodontics is an orthodontic specialty course designed to teach residents tools in managing a successful practice.

ORTH 5090. Research 1. 0.5 Credit Hours.

Following the course on Research Methodology, the student meets with the faculty and attends presentations on research topics from which he/she can select the topic of interest for the research project. Several components of that course throughout the duration of the program include understanding of research topics of interest to clinical orthodontics, design of clinical study and practical laboratory research on the selected project under the guide of student's research mentor.

PATH 5035. Oral Pathology. 2 Credit Hours.

Clinicopathologic correlations, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic rationale are emphasized. The integration of history, physical findings, and clinical laboratory data with pertinent radiographic findings, clinical presentations, and anatomic pathology will be emphasized.