Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Certificate

Admissions Requirements

  • D.D.S. or D.M.D. degrees from U.S. or Canada are preferred.  All others will be considered and are encouraged to apply.
  • Minimum of 1 year experience in general practice residency or in general practice is preferred.
  • Application materials include:
    • Completed ADEA/Pass application
    • Three letters of recommendation uploaded into ADEA/PASS
    • Original transcripts from all the schools attended uploaded into ADEA/PASS.  In addition, international applicants must have transcripts evaluated by evaluation firms such as ECE or WES including GPA calculations submitted into ADEA/PASS.  All transcripts and evaluation reports must be received prior to application deadline.
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) scores for applicants for whom English is not the first language is required with a minimum score of 92. IELTS test will be accepted - minimum score of 7.  TOEFL scores cannot be more than 3 years old.  Test scores need to be uploaded into ADEA/PASS.  
    • GRE or ADAT scores are required for all applicants and must be uploaded into ADEA/PASS.  ADAT minimum score is 550.  GRE minimum score for verbal is 149, quantitative is 151, and written is 3.5.
    • National board scores, if available
    • Application fee of $75 (in US dollars) sent in directly to the program and made out to "Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology program" along with applicant CV.
  • Application deadlines are found on the program's admission webpage. 

Degree Requirements

The student must complete all the courses listed in the plan of study to receive a certificate.

CODA Standard 6 for Advanced Specialty Education Programs requires that “Advanced specialty education students/residents must be given the opportunity to participate in research.”  Each UTHSCSA Advanced Dental Education Specialty Program’s plan of study includes a requirement for participation in research.

UTHSCSA Advanced Dental Education Specialty Program students may satisfy this CODA standard in either one of the two following ways:

  1. In the School of Dentistry: under guidance of program director or faculty designated by the program director, the student will plan, execute, analyze, summarize, and present the results of a research project.  The specifications for the scope, performance, presentation and timetable of this project, as well as the faculty supervision and evaluation standards for student performance, are determined by the program director.  This is experiential learning, not associated with a course, and no academic credit will be awarded.  The program director will notify the Registrar by memo when this project is successfully completed.  The student’s transcript will note that the research project was successfully completed.  This option is for students pursuing only a certificate in one of the Advanced Dental Education Specialty programs.  This option is not for students pursuing, or intending to pursue, the MS in Dental Science degree.
    -or-
  2. In the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences:  students also enrolled in the UTHSCSA MS in Dental Science Program, and who successfully complete the MSDS courses Research 1/Research 2/Research 3, may transfer those course credits into their corresponding School of Dentistry Specialty Certificate Program.  This transfer will satisfy the research requirement in lieu of the above mentioned research project.  In these cases, the student’s transcript will note the transfer of these credits in satisfaction of the research project requirement.

Note: The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences will NOT accept the research project described above in option 1, as a substitute for the fulfillment of the requirement for the Research 1/Research 2/Research 3 courses.  There will be no exceptions.  An MSDS degree will not be awarded to any student who has not successfully completed the Research 1/Research 2/Research 3 courses, along with the other degree requirements.

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.

First Year
FallCredit Hours
DIAG 5017Literature Review1
DIAG 5070Supervised Teaching1
DIAG 5091Case Conference1
PATH 5035Oral Pathology2
DIAG 5016Head & Neck Anatomy1
DIAG 5040Basic Principles Of Oral And Maxillofacial Imaging 12
DIAG 5045Radiation Physics3
DIAG 5015Panoramic Radiology 11
MSDS 5090Grad Research Methodology 12
MSDS 5020Dental Biomed Core 1 14
MSDS 5121Biostatistics 11
Spring
DIAG 5007Graduate OMR Clinic3
DIAG 5017Literature Review1
DIAG 5037Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 11
DIAG 5070Supervised Teaching1
DIAG 5091Case Conference1
PATH 5030Oral Histopathology1
DIAG 6027Advanced Imaging Technology3
MSDS 5021Dental Biomed Core 2 11
DIAG 5026Diagnostic Imaging Of The Jaws 14
 Total Credit Hours: 35.0
Second Year
FallCredit Hours
DIAG 6007Graduate Oral And Maxillofacial Clinic3
DIAG 6021Medical Radiology Rotation2
DIAG 6017Literature Review1
DIAG 6018OMR Case Conference1
DIAG 6020Tumor Board1
DIAG 6041Radiation Biology2
DIAG 6049Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 21
DIAG 6071Supervised Teaching1
Spring
DIAG 6007Graduate Oral And Maxillofacial Clinic3
DIAG 6017Literature Review1
DIAG 6018OMR Case Conference1
DIAG 6020Tumor Board1
DIAG 6021Medical Radiology Rotation2
DIAG 6049Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 21
DIAG 6071Supervised Teaching1
DIAG 6025Diagnostic Imaging Of The Head And Neck 14
 Total Credit Hours: 26.0
Third Year
FallCredit Hours
DIAG 6079Graduate OMR Clinic 33
DIAG 6078Literature Review 31
DIAG 6052Case Conference 31
DIAG 6021Medical Radiology Rotation2
DIAG 6051Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 31
Spring
DIAG 6079Graduate OMR Clinic 33
DIAG 6078Literature Review 31
DIAG 6052Case Conference 31
DIAG 6051Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 31
 Total Credit Hours: 14.0
1

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

Objectives

  • Provide comprehensive training that assures resident knowledge and proficiency in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology through extensive training in radiation physics, radiation biology, radiographic techniques and interpretation, anatomy of the head and neck and diagnostic imaging interpretation of the maxillofacial region using conventional and advanced radiographic procedures such as CT, Cone Beam CT and magnetic resonance images acquired in the graduate clinic or in assigned courses.
  • Prepare the residents to successfully challenge the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology board exams and become certified radiologists.

DIAG 5007. Graduate OMR Clinic. 3 Credit Hours.

The Graduate Radiology Clinic is in operation five full days per week. Services include intra- and extra-oral radiography, panoramic, cephalometric, linear, and multi-directional tomography; sialography; arthrography; CT image processing; and planned CT image acquisition.

DIAG 5015. Panoramic Radiology. 1 Credit Hour.

This lecture course includes topics such as the principles of panoramic radiology, concepts of panoramic image formation, review of anatomic structures, clinical techniques, and recognition and correction of panoramic errors. Also, the uses and limitations of panoramic radiology as well as digital panoramic radiology will be discussed. The goal is to achieve competency in this subject matter. Proficiency will be achieved during clinical rotations in panoramic radiology as part of the graduate OMR clinic experience.

DIAG 5016. Head & Neck Anatomy. 1 Credit Hour.

This review course is designed to provide the resident with the opportunity to acquire an anatomical foundation for oral and maxillofacial radiology. The course uses interactive computer-based head and neck clinical anatomy software as well as digital libraries of radiographic and cross-sectional anatomical specimens. Numerous Internet- based references are also used to provide the student with the most up-to-date and graphic information. Clinical anatomic information is correlated with plain film, CT, and MRI images to provide a contextual reference between clinical and radiographic anatomy. Written and oral examinations are given to assess competency in this area.

DIAG 5017. Literature Review. 1 Credit Hour.

Each week a topic in Oral and Maxillofacial radiology is discussed. In addition, students receive a block of instruction in evidence-based literature evaluation. At each session a student leader presents from 2-4 papers that meet the current topic. Articles are approved by the course director beforehand for scientific accuracy, validity, and relevance. Students are expected to read the articles before the session and participate in the group discussion. Discussion is facilitated by a question and response format led by the course director. Literature from past reviews is filed for student reference.

DIAG 5026. Diagnostic Imaging Of The Jaws. 4 Credit Hours.

The goal of this class is to achieve competency regarding the interpretation of plain and advanced images of hard and soft tissue conditions affecting the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures of the maxillofacial complex including, but not limited to, the paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, and trauma. The material is presented and repeated through three basic formats: by pattern recognition, by disease process, and as further analyzed using contrast studies, CT, MR, nuclear scans, and ultrasound images where applicable. This course forms the basis for more advanced seminar and clinical courses through which proficiency is required to be achieved.

DIAG 5037. Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 1. 1 Credit Hour.

The overall purpose of this course is to provide students with learning experiences that will give them the opportunity to develop proficiency in OMR image analysis and interpretation. This course meets in one-hour sessions with a seminar or grand rounds format. Each week, students receive cases and are requested to generate a written report and present the case to other students and faculty. Cases include a variety of diagnoses that comprise the field of oral and maxillofacial radiology including both typical and unusual examples. Additionally, high-quality, properly exposed images are supplied. Many examples include plain film, CT, and MR for the same case. Additional cases include other imaging modalities such as tomograms, contrast studies, and nuclear scans. In some instances, glass slides and a microscope are used to correlate histological features with MR images, an activity much requested by students. Imaging particular to salivary gland disease and TMJ disorders will also be emphasized. Students will record these cases in a special section of their logbook and may, circumstances permitting, copy the cases for future reference or teaching. The course director's collection of cases is one of the most extensive and is broadly representative and thus guarantees the student exposure to a variety of clinical cases which cannot be assured through the various clinical experiences during the time frame of the program.

DIAG 5040. Basic Principles Of Oral And Maxillofacial Imaging. 2 Credit Hours.

This is a didactic and clinical course aimed at providing oral and maxillofacial radiology residents with basic knowledge of oral and maxillofacial radiographic anatomy and helps the residents develop proficiency in routine and special OMF imaging procedures. The course consists of a complete review of plain film techniques used in OMF radiography and hands-on imaging exercises with radiographic phantoms. The radiographic anatomy displayed on these projections will be reviewed in lecture and exercise format using the practice phantom films and radiographic anatomy review sets. Boney anatomy and organ-based anatomy will be reviewed.

DIAG 5045. Radiation Physics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course presents the fundamental principles of radiation physics as they apply to medical and dental diagnostic radiology. Topics include the nature and production of X-rays, interactions of X-rays with matter, the physics of films and intensifying screens, the nature of the radiographic image, fundamentals of radiation dosimetry and protection, principles of tomography, and panoramic radiography. Topics also include computed tomography, particulate radiation and nuclear medicine, ultrasound, and digital image receptors and displays. Laboratory sessions provide a wide range of experience in institutional trainings and a course capstone project.

DIAG 5070. Supervised Teaching. 1 Credit Hour.

Graduate students are assigned to the various clinics, laboratories, and classes for the opportunity to acquire experience in teaching undergraduate students in a variety of situations. Supervision and evaluation of teaching performance is provided by the graduate faculty.

DIAG 5091. Case Conference. 1 Credit Hour.

This course meets weekly and serves as a venue for students to plan and present their cases to other students and faculty, and supply follow-up information where feasible.

DIAG 6007. Graduate Oral And Maxillofacial Clinic. 3 Credit Hours.

The Graduate Radiology Clinic is in operation five full days per week. Services include intra- and extra-oral radiography, panoramic, cephalometric, linear, and multi-directional tomography; sialography; arthrography; CT image processing; and planned CT image acquisition.

DIAG 6017. Literature Review. 1 Credit Hour.

Each week a topic in Oral and Maxillofacial radiology is discussed. In addition, students receive a block of instruction in evidence-based literature evaluation. At each session, a student leader presents from 2-4 papers that meet the current topic. Articles are approved beforehand by the course director, for scientific accuracy, validity, and relevance. Students are expected to read the articles before the session and participate in the group discussion. Discussion is facilitated by a question and response format led by the course director. Literature from past reviews is filed for student reference.

DIAG 6018. OMR Case Conference. 1 Credit Hour.

This course meets weekly and serves as a venue for students to plan and present their cases to other students and faculty, and supply follow-up information where feasible.

DIAG 6020. Tumor Board. 1 Credit Hour.

The class meets for one hour once a week at the MARC building and is sponsored by the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. Students will have the opportunity to learn case management and prognosis of patients with oral and maxillofacial and head and neck tumors, exposure to the diagnostic imaging work-up of the patients presented, interact with attending medical and dental specialists, attend special seminars related to tumor board, and have an opportunity to interact with various medical residents for further learning opportunities. Students are expected to share some of their learning experiences and present cases during case conferences to other OMR program venues such as graduate clinic.

DIAG 6021. Medical Radiology Rotation. 2 Credit Hours.

Medical radiology training occurs within the dental school using image-acquired data from a medical clinic. It also occurs in the University Hospital, at Wilford Hall Medical Center at nearby Lackland Air Force Base, and in a private radiology clinic. Cases using advanced imaging are available in the program director's extensive collection to further enhance medical radiology training. A minimum of 7.5 semester credit hours are required. Each student must enroll in a minimum of three one-month rotations.

DIAG 6025. Diagnostic Imaging Of The Head And Neck. 4 Credit Hours.

The goal of this course is to achieve competency regarding the interpretation of plain and advanced images of hard- and soft-tissue conditions affecting the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures of the maxillofacial complex including, but not limited to, the paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, and trauma. The material is presents and repeated through three basic formats: by pattern recognition, by disease process, and as further analyzed using contrast students, CT, MR, nuclear scans and ultrasound images where applicable. This course forms the basis for more advanced seminar and clinical courses through which proficiency is required to be achieved.

DIAG 6027. Advanced Imaging Technology. 3 Credit Hours.

This class will provide oral and maxillofacial radiology residents with proficiency level understanding of the physical principles of all the advanced imaging methods and techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, and radionuclide imaging commonly used in medical care, and understand the clinical applications of these advanced imaging modalities. This will also cover the fundamental basis for digital imaging, image enhancement and restoration, image analysis, image compression, image synthesis and image displacement.

DIAG 6041. Radiation Biology. 2 Credit Hours.

An introductory course in the basic concepts of radiation biology, this course is appropriate for dentists desiring an opportunity to gain additional knowledge of the biological effects of diagnostic and therapeutic levels of x-radiation. Concepts of designing an office for optimum radiation protection also are presented.

DIAG 6049. Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 2. 1 Credit Hour.

The overall purpose of this course is to provide students with learning experiences that will give them the opportunity to develop proficiency in OMR image analysis and interpretation. This course meets in one-hour sessions with a seminar or grand rounds format. Each week, students receive cases and are requested to generate a written report and present the case to other students and faculty. Cases include a variety of diagnoses that comprise the field of oral and maxillofacial radiology including both typical and unusual examples. Additionally, high-quality, properly exposed images are supplied. Many examples include plain film, CT, and MR for the same case. Additional cases include other imaging modalities such as tomograms, contrast studies, and nuclear scans. In some instances, glass slides and a microscope are used to correlate histological features with MR images, an activity much requested by students. Imaging particular to salivary gland disease and TMJ disorders will also be emphasized. Students will record these cases in a special section of their logbook and may, circumstances permitting, copy the cases for future reference or teaching. The course director's collection of cases is one of the most extensive and is broadly representative and thus guarantees the student exposure to a variety of clinical cases which cannot be assured through the various clinical experiences during the time frame of the program.

DIAG 6051. Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology Interpretation 3. 1 Credit Hour.

The overall purpose of this course is to provide students with learning experiences that will give them the opportunity to develop proficiency in OMR image analysis and interpretation. Students receive cases and are requested to generate a written report and present the case to other students and faculty. Cases include a variety of diagnoses that comprise the field of oral and maxillofacial radiology including both typical and unusual examples. Additionally, high-quality, properly exposed images are supplied. Many examples include plain film, CT, and MR for the same case. Additional cases include other imaging modalities such as tomograms, contrast studies, and nuclear scans. In some instances, glass slides and a microscope are used to correlate histological features with MR images, an activity much requested by students. Imaging particular to salivary gland disease and TMJ disorders will also be emphasized. Students will record these cases in a special section of their logbook and may, circumstances permitting, copy the cases for future reference or teaching. The course director's collection of cases is one of the most extensive and is broadly representative and thus guarantees the student exposure to a variety of clinical cases which cannot be assured through the various clinical experiences during the time frame of the program.

DIAG 6052. Case Conference 3. 1 Credit Hour.

Oral and Maxillofacial radiology resident will plan and present an assigned case to other students and faculty and provide follow up information where feasible. It will enhance the residents ability to write and present accurate case reports; teaches the ability to plan a case, and interact with the referring practitioner, and enhance their ability to recognize imaging characteristics of a disease or condition.

DIAG 6071. Supervised Teaching. 1 Credit Hour.

Graduate students are assigned to the various clinics, laboratories, and classes for the opportunity to acquire experience in teaching undergraduate students in a variety of situations. Supervision and evaluation of teaching performance are provided by the graduate faculty.

DIAG 6078. Literature Review 3. 1 Credit Hour.

During this course, oral and maxillofacial radiology residents will review the principles of evidence based medicine and learn how it applies to reviewing scientific articles. At each class session, a student will present articles from the current or classic radiology literature including radiation safety, periodontal disease, CT, systemic disease, digital imaging, endodontic disease, MRI, implants, bite-wings, tomography, developmental disorders, selection criteria, panoramic radiology, sectional criteria, trauma, forensics, inflammation, QARM, Caries, TMJ, tumors and biomedical modeling. Prerequisites: DIAG 6017.

DIAG 6079. Graduate OMR Clinic 3. 3 Credit Hours.

The Graduate Radiology Clinic operates 4.5 days per week and provides opportunities for oral and maxillofacial radiology residents to develop skills in intra- and extra oral radiography, panoramic, cephalometric, linear and multi-directional tomography, sialography, arthrography, and CT imaging processing and planned CT image acquisition. Prerequisites: DIAG 6007.

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.

PATH 5030. Oral Histopathology. 1 Credit Hour.

The course will review the histopathologic features of oral diseases. Cases signed-out on the Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Biopsy Service will be discussed in a conference format utilizing a multiheaded microscope. Correlation of the histologic findings with the clinical and radiographic presentation of oral disease processes will be emphasized. Students will have the opportunity to learn the basis of surgical pathologic diagnosis and related ancillary special studies.

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.