Program Overview

Endodontics, Certificate

The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine has the unique honor of being the birthplace of modern Endodontics with Dr. Louis Grossman, the father of modern Endodontics, having established the Penn Dental Medicine Endodontic program.

The Endodontic program is designed to provide postgraduate students with advanced training in Endodontics, and upon its successful completion, students are eligible for the specialty Board of Endodontics. The highly respected research environment at Penn Dental Medicine and throughout the University of Pennsylvania provides a valuable opportunity for students applying to residency programs to combine their specialty training with advanced research and academic opportunities.

In addition to the core basic science courses required for all postgraduate students, the Endodontic Department arranges further basic science courses related to the specialty. Clinical seminars, planned reading seminars, and an extensive guest lecture series are also part of the educational experience.

Additional Program Options

Penn Dental Medicine also offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) and a Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) that can be earned concurrent with a specialty certificate, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care. Through the MSOB and DScD programs, students are encouraged to pursue their individual research interests with projects that can span the diverse disciplines and research labs within Penn Dental Medicine’s basic and clinical sciences and across the University.

This degree requires a minimum of 160 Credit Hours.

Curriculum

Program Timelines

• Academic Track
  • MSOB and Certificate: 3 years
  • DScD and Certificate: 5 years
• Clinical Certificate Track
  • Certificate only: 2 years

Course List

Course List Code | Title | Course Units
---|---|---
PGY1|
Fall|
GEND 9001| Introduction to Advanced Endodontics Textbook Review|
GEND 9011| Introduction to Advanced Endodontics Lab|
GEND 9021| Topic Presentation I|
GEND 9031| Clinical Conference I|
GEND 9041| Literature Review I|
GEND 9051| Guest Lecture Series I|
GEND 9091| Clinical Endodontics I|
Spring|
GEND 9022| Topic Presentation II|
GEND 9032| Clinical Conference II|
GEND 9042| Literature Review II|
GEND 9052| Guest Lecture Series II|
GEND 9092| Clinical Endodontics II|
GEND 9102| Endodontic Research II|
PGY2|
Fall|
GEND 9023| Topic Presentation III|
GEND 9033| Clinical Conference III|
GEND 9043| Literature Review III|
GEND 9053| Guest Lecture Series III|
GEND 9093| Clinical Endodontics III|
GEND 9103| Endodontic Research III|
Spring|
GEND 9024| Topic Presentation IV|
GEND 9034| Clinical Conference IV|
GEND 9044| Literature Review IV|
GEND 9054| Guest Lecture Series IV|
GEND 9094| Clinical Endodontics IV|
GEND 9104| Endodontic Research IV|
Every other year|
GEND 9071
& GEND 9081| Pulp Biology Fall
and Dental Trauma Fall|
GEND 9081| Dental Trauma Fall|

Program Requirements (Certificate Only)

• Core Graduate Dental Education Courses (Year 1 only)
• Program Specific Courses (Years 1 and 2 Didactic & Clinical)
• Literature Review (Years 1 and 2)
• Case Presentations (Years 1 and 2)
• Program Seminars (Years 1 and 2)
• Clinical Rotations (Years 1 and 2)

Core Graduate Dental Education Courses

Course List Code | Title | Course Units
---|---|---
Year 1|
Fall|
DADE 9330| Ethics, Professionalism and Jurisprudence| 1-3
DADE 9340| Evidence-based clinical practice| 1.75-3
DADE 9350| Oral and systemic diseases| 3.75-5
Spring|
DADE 9360| Oral infection and immunity| 4-6
DADE 9370| Conservative and regenerative clinical practice| 2-5
DADE 9380| Vulnerable populations across the lifespan| 1.5-3.5

Master of Science in Oral Biology

The School of Dental Medicine also offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB). Enrollment in the MSOB program is limited to individuals concurrently registered in one of the postgraduate specialty training (certificate) programs. Candidates receive the MSOB degree after completion of both their specialty training and the Master’s curriculum, which consists of didactic, seminar, and research practicum courses. The MSOB program is comprised of two tracks designed for outstanding students who are interested in either integrating research or structured evidence-based learning into their post-graduate education.

Depending on the track selected, research activities or a systematic literature review form the core of the MSOB program. Students are expected to participate in a clinical or basic science research project of sufficient scope and intensity or a formally structured and critically evaluated literature review focused on an important oral health-related research or clinical question. A thesis composed of an in-depth review of the relevant literature along with a manuscript reporting the results of the research or a systematic review is required for graduation for the research and evidence-based learning tracks respectively.

Additional MSOB Course Requirements

Course List Code | Title | Course Units
---|---|---
Additional MSOB Course Requirements|
DENT 9960| |
DENT 9970| |

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.