Program Overview

Periodontics, Certificate

The Periodontics program, approved by the American Dental Association, is designed to provide postdoctoral students with advanced training in periodontics and implantology. Upon successful completion of the program, students are issued a certificate in periodontics and are qualified for examination by the American Board of Periodontology.

Program Description

In addition to the core basic science courses required for all graduate students, the department arranges further basic science courses related to periodontics. Other features of the program include clinical seminars, planned reading seminars, interschool symposia, and an extensive guest lecture series. The highly respected research environment at Penn Dental Medicine and throughout the University of Pennsylvania provides a valuable opportunity for students applying to post-doctoral programs to combine their specialty training with advanced research and academic opportunities.

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.

Program Requirements

• Core Graduate Dental Education Courses (Year 1 only)
• Program Specific Courses (Years 1 - 3 Didactic & Clinical)
• Literature Review (Years 1 - 3)
• Case Presentations (Years 1 - 2)
• Program Seminars (Years 1 - 3)
• Clinical Rotations (Years 1 - 3)

Periodontics Certificate Course List

First Year Fall

• GPRD 9001: Introduction To Periodontology
• GPRD 9011: Introduction To Periodontal Prosthesis
• GPRD 9021: Clinical Periodontics I
• GPRD 9031: Classic Literature Review I
• GPRD 9041: Current Literature Review I
• GPRD 9061: Surgical Endodontic Rotation I
• GPRD 9071: Fundamentals Of Periodontics I
• GPRD 9081: Fundamentals Of Perio Surgery I
• GPRD 9091: Sedation Seminar I
• GPRD 9101: Minor Adult Orthodontics I
• GPRD 9111: Advanced Topics In Periodontics I
• GPRD 9141: P Care Clinic Rotation I
• GPRD 9151: Complications Seminar I
• GPRD 9161: Periodontal Practice Management
• GPRD 9171: Treatment Plan Rotation I
• GPRD 9211: Perio-Prosth Case Presentation I

First Year Spring

• GPRD 9022: Clinical Periodontics II
• GPRD 9032: Classic Literature Review II
• GPRD 9042: Current Literature Review II
• GPRD 9062: Surgical Endodontic Rotation II
• GPRD 9072: Fundamentals Of Periodontics II
• GPRD 9082: Fundamentals Of Perio Surgery II
• GPRD 9092: Sedation Seminar II
• GPRD 9112: Advanced Topics In Periodontics II
• GPRD 9122: In-Service Examination I
• GPRD 9142: P Care Clinic Rotation II
• GPRD 9152: Complications Seminar II
• GPRD 9172: Treatment Plan Rotation II
• GPRD 9182: Oral Comprehensive Examination I
• GPRD 9212: Perio-Prosth Case Presentation II

Second Year Fall

• GPRD 9023: Clinical Periodontics III
• GPRD 9033: Classic Literature Review III
• GPRD 9043: Current Literature Review III
• GPRD 9063: Surgical Endodontic Rotation III
• GPRD 9113: Advanced Topics In Periodontics III
• GPRD 9143: P Care Clinic Rotation III
• GPRD 9153: Complications Seminar III
• GPRD 9173: Treatment Plan Rotation III
• GPRD 9213: Perio-Prosth Case Presentation III

Second Year Spring

• GPRD 9024: Clinical Periodontics IV
• GPRD 9034: Classic Literature Review IV
• GPRD 9044: Current Literature Review IV
• GPRD 9064: Surgical Endodontic Rotation IV
• GPRD 9114: Advanced Topics In Periodontics IV
• GPRD 9124: In-Service Examination II
• GPRD 9144: P Care Clinic Rotation IV
• GPRD 9154: Complications Seminar IV
• GPRD 9174: Treatment Plan Rotation IV
• GPRD 9184: Oral Comprehensive Examination II
• GPRD 9214: Perio-Prosth Case Presentation IV

Third Year Fall

• GPRD 9025: Clinical Periodontics V
• GPRD 9115: Advanced Topics In Periodontics V
• GPRD 9195: Board Review Seminar I
• GPRD 9215: Perio-Prosth Case Presentation V

Third Year Spring

• GPRD 9116: Advanced Topics In Periodontics VI
• GPRD 9126: In-Service Examination III
• GPRD 9196: Board Review Seminar II
• GPRD 9216: Perio-Prosth Case Presentation VI

Core Graduate Dental Education Courses

• DADE 9330: Ethics, Professionalism and Jurisprudence
• DADE 9340: Evidence-based clinical practice
• DADE 9350: Oral and systemic diseases
• DADE 9360: Oral infection and immunity
• DADE 9370: Conservative and regenerative clinical practice
• DADE 9380: Vulnerable populations across the lifespan

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.

MSOB Program Description

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

• DENT 9960:
• DENT 9970:

Program Timeline

• Academic Track
  • MSOB and Certificate: 4 years
  • DScD and Certificate: 5.5 years
• Clinical Certificate Track
  • Certificate only: 3 years

Degree Requirements

This degree requires a minimum of 200 Credit Hours.