Department of Periodontics: Fact Sheet

Predoctoral Education  The Department of Periodontics is responsible for educating pre-doctoral students in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions and in periodontal maintenance.

Our teaching philosophy emphasizes continuity of education and integration of didactic and clinical courses throughout the D1-D4 years.  This includes:

• Didactic courses and lectures in each year of the predoctoral curriculum
• Participation in preventive dentistry courses D1-D2 years
• D3 didactic seminar and 20 week clinical clerkship (a combination of periodontics/endodontics/prosthodontics)
• D4 periodontics lecture series and clinical program integrated with Family Dentistry, our comprehensive care clinic
• Integration with predoctoral experiential learning courses

Postdoctoral Education  The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics is a three year postdoctoral certificate program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.  The specialty program educates graduate dentists in theoretical and practical aspects of periodontics and dental implant therapy.

This comprehensive curriculum includes:

• Biomedical sciences foundation in anatomy, microbiology, immunology, statistics, research design
• Clinical specialty education in periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning and provision of periodontal and implant therapy
• Critical review of contemporary and classic periodontal literature
• Option to complete MS in Oral Science degree

Main Areas of Research

• Role of antimicrobial peptides in innate and adaptive immunity
• Tobacco cessation
• Tissue engineering
• Implant site development
• Clinical dental implant studies

Current Students

• 300 predoctoral (College of Dentistry)
• 7 Periodontics Certificate postdoctoral students of which all are pursuing a MS in Oral Science

Staff

• 1 Program Coordinator
• 3 Dental Hygienists
• 1 Registered Nurse
• 3 Dental Assistants
• 2 Clinic Clerks