Program Director: Dr. Nupur Patel, contact
Goal
The Specialty Education Program in Prosthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania is designed to prepare graduates to excel in clinical practice, research, and teaching within the specialty of Prosthodontics.
Educational Program
The Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at Penn Dental Medicine is designed to provide postdoctoral students with advanced training in prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics. Successful completion of the 3-year program will satisfy the formal training requirement for eligibility for the American Board of Prosthodontics certification examination. This program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
The program begins on July 1, and continues through 36 calendar months. Postgraduate students spend approximately 60% of their time in clinic and are exposed to all facets of clinical prosthodontics. In addition to the core basic science courses required for all postgraduate students, the prosthodontic specialty curriculum provides progressive clinical, laboratory and didactic training, closely supervised, at the postgraduate level in fixed, removable, implant and digital prosthodontics. Dental microscopy, maxillofacial prosthodontics, surgical implant planning, placement, and restoration, full digital dentistry workflow, aesthetics, and the interrelation of other medical/dental clinical specialties are integrated aspects of the training, culminating in the award of the Certificate in Prosthodontics.
The rotation at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania enhances the educational experience by providing a wider range of patients with maxillofacial prosthetics needs, deeper understanding of medical conditions, and close collaboration with medical colleagues and other members of the health care team.
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. To that end, the postgraduate students have the option to enroll to a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program. The curriculum is integrated so that both the certificate and the Master of Science degree may be awarded simultaneously upon the completion of requirements, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry, while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care.
Clinical Certificate Track: Certificate only (3 years)
Academic Track: MSOB and Certificate (3 years)
Number of students/residents accepted: 4 per year
Admissions Process
Application Deadline: August 15 — See Graduate Dental Education Programs Admissions Requirements and Procedures for detailed information and instructions.
An applicant to be considered for admission to the Advanced Prosthodontics Program requires:
- Participation in National Matching Services (NMS)
- Participation in PASS (ADEA)
- Supplemental Application sent directly to the school by August 15
Application materials are reviewed and consideration for admission into the program is made on an individual basis. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. The highest qualified candidates are selected for an interview based upon the following criteria: past academic performance, class standing, motivation and interest, personal and career goals, experiences beyond pre-doctoral education, evidence of scholarly activity, letters of recommendation from Prosthodontists and performance during the interview. Decisions to interview applicants is made by the Prosthodontics Program Admissions Committee and such decisions are communicated to applicants directly from the Program’s administration.
A personal interview is required as part of the selection process. Selected applicants are invited to interview at Penn Dental Medicine. Interview invitations will be sent via email starting early September. Interviews are conducted at the School beginning mid-September. Travel and lodging information is included with the interview invitation. The interview day consists of interviews with department faculty, a tour of the facilities, and lunch with faculty, current residents and other invited candidates.
Official letters of acceptance are sent within 10 days of the release of Match results from Penn Dental Medicine’s Office of Graduate Dental Education. All admitted candidates are obligated to submit a non-refundable acceptance deposit in the amount of $1,000 within ten business days of acceptance notification from Penn Dental Medicine. The Office of Graduate Dental Education provides assistance to coordinate pre-enrollment activities such as establishing a PennKey for access to the University’s online resources, establishing a university email address, and initiating the visa process for international students.