Advanced Programs in Dental Education

The School of Dentistry offers advanced dental education programs in endodontics, general practice residency, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, periodontology and prosthodontics, all leading to a certificate in a clinical specialty. The School of Dentistry in conjunction with the Graduate School also offers a combined program in orthodontics and craniofacial biology and in pediatric dentistry and craniofacial biology leading to a Master of Science degree and a certificate. In conjunction with the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry offers a combined program leading to an M.D. degree and a certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery. In addition to clinical seminars and clinical experience, students take basic science courses with advanced students from other departments.

The certificate curriculum consists of a core of basic science subjects plus clinical seminars and clinical experience. Elective subjects may also be selected by the student with the approval of the program director.

The estimated lengths of programs are as follows:
Endodontics, 24 months
General Practice Residency, 12 months
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 48 months
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/M.D., 72 months
Orthodontics, a minimum of 24 months and 36 months
Pediatric Dentistry, 24 or 36 months
Periodontology, 36 months
Prosthodontics, 24 months

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold the Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree and must present the appropriate degrees, approved transcripts and affidavits as prescribed by the Office of Dental Admissions and Minority Affairs.

Admission Procedures

Prospective students should request application forms from the Office of Dental Admissions. For selection and admission to the Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Programs, applicants are required to take the Aptitude Section of the Graduate Record Examinations; a score of 1000 or above is desired for Pediatric Dentistry. For selection and admission for Orthodontics, a combined score (verbal and quantitative) of 1200 or better is required. The last acceptable test is in September of the year preceding desired admission. For further information regarding the GRE, applicants may contact a university in their area or write to: Testing Bureau, YWCA 104, University of Southern California, University Park, MC 0052, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0052.

A manual of preparation for this examination is available from ARCO Publishing Company, 219 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10003.

The following information is also required to complete the application: (1) a $50 application fee; (2) a 2 x 2 passport style photograph of the applicant; (3) one official copy of the applicant's dental school transcript with degree notation. Foreign transcripts and degree notations must be submitted with a certified English translation; (4) three letters of recommendation: (a) one from the program director or chairman of the specific graduate department applied to, or someone who is currently a pedodontist, orthodontist, etc.; (b) one from a full-time faculty member in the basic sciences; (c) a general character reference from applicant's superior in service, or an individual by whom he or she was employed; (5) board scores Part I and Part II for all programs; GRE scores are required for foreign graduates applying for the program in periodontology, and all applicants for the orthodontics and pediatric dentistry programs. These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the program director; (6) a biographical statement; (7) applicants may be asked to be available for an interview. If one is necessary, applicants will be contacted by the director of the individual advanced program; (8) applicants for General Practice Residency, Periodontology, Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Surgery programs must submit applicant agreement forms to the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program; (9) applicants for the General Practice Residency, Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Surgery programs must also submit an application to the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS). Applications and information are available at PASS, Suite 101, 1625 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-2212, (202) 332-8790; (10) applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable $500 tuition deposit upon notification of acceptance.

Timetable for Applications

Applications for admission to advanced programs must be received as follows:
Endodontics, November 1
Oral Surgery, September 15
Orthodontics, October 1
Pediatric Dentistry, October 15
Periodontology, October 1
General Practice Residency, October 15
Prosthodontics, November 1

Completed applications and related information are reviewed first by the faculty of the department of interest. In selecting applicants for admission the faculty considers academic records and personal qualifications. Final approval for admission rests with the advanced education coordinating committee. Responsibility for advising the student after admission rests with the department chair.

Orientation

A general orientation session is usually held the first week of classes. Incoming students are acquainted with the School of Dentistry, its policies, procedures, faculty and facilities. More specific orientations are offered by the individual programs.

Student Issue - Advanced Programs

Dental units in the school's clinics are equipped with midwest type tubing and couplers for low and high speed air hand pieces. Advanced students must provide their own adapters to fit the school's couplers unless the students' present hand pieces are already so modified. The Dental Bookstore will assist in such conversions, if necessary. The bookstore has some low speed air hand pieces available for rent.

Students are required to use School of Dentistry mobile cabinets. Arrangements can be made to rent these cabinets through the bookstore.

Students accepted into an advanced program should consult their program directors about needed equipment.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu