Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics

Program Director

Mahmoud Torabinejad, DMD, MSD, PhD Professor of Endodontics

Faculty

General Information

Gainful Employment Disclosure

Application Method

Contact Information

A representative operatory in the graduate endodontics clinic.

Program Description

The mission of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics is to train endodontists who are proficient in treating teeth that require root canal therapy (art), possess an in-depth biological knowledge related to endodontics (science), and have participated in endodontic research and teaching.

The goals of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics are:

Two Advanced Specialty Education Programs in Endodontics Now Available

In addition to the existing, 27-month Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics (described below), the Department of Endodontics has developed an optional 36-month program that includes the entire 27-month curriculum plus additional courses in periodontics, radiology, and implant dentistry (also described below).  Applicants should be aware that the 27-month program also includes training implant dentistry theory and clinical practice, to include surgical placement, but not to the same extent as the 36-month program.  Both programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).


NEW 36-Month Program in Endodontics

The 36-month Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics represents an effort to promote the total care for patients who have failed root canal treatment and require a single tooth implant. Courses in implant dentsitry begin as early as the second quarter and continue throughout the entire program.  Thus, graduates will be skilled in the diagnosis, surgical placement, and restoration of a single tooth implant, when such care is recommended.  They also will be able to diagnose and treat patients with failed root canals who would benefit from implant dentistry treatment.

Furthermore, graduates of both the 27-month and the 36-month programs will be educationally-qualified and, therefore, eligible to obtain board certification in endodontics.

Applicants now have the option to apply to either the existing 27-month program or the new, expanded 36-month program with increased training in implant dentistry.   Be advised that the application deadline and admissions requirements for both programs are the same. 

Curriculum for the 27-month program (click this link to go directly to this curriculum)
Curriculum for the 36-month program (click this link to go directly to this curriculum)

Two Master's Degree Tracks Available

Loma Linda University School of Dentistry now offers two master's degree tracks for graduate students/residents enrolled in the advanced education certificate programs.

Master of Science (MS) degree track:

The Master of Science (MS) degree track can be invaluable to students who wish to pursue an academic career in clinical dentistry, research, and teaching. The didactic and clinical components of the certificate program fulfill the academic requirements for the MS degree. Candidates must be admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), conduct a graduate level research project, write a thesis, and hold a public thesis defense. Students have three years from the date of acceptance to FGS to complete the requirements for the MS degree.

Candidates who meet the admissions requirements, which include successful completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), must submit an application to FGS through the Office of Advanced Dental Education and that application must be supported by the applicant's program director.
For information regarding the Graduate Record Examination, test locations, and test dates, please contact the Educational Testing Services (ETS) at www.ets.org.

Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree track:

Graduate students/residents may elect to apply for the Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree track.  The MSD degree track is intended to provide individuals with an advanced degree widely recognized as having completed a dental specialty program.  Applicants must be recommended for admission to this degree track by their program director and subsequently approved for admission by the Associate Dean for Advanced Education.  The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the MSD degree track.  The MSD degree is awarded upon successful completion of the certificate program, completion of an approved graduate research project, and submission of a report of that research project in the form of a publishable paper in the format of a journal selected by the candidate and approved by the program director.  Candidates must also hold a public presentation of their research in a format similar to a thesis defense.  All the MSD requirements may be complete during the program but no later than one year from the candidate’s program completion date.

Graduates of the certificate, MS degree program, and MSD degree program are educationally qualified for certification by the American Board of Endodontics.

Administrative office staff (from left): Ms. Luci Denger (Senior Administrative Assistant) and Ms. Shannon Kokanour (Administrative Secretary).	Graduate endodontics study room.

Application and Admission Process

The Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics has a ROLLING ADMISSIONS POLICY.  This means that the program reserves the right to interview and fill some, but not all, of their positions on or before the application deadline.  Therefore, it is in the applicant's best interest to complete an application as soon as possible. 

Loma Linda University Application - Applicants for the Endodontics Program must complete a direct Loma Linda University application.  LLU online application

Application deadline - Applications for admission must be submitted by August 1st of the year prior to the summer of intended enrollment. All transcripts and supporting documents must be sent to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350 and received by the August 1st deadline.

Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) - The Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics participates in the PASS application service of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) allowing applicants to apply to multiple participating institutions using one standardized format. PASS application

Electronic application submission - The application process must be completed online and only applications with all the required supporting documents will be reviewed for admission. Online application

Advisory to Applicants: To ensure prompt posting of your required supporting documents, complete your application before you request transcripts and test scores.

Invitation to interview - All complete applications that meet the minimum admissions requirements are reviewed (refer to Admissions Requirements below). The top candidates are invited for an interview by a selection committee composed of department faculty and outside faculty/administrators and chaired by the program director. The candidates are ranked in two categories: 1) nominations for admission and 2) nominations as alternates.

Admissions decisions - The program director presents the list of nominations for admission (with alternates) for discussion and approval by the graduate admissions committee. The committee meets monthly, and candidates will be notified of a decision as soon as possible.

Acceptance - Candidates offered acceptance are required to submit a nonrefundable deposit check of $1,000 to hold a place in the entering class. These funds will be applied towards tuition and fees for the first quarter of study.

Background check - Accepted students must complete a background check in order to register and begin the program.

Health Clearance Information and CPR Training for Incoming Graduate Students and Residents - All individuals accepted into an Advanced Education Program must receive a health clearance from Student Health Service before they are permitted to start their program. A health clearance includes passing a PPD (tuberculosis), Hepatitis B, and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) test. In addition, all incoming graduate students/residents also must undergo Health Care Provider CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training and obtain certification prior to the start of their program.

How to obtain information regarding policies on blood-borne and infectious diseases:
Federal OSHA (www.osha.gov) In search menu type: Bloodborne Pathogens 1910.1030
State Cal/OSHA (www.dir.ca.gov) In search menu type: Bloodborne Pathogens Standards 5193

From left: Drs. Chad Gustafson, Chanasri Banjerdcherdchoo, and Marites Milan in the new Endodontic Laboratory.	The Endodontic Laboratory is equipped with seven global microscopes, seven ASI units, digital radiography and a TV monitor.  It is used for the preclinical technique course in the advanced specialty education program, bench top projects, and CE courses.

Admissions Requirements

See a Comparison of the Admissions Criteria for all eight Graduate Programs

1.  Transcript(s) - from all post-secondary institutions from which the applicant received credit whether or not the work pertains to their LLU degree.  Only official transcript(s) will be accepted.  An official transcript is one that is submitted directly from the school, college, or university to Loma Linda University.  Transcripts that are hand-carried or mailed by an applicant, even if in a sealed envelope, cannot be considered official and will be recorded as still missing.  Transcripts should be mailed directly to: Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350.

Applicants who have transcripts from non-US dental schools must submit a translated course-by-course transcript report from one of the following agencies (See International Transcript Information):

1. World Education Services (WES) *
2. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
3. Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE)
4. American Education Research Corporation (AERC)

* If ordering an evaluation from WES, the applicant should select Loma Linda University from the drop-down list of recipient institutions as opposed to writing in an address. LLU does not need the additional ICAP service from WES. If their WES report is only for LLU the applicant should order the basic (non-ICAP) course-by-course report.  The electronic WES report to LLU will already include copies of the evaluated documents, however these document copies are not the Official transcripts/mark sheets that LLU requires to be sent directly from the issuing institution.

2.  Official Degree Certificate (for all international applicants) - Any foreign transcript (or mark sheet) that does not list on it the graduation information, including the actual degree earned, must be supported by an official degree certificate or school-verified copy of the degree certificate mailed directly from the issuing institution to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University.

Applicants who are uncertain as to whether or not their transcript lists graduation information and degree earned should contact their school before requesting a seperate degree certificate.

3.  GPA and Class Rank- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Applicants should request the dean of their dental school to provide a letter with their official GPA and class rank.

4.  National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) - Successful completion of the National Board Dental Examination Part I and Part II (when available) is required for all U.S.-trained applicants. Please allow plenty of time for NBDE score report requests to be processed by the ADA.  We cannot accept NBDE scores reported in a Dean's letter as an official report of test results.  Request NBDE scores

5. English Proficiency Exam - Regardless of nationality or citizenship, an applicant whose native language is not English or whose secondary education has been given outside the U.S. is required to pass one of the following English proficiency tests:

1. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.  The institution code for Loma Linda University is 4062. TOEFL minimum scores are: 80 - Internet-based test , 550 - Paper-based test, including a minimum final score of 5.0 on the TWE part (Test of Written English)
2. IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. LLU minimum score is 6.5
3. MELAB LLU minimum score is 77

6.  Letters of recommendation - Three letters of recommendation from individuals who have known and worked closely with the candidate are required in support of an application.  Letters of recommendation are valid for no more than two consecutive years for the same program.  Letters of recommendation also must be program specific (ie, support an applicant for the actual program to which he/she is applying).  Electronic notifications to the recommenders are sent out after submitting the online application.  Alternatively, an applicant applying to the program through PASS may use their Personal Potential Index (PPI) evaluation report, Professional Evaluation Forms (PEF), and Institutional Evaluation Form (IEF) for their LLU application as well.  Applicants who would like to use their PASS letters of recommendation should leave the recommendation section of their LLU online application blank and after submitting the application, the PPI evaluations will be matched up.

7.  Curriculum Vitae - Applicants must include their curriculum vitae sent electronically with the online application or mailed directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.

8.  Photograph - A passport-style photograph can either be sent electronically with the online application or mailed directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education (this is optional, but recommended).

Important Instructions for the Transmittal of Official Documents

All official documents must be mailed from the issuing institutions. Applicants must not mail originals or official copies of transcripts, GRE scores, National Dental Board scores, and TOEFL scores themselves.

An application is not considered complete until all required supporting documents have been received. Only completed applications go to committee for consideration. This policy holds true for both U.S. and non-U.S. applicants. So please apply early.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2012-2013 academic year (effective July 1, 2012) is $13,124 per quarter.  Health insurance is $470 per quarter and the student services fees are $232 per quarter.  The information technology (IT) support fee is $195 per quarter.  These fees do not include instruments and textbooks that may be required.

From left: Drs. Yeow Teh Tee, Patrick Tsai, Kenny Tran, Taha Shoreibah, Mahmoud Torabinejad (program director), Hadi Faras, Joseph Packer, and Victor Luikham in an endodontics seminar.

Departmental Required Courses (27-Month Program)

Interdisciplinary Required Courses (27-Month Program)

Curriculum by Academic Year for the 27-Month Program

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

Departmental Required Courses (36-Month Program) New

Interdisciplinary Required Courses (36-Month Program) New

Curriculum by Academic Year for the 36-Month Program New

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

Graduation

Study may extend beyond 27 months for those pursuing a Master of Science (MS) degree or the Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) Degree.

Fellowship in Endodontics

Dentists who have completed training in an American Dental Association recognized specialty (including Endodontics) may apply for a fellowship in Endodontics.  Fellowship program length may vary, but typically does not exceed 12 months and training commences on July 1st of the Summer quarter.  Participants will attend all classes and seminars scheduled for the endodontic post-doctoral students as well as observe clinical procedures in the graduate endodontic clinic.  The decision regarding patient treatment is determined by the program director and is based on the performance of the non-degree student during the preclinical course and the availability of space in the endodontic clinic.

Externship and Internship Programs in Endodontics

• Externship Program.  Intended for dentists with an interest in endodontics who wish to study periods of more than one month, but less than 12 months.

• Internship Program.  Intended for dentists with an interest in endodontics who wish to study for a period of 12 months.

The internship and externship programs are designed to provide general dentists an opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of Endodontics.  Trainees attend didactic courses, literature seminars, and interdisciplinary treatment-planning sessions but do not treat patients.

Participants can expect to obtain training in the following areas:

• Observation in basic and advanced procedures in endodontics (laboratory and clinical)
• Observation in basic surgical procedures in implant dentistry (performed by graduate endodontic students)
• Attendance in didactic core courses common to other graduate programs
• Attendance in didactic courses exclusively related to graduate Endodontics

Cost for Fellowship, Internship, and Externships programs (adjusted July 1st of each year):

1 month or less = 1/3 quarterly tuition
Up to 2 months = 2/3 quarterly tuition
Up to 3 months = full quarter's tuition

12 months (one year) = full tuition for four quarters

Application: THE APPLICATIONS BELOW ARE FOR NON-DEGREE STUDENTS ONLY and are not to be used for anyone applying to the certificate program. Please select the correct application below:

• Application for Fellowship
• Application for Internship or Externship