Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry

Faculty

General Information

Application Method

Contact Information

Program Description

The Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry is a three-year program leading to the award of a specialty certificate and an optional master of science (MS) or master of science in dentistry (MSD) degree. The certificate program has been offered for over 30 years allowing clinicians to undertake extensive training focused on clinical proficiency in both the surgical placement of dental implants and the complete fabrication of implant-supported restorations.

Program participants can expect to obtain advanced training in the following areas:

• Basic and advanced implant dentistry surgical procedures
• Patient management in an operating room (OR) environment
• Complex prosthodontic rehabilitation of implant-supported prostheses
• Participation in didactic courses exclusively related to advanced prosthodontics, periodontics, and implant dentistry
• Interdisciplinary treatment planning
• Hands-on application of state-of-the-art imaging technology
• Clinical and/or laboratory research in implant dentistry related areas
• Clinical and/or laboratory research and thesis for MS degree candidates
• Teaching implant dentistry to pre-doctoral students

The goals of the Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry are:

Two Master's Degree Tracks Now Available

Loma Linda University School of Dentistry now offers two master's degree tracks for graduate students/residents 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 admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) must conduct research, write a thesis, and hold a public thesis defense. Students have five years from the date of acceptance to FGS to complete the requirements for the MS degree. This degree option is available for all advanced programs except Dental Anesthesiology.

Applications to the FGS should be submitted through the Office of Advanced Dental Education and must be supported by the applicant's program director. Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for FGS admission. Interested individuals should consult the admissions criteria for the advanced education program to which they are applying for more detailed information.

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 from all the advanced education programs except Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics where the MS degree is a program requirement.

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 and subsequently approved by the Associate Dean for Advanced Dental Education. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the MSD track. The MSD degree is awarded upon successful completion of the certificate program and requires the submission of an acceptable publishable paper in the format of a journal chosen by the program director. The publishable paper must be submitted either during the program or within one year from the program completion date. A public presentation of the research, much like a thesis defense, is also required.

Graduates of the certificate, MS degree program, and MSD degree program are educationally qualified for certification by the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry and, upon application, may be qualified as an associate fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID).

Application and Admission Process

Application deadline - Applications for admission must be submitted by September 15^th of the year prior to the spring 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 September 15th deadline.

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. A laboratory practical and treatment planning evaluation are included in the evaluation process. 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.

Admissions Requirements

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

The following information and documentation are required for all applications to the Implant Dentistry Program:

1. Transcript(s) - Only official transcript(s) will be accepted.  An official transcript is one that is submitted directly from your 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.

   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):

   • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE)
     (414) 289-3400 (www.ece.org)
   • American Association of Collegiate Registrars And Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
     (202) 293-9161 (www.aacrao.org)
   • World Education Services (WES) (212) 966-6311 (www.wes.org)
2. Official Degree Certificate (for all international applicants) - Any foreign transcript (or mark sheet) that does not list on it the graduation information, including actual degree earned, must be supported by an official degree certificate or school-varified copy of the degree certificate mailed directly from the issuing institution to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University.
   
   If you are uncertain as to whether or not your transcript lists your graduation information and degree earned, please contact your 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. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - The master's degree track is available to students currently enrolled in a certificate program. Applicants must be enrolled in one of our professional certificate programs before they can apply for admission into the MS degree track. Satisfactory completion of the GRE is required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies for admission to the Master of Science degree track. The sum of the GRE verbal and quantitative percentile rankings must equal or exceed 100. Furthermore, neither the verbal nor quantitative score may be lower than the 35th percentile for that section. In addition, only GRE test scores within the past five years will be accepted.
   
   The GRE Writing Assessment score must equal or exceed 4.0. Applicants with scores lower than 4.0 must satisfactorily complete the Loma Linda University Critical Essay or the university course in English Writing as specified by the Associate Dean for Advanced Dental Education.
   
   For information regarding the Graduate Record Examination, test locations, and test dates, please contact the Educational Testing Services (ETS) at www.ets.org. 
5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Foreign applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language as evidenced by minimum TOEFL scores of:
   • 550 - paper-based test
   • 213 - computer-based test
   • 80 - Internet-based test with a minimum of 18 on each section: reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
     
     (School code: 4062)
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).  Any applicant applying to more than one Advanced Education Program in the same year must submit a set of three letters of recommendation specifically identifying and supporting the candidate for each program.
7. Curriculum Vitae - Your curriculum vitae can be sent electronically with your online application or mailed directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.
8. Photograph - Your passport-style photograph can be sent electronically with your 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 2009-2010 academic year is $10,770 per quarter. Health insurance is $398 per quarter and the student services fees are $123 per quarter. The information technology (IT) support fee is $195 per quarter. These fees do not include instruments and textbooks that may be required.

Departmental Required Courses

Interdisciplinary Required Courses

Curriculum by Academic Year:

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

Graduation

Study may extend beyond 36 months for those pursuing a master of science (MS) degree.

Fellowship in Implant Dentistry

The surgical prosthodontic fellowship in implant dentistry is designed for those dentists who have completed advanced education programs in a specialty discipline and wish to undertake additional training in the surgical and restorative aspects of implant dentistry. Candidates typically come from the specialties of oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, and prosthodontics. In recent years, we have expanded the program to include endodontists.

This program differs from other fellowships in that it is limited to one year in length and the training is tailored to the candidate's background. However, all fellows obtain extensive exposure to surgical and restorative procedures.

Historically, the Implant Dentistry Fellowship has required full-time, five-day per week, enrollment with some limited evening and weekend on call duties for the management of implant dental emergencies.

Implant Dentistry Practicum Course - NEW

Effective January 1, 2010, the Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry will offer a new Implant Dentistry Practicum Course for graduates of U.S. and international dental schools.

This two-year, non-degree program consists of one year of internship training that includes didactic and laboratory courses in which students establish a foundation in the diagnosis, treatment planning, operating room protocol, and the laboratory procedures required for the fabrication of dental implants.  In the second year, participants continue their didactic courses, engage in the surgical placement of dental implants, perform the required laboratory procedures for their cases, and restore implants for patients with a wide range of treatment needs.  View Curriculum by Academic Quarter for the Implant Dentistry Practicum Course.

Graduates of approved U.S. Advanced Education Programs in General Dentistry (AEGD), General Dentistry Residency (GPR) programs, and those who have completed two to four years of service as a dental officer in a branch of the U.S. armed services, Indian Health Service, U.S. Public Health Services, or Veterans Administration may be exempt from the one-year internship requirement and be permitted to proceed directly to the second year for surgical training upon the successful completion of the summer quarter preclinical courses.

Alternatively, individuals who have successfully completed a U.S. or Canadian Advanced Education Program in a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association may wish to apply to the one-year Fellowship Program in Implant Dentistry.

The standard graduate tuition and fees apply for those accepted into the Implant Dentistry Practicum Course.

Internship and Externship Training in Implant Dentistry

The internship program was designed to provide general dentist an opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of implant dentistry. Trainees attend didactic courses, literature seminars, and interdisciplinary treatment-planning sessions in addition to assisting in advanced clinical and surgical implant procedures.

Training typically ranges from a little as three (3) months (externship) to as long as twelve (12) months (internship). In the Implant Dentistry Clinic the activity of externs and interns is limited to clinical and surgical assistance for faculty, fellows, and students enrolled in the three-year training program.

Interns can expect to obtain training in the following areas:

• Clinical assistance and observation in basic and advanced surgical procedures in implant dentistry.
• Clinical assistance and observation in advanced prosthodontic rehabilitation supported by dental implants.
• Attendance in didactic core courses common to other graduate programs.
• Attendance in didactic courses exclusively related to advanced implant dentistry.
• Participation in clinical and/or laboratory research in implant dentistry.
• Participation in didactic undergraduate teaching of implant dentistry.

Internship or Externship in Implant Dentistry- This program emphasizes theory and technique related to implant dentistry through lectures, seminars, and courses. Clinical activity is secondary and limited to observation and/or assisting in advanced clinical and surgical procedures related to implant dentistry. Participants register as non-degree students, and their tuition is based on the length of their study as follows:

1 month or less = 1/3 quarterly tuition

Up to 2 months = 2/3 quarterly tuition

Up to 3 months = full quarter's tuition

• Application for Fellowship
• Application for Practicum Course 
• Application for Internship or Externship