Advanced Education Program in Periodontics

Faculty

General Information

Application Method

Contact Information

Program Description

The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics offers a three-year program leading to the award of a specialty certificate and an optional master of science (MS) degree or master of science in dentistry (MSD) degree. The certificate in periodontics prepares students for a specialty practice and provides the basis for continuing professional development following completion of the program.

Specific emphasis is placed on various high-level technique procedures to include esthetic prosthetic related mucogingival surgery, root form implant placement, preparatory augmentation, and repairs. Training includes both didactic and clinical components as well as research opportunities.

The goals of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics 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 Periodontics.

Application and Admission Process

Effective January 1, 2009, the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics will institute a ROLLING ADMISSIONS POLICY.  This means that candidates will be selected for admission during the application period until the class is filled.  Once the class has been filled an announcement will be posted on the program's description on the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry website, and the admissions process will be closed for the year.  It is in your best interest to complete your application (including the required online Loma Linda University application) as soon as possible.

The admissions period to submit an application opens on January 1, 2009 and ends on September 1, 2009 or when all positions have been filled, whichever comes first.

Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) - The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics 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.

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 Periodontics 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 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.

   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) For Master's Track - 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. National Dental Board examinations - Successful completion of the National Dental Board Part I and Part II (if available) is required for all U.S.-trained applicants.  Please allow plenty of time for your NBDE score report request 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
6. 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.
7. 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.
   
8. Curriculum Vitae - Your curriculum vitae can be sent electronically with your online application or mailed directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.
   
9. Photograph - Your passport-style photograph can be sent electronically with your online application or mailed directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education. 

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 or the Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree.

*Courses are offered every other year.