Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry

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) 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

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. Additional information on this process can be found in the University Catalog. http://ssweb.llu.edu/backgroundcheck

Admissions Requirements:

The following information and documentation are required for all applications:

See admissions criteria.

1. Transcript(s) - Only official transcript(s) will be accepted. Transcripts for all pre-dental and dental schools attended should be submitted by these institutions to Admissions Processing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350. No hand-delivered transcripts can be accepted. Applicants who have transcripts from non-US and non-Canadian dental schools must submit a translated course-by-course transcript report from one of the following agencies:
   • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE)
     (414) 289-3400 (www.ece.org)
   • World Education Services, Inc (WES)
     (305) 358-6688 (www.wes.org)
   • American Association of Collegiate Registrars And Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
     (202) 293-9161 (www.aacrao.org/international/foreignedcred.cfm)
   • See International Transcript Information
2. 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.
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - 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 scores must equal or exceed the sum of scores that correspond to the 50th percentile for each of those sections. Furthermore, neither the verbal nor quantitative score may be lower than the score corresponding to the 35th percentile for that section. In addition, only GRE test scores within the past five years will be accepted. (School code: 4062)
   
   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.
4. National Dental Board examinations - Successful completion of the National Dental Board Part I and Part II (if available) is required.
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.
7. Curriculum Vitae - Send your curriculum vitae directly to the Office of Advanced Dental Education.
8. Photograph - Include a recent, passport-style photograph of yourself (optional, but recommended). Send it 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 and non-U.S. applicants.  So please apply early.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year is $9,676 per quarter. Health insurance is $360 per quarter and the student services fees are $110 per quarter. The information technology (IT) support fee is $165 per quarter.  Other program-specific fees may apply. These fees do not include instruments and textbooks that may be required.

A separate fee of $800.00 is charged for the GRDN 632 Basic Microsurgery Techniques course (2 units). This fee does not include instruments and textbooks.

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.

Externship/Internship 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 but do not treat patients.

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 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. 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

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