Periodontics, Certificate

Approved by the American Dental Association, the Periodontics program is designed to provide postdoctoral students with advanced training in periodontics and implantology. Upon successful completion of the program, students are issued a certificate in periodontics and are qualified for examination by the American Board of Periodontology. In addition to the core basic science courses required for all graduate students, the department arranges further basic science courses related to periodontics.

Other features of the program include clinical seminars, planned reading seminars, interschool symposia, and an extensive guest lecture series. The highly respected research environment at Penn Dental Medicine and throughout the University of Pennsylvania provides a valuable opportunity for students applying to post-doctoral programs to combine their specialty training with advanced research and academic opportunities.

Additional Program Options

Penn Dental Medicine also offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) and a Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) that can be earned concurrent with a specialty certificate, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care. Through the MSOB and DScD programs, students are encouraged to pursue their individual research interests with projects that can span the diverse disciplines and research labs within Penn Dental Medicine’s basic and clinical sciences and across the University.


This degree requires a minimum of 200 Credit Hours.
Curriculum

Program Timeline

  • Academic Track
    • MSOB and Certificate: 3 years
    • DScD and Certificate: 5 .5 years
  • Clinical Certificate Track
    • Certificate only: 3 years

All Dental Medicine certificate students share a common core of required courses throughout the first year. In addition, students complete additional courses specific to their particular program. 

Program Requirements (Certificate Only)

  • Core Graduate Dental Education Courses (Year 1 only)
  • Program Specific Courses (Years 1 - 3 Didactic & Clinical)
  • Literature Review (Years 1 - 3)
  • Case Presentations (Years 1 - 2)
  • Program Seminars (Years 1 - 3)
  • Clinical Rotations (Years 1 - 3)

Periodontics Certificate

First Year Core Curriculum
DADE 9100Clinical Microbiology0.5
DADE 9110Ethics0.25
DADE 9120Genetics, Embryology0.25
DADE 9140Maxillofacial Radiology0.25
DADE 9150Nitrous Oxide Analgesia1
DADE 9160Practice Management0.25
DADE 9170Pathology0.25
DADE 9180Pulp/Dentin Biology0.25
DADE 9190Head and Neck Anatomy0.75
DADE 9200Advance Library0.25
DADE 9210Cultural Competency0.25
DADE 9220Pharmacology0.5
DADE 9230Osteoimmunology2
DADE 9240Oral Medicine0.25
DADE 9250Nutrition & Oral Health0.25
DADE 9260Wound Healing2
DADE 9270Grand Rounds0.5
DADE 9280Biostatistics1
DADE 9290Pulp/Dentin Biology0.25
DADE 9300Maxillofacial Trauma0.25
First Year Fall
GPRD 9010Intro To Periodontology7
GPRD 9020Intro To Perio Pros5
GPRD 9030Clinical Perio I12
GPRD 9040Cl Lit Review I2
GPRD 9050Cur Lit Review I2
GPRD 9060Perio Case Pres I1.5
GPRD 9070Perio-Pros Case Pres I1.5
GPRD 9080Fund of Perio I2
GPRD 9090Fund of Perio-Pros I2
GPRD 9100Sedation Seminar I0.5
GPRD 9110Minor Adult Ortho I1
GPRD 9120Adv Topics in Perio I1
GPRD 9140Surgical Endo0.25
GPRD 9150Hospital Oral Medicine1.25
GPRD 9160Medically Compromised1.25
GPRD 9170Perio Practice Mgmt1.25
GPRD 9180Clinical Perio1.25
First Year Spring
GPRD 9190Cl Lit Review II3.25
GPRD 9200Current Lit Review II3.25
GPRD 9210Perio Case Pres II2.5
GPRD 9220Perio-Pros Case Pres II2.5
GPRD 9230Fund of Perio II3.25
GPRD 9240Fund of Perio-Pros II3.25
GPRD 9250Sedation Seminar II0.75
GPRD 9260Minor Adult Ortho II1.5
GPRD 9270Adv Topics in Perio II1.5
GPRD 9290In-Service Exam0.5
GPRD 9300Oral Comp Exam0.25
Second Year Fall
GPRD 9310Clinical Perio IIi19.5
GPRD 9320Classic Lit Review IIi3.25
GPRD 9330Current Lit Review IIi3.25
GPRD 9340Perio Case IIi2.5
GPRD 9360Adv Topics in Perio IIi1.5
Second Year Spring
GPRD 9370Clin Perio Iv19.5
GPRD 9380Classic Lit Rev Iv3.25
GPRD 9390Current Lit Rev Iv3.25
GPRD 9410Perio-Pros Case Pres Iv2.5
GPRD 9420Sedation Seminar Iv0.5
GPRD 9430Adv Topics in Perio Iv1.5
GPRD 9440In Service Exam II0.5
GPRD 9450Oral Comp Exam II0.25
Third Year Fall
GPRD 9460Clinincal Perio V19.5
GPRD 9470Classic Lit Review V3.25
GPRD 9480Current Lit Review V3.25
GPRD 9490Perio Case Pres V2.5
GPRD 9510Sedation Seminar V0.75
GPRD 9520Adv Topics in Perio V1.5
Third Year Spring
GPRD 9540Clinical Perio Vi19.5
GPRD 9550Gprd Classic Lit Rev Vi3.25
GPRD 9560Current Lit Rev Vi3.25
GPRD 9570Perio Case Prese Vi2.5
GPRD 9590Sedation Seminar Vi0.75
GPRD 9600Adv Topics Perio Vi1.5
GPRD 9610Board Review Seminar II1.5
GPRD 9620In-Service Exam IIi0.5
GPRD 9630Oral Comp Exam IIi0.25

Core Graduate Dental Education Courses

Year 1
Fall
Clinical Microbiology
Ethics
Genetics, Embryology
Maxillofacial Radiology
Nitrous Oxide Analgesia
Practice Management
Pathology
Pulp/Dentin Biology
Head and Neck Anatomy
Advance Library
Spring
Head and Neck Anatomy
Advance Library
Cultural Competency
Pharmacology
Osteoimmunology
Oral Medicine
Nutrition & Oral Health
Wound Healing
Grand Rounds
Biostatistics
Pulp/Dentin Biology
Maxillofacial Trauma

Master of Science in Oral Biology

The School of Dental Medicine also offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB). Enrollment in the MSOB program is limited to individuals concurrently registered in one of the postgraduate specialty training (certificate) programs. Candidates receive the MSOB degree after completion of both their specialty training and the Master’s curriculum, which consists of didactic, seminar, and research practicum courses. The MSOB program is comprised of two tracks designed for outstanding students who are interested in either integrating research or structured evidence-based learning into their post-graduate education.

Depending on the track selected, research activities or a systematic literature review form the core of the MSOB program. Students are expected to participate in a clinical or basic science research project of sufficient scope and intensity or a formally structured and critically evaluated literature review focused on an important oral health-related research or clinical question. A thesis composed of an in-depth review of the relevant literature along with a manuscript reporting the results of the research or a systematic review is required for graduation for the research and evidence-based learning tracks respectively.

Additional MSOB Course Requirements
Intro To Statistics
Systematic Reviews

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.