Program Quick Facts
Pediatric Dentistry is an age-defined branch of dentistry that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. The program in Pediatric Dentistry is designed to offer the graduate student a curriculum that is balanced in didactic and clinical areas. The primary goal of the program is to develop a biologically oriented, technically capable, and socially sensitive pediatric dentist who is capable of providing comprehensive care to all pediatric patients. Emphasis is placed on hospital dentistry, special needs patient care, sedation, and interceptive orthodontics. Clinical training is provided in hospital- and university-based clinics.
All courses within this program are taught face to face, on campus at the School of Dentistry in Dallas. This program may require off-campus assignments at local, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex hospitals or dental clinics.
Clinical instruction includes training in advanced diagnosis and treatment planning, treatment of traumatic injuries, pharmacological and non-pharmacological behavior management, and interceptive orthodontics. Hospital and operating room protocol, oral rehabilitation, and prevention are included in the clinical component. Clinical rotations include assignments to the dental clinics at Children's Medical Center, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and the College of Dentistry. In addition, there are other hospital clinical rotations - such as anesthesia, craniofacial team, emergency on-call, and pediatric medicine.
Didactic training is School of Dentistry-based, with support from hospital and special care facility personnel. Didactic instruction consists of core curriculum courses and seminars in pediatric dentistry. The majority of core courses are assigned during the first year to provide a solid base for the pediatric specialty course and allow more time for clinical experience in the second year. All aspects of the specialty of pediatric dentistry are included in the didactic instruction. The didactic courses comprise approximately 20% of the program.
Teaching responsibilities, including technique classes and clinical instruction, are required by the program. A research project, suitable for publication, is required for the certificate. Upon successful completion of all components of the program, the student receives a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and meets the advanced education eligibility requirements of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. It is required that each student take the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry qualifying examination prior to graduation from the program.
The Pediatric Dentistry Certificate program is 24 months in length, beginning in mid- to late June each year. Up to 11 new positions are available each year. All applicants must have a DDS or DMD degree or equivalent. All applicants must have a Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (MATCH) number and all applications must be made through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) portal. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, and passing scores on the National Board Dental Examinations and the Advanced Dental Admission Test. The deadline to apply is October 1 of each year.
An optional, 32 credit hour MS in Oral Biology or a 42 hour online MPH may be attempted during the pediatric dentistry certificate program. In lieu of an MPH, a student may elect to pursue an online Certificate in Public Health. These degrees are not fully integrated with the certificate program. It is anticipated that candidates pursuing both a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and an advanced degree will require additional time in residency to achieve the advanced degree. Additional tuition will be incurred. Contact the program for additional information on these options.
This program prepares students for the opportunity to pursue an occupational license. Please refer to the Notification for Students Pursuing an Occupational License in our catalog for additional information.
All courses within this program are taught face to face, on campus at the School of Dentistry in Dallas. This program may require off-campus assignments at local, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex hospitals or dental clinics.
Clinical instruction includes training in advanced diagnosis and treatment planning, treatment of traumatic injuries, pharmacological and non-pharmacological behavior management, and interceptive orthodontics. Hospital and operating room protocol, oral rehabilitation, and prevention are included in the clinical component. Clinical rotations include assignments to the dental clinics at Children's Medical Center, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and the College of Dentistry. In addition, there are other hospital clinical rotations - such as anesthesia, craniofacial team, emergency on-call, and pediatric medicine.
Didactic training is School of Dentistry-based, with support from hospital and special care facility personnel. Didactic instruction consists of core curriculum courses and seminars in pediatric dentistry. The majority of core courses are assigned during the first year to provide a solid base for the pediatric specialty course and allow more time for clinical experience in the second year. All aspects of the specialty of pediatric dentistry are included in the didactic instruction. The didactic courses comprise approximately 20% of the program.
Teaching responsibilities, including technique classes and clinical instruction, are required by the program. A research project, suitable for publication, is required for the certificate. Upon successful completion of all components of the program, the student receives a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and meets the advanced education eligibility requirements of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. It is required that each student take the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry qualifying examination prior to graduation from the program.
The Pediatric Dentistry Certificate program is 24 months in length, beginning in mid- to late June each year. Up to 11 new positions are available each year. All applicants must have a DDS or DMD degree or equivalent. All applicants must have a Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (MATCH) number and all applications must be made through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) portal. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, and passing scores on the National Board Dental Examinations and the Advanced Dental Admission Test. The deadline to apply is October 1 of each year.
An optional, 32 credit hour MS in Oral Biology or a 42 hour online MPH may be attempted during the pediatric dentistry certificate program. In lieu of an MPH, a student may elect to pursue an online Certificate in Public Health. These degrees are not fully integrated with the certificate program. It is anticipated that candidates pursuing both a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and an advanced degree will require additional time in residency to achieve the advanced degree. Additional tuition will be incurred. Contact the program for additional information on these options.
This program prepares students for the opportunity to pursue an occupational license. Please refer to the Notification for Students Pursuing an Occupational License in our catalog for additional information.