Masters in Dentistry in USA

The advanced dental education program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology provides participants the opportunity to acquire specific knowledge and develop skills necessary to perform accepted standards of an oral and maxillofacial pathology practice. This 36-month residency program is intended for those planning to teach or practice oral and maxillofacial pathology.

The Center for Advanced Dental Education at Saint Louis University offers a program in the specialty of pediatric dentistry that leads to a Master of Science in Dentistry and a certificate in pediatric dentistry. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for limitation of practice to pediatric dentistry and examination by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Emphasis is placed on all phases of pediatric dentistry. At the end of the program, the student will be able to provide comprehensive oral health care for the well child, the medically compromised child and the child with special health care needs. Extensive experience is provided in the areas of sedation, analgesia and the use of general anesthesia to deliver dental treatment. Research experience is gained through completion of a master’s thesis research project.

The pediatric dental postgraduate program is located in a newly remodeled six-chair clinic. Each operatory is equipped with digital radiographic capabilities and nitrous oxide. A small office area, as well as break room, library and classrooms are provided for the residents.

The program prepares licensed dental hygienists for an advanced practice role. The goal is to enhance the oral health of underserved and diverse populations by providing individuals who have a baccalaureate degree with the theoretical and applied skills needed to be eligible for licensure as a dental therapist and credentialing as an advanced dental therapist in the state of Minnesota. These new intra-professional team members are educated to the same standard of care as a dentist for their defined scope of practice and currently provide care under the supervision of a licensed dentist through a collaborative management agreement. 

The School of Dentistry in collaboration with the UAB Graduate School offers graduate studies leading to a Master of Science (MS) degree in Dentistry. The objective of the program is to relate basic biological sciences to health and diseases of the oral cavity and craniofacial complex. This program is designed for individuals holding a D.D.S., D.M.D., or B.A/B.S. (biology, chemistry, biomedical science major) with minimal or no research experience. This program will provide training in dental academics and teaching and research in basic or applied sciences. Students can pursue research studies focused on clinical dentistry, oral biology, or biomaterials.

The 2-year program consists of course work, seminars, journal club, and a laboratory component. Course work includes formal lectures and courses offered within the School of Dentistry. A significant portion of the program is devoted to the design and completion of a thesis research project carried out under the supervision of the faculty mentor. The diversity of clinical, translational and basic biomedical disciplines in the Dental School offers opportunities for students to pursue studies in a stimulating research environment.

To earn your degree, you can follow one of two paths. In the first, if you hold a B.S., a B.A. with a science major, or a D.M.D., D.D.S, or B.D.S. degree, you'll have the opportunity to earn an M.S. in Dentistry with a focus on Dental Biomaterials or Oral Biology. For the second, those with a D.M.D., D.D.S, or B.D.S. degree who have been accepted to a postdoctoral residency program in Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Endodontics, Periodontology, or Prosthodontics can apply in order to pursue an M.S.

Regardless of your track, successful completion of the program requires acceptance to the UAB Graduate School and a minimum of 30 graduate credits. Of these,18 credits must be selected from graduate-level courses approved for the program and a minimum of 12 credits of research. Each student must orally defend a master's thesis based on their research. If the applicant holds a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree, the MS program may be combined with a clinical residency training only after acceptance into the clinical specialty certificate program. Residents earning a master's degree, regardless of specialty/status, will be charged tuition by the UAB Graduate School for enrollment in the master's program.

Old Dominion University's School of Dental Hygiene is committed to the preparation of dental hygienists for accountable leadership roles in today's health system. Our innovative curriculum leading to a master of science degree places emphasis on dental hygiene, with options for education, administration/management, research, marketing and community health. Through academic courses, independent study, research and practical experience, graduate candidates are prepared to meet the present demand for dental hygiene leaders, practitioners, educators, oral health promoters, administrators/managers and researchers.

Students who pursue a career in dentistry may elect any major. Previous students that have successfully matriculated into dental school have majored in a variety of fields including Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Spanish, History, and English. Regardless of the undergraduate degree, students interested in pursuing dental school must complete the courses in the Predentistry Concentration and any additional prerequisite courses required by the dental program. While most dental schools only require three years of undergraduate work for admission into their program, an overwhelming majority of students have earned a bachelor’s degree. Admission to dental programs is dependent on several factors in addition to the courses completed, such as GPA, passion for dentistry, and the student’s performance on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT).

The School of Dentistry offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science Degree in Dentistry for postgraduate students/residents enrolled in Advanced Specialty Certificate Programs in Endodontics, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics.

The M.S. in Oral Health Sciences program is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to pursue an advanced science degree. This flexible program allows students to choose either to survey a range of oral health disciplines or to pursue an interest in one particular discipline. Students may pursue a Clinical Specialty Track, a Clinical Internship Track, or a Non-Clinical Track. Each track requires completion of 30 credits of coursework, with an emphasis on producing a scholarly work that demonstrates mastery of the scientific method and creation of new knowledge.