Graduate Programs

Fields of Study

In addition to the general requirements for the degree program as described in the following pages, the various departments may specify additional didactic or clinical requirements in order for students to qualify for a major or minor in that field. Details regarding specific course requirements for individual graduate (degree) and postgraduate (certificate) programs are available from the School of Dentistry. Contact the Office of Graduate Education (for the M.S., M.S.D., and Ph.D. programs) and the Department of Oral Surgery and Hospital Dentistry for the general practice residency and the oral and maxillofacial surgery residency (see Contact Information).

Dental Materials

Available as an M.S. or M.S.D. degree program or as a track offered in the Ph.D. in Dental Science degree program. Minor concentration: operative dentistry or prosthodontics (for M.S.D. degree); chemistry, material science engineering, or mechanical engineering (for M.S. degree). For details about the Ph.D. dental biomaterials track, see the Dental Biomaterials Track Core Curriculum section of this bulletin.

Core Competencies

Graduates of the two-year postdoctoral program in dental materials will achieve core competencies in Materials Knowledge, Critical Thinking, and Effective Communication.

Materials Knowledge

The graduate will be prepared to:

  1. Describe major classes of dental biomaterials used in clinical dentistry;
  2. Explain the differences in the chemical nature of the major classes of materials;
  3. Recognize the effects of chemical nature on the mechanical behavior of materials; and
  4. Describe the relationship between material characteristics and clinical performance of dental biomaterials.

Critical Thinking

The graduate will be prepared to:

  1. Identify the physical and chemical principles of major material testing methods;
  2. Select and justify appropriate testing methods for major classes of dental biomaterials; and
  3. Formulate hypotheses and design the necessary experiments for a given material evaluation scenario.

Effective Communication

The graduate will be prepared to:

  1. Present research methods and results correctly in oral and written reports;
  2. Provide evidence-based arguments on research findings in oral and written reports; and
  3. Provide suggestions on dental biomaterial selection based on current dental literature.
Dental Science

Ph.D. degree program offering tracks in preventive dentistry, oral biology, and dental biomaterials. For details about the Ph.D. degree, see the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Dental Science section of this bulletin.

Core Competencies

The graduate of the Ph.D. program in dental science will be prepared to:

  1. demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the biology of the oral cavity;
  2. demonstrate the principles/mechanisms pertinent to human physiology and disease;
  3. demonstrate competency in performing complex scientific  literature searches;
  4. write a detailed grant proposal;
  5. express scientific material, including original research data, in both oral and written form;
  6. demonstrate skills in critical thinking; and
  7. plan and undertake independent research.
Endodontics

M.S.D. degree program. Minor concentration: oral pathology.

Core Competencies

The advanced specialty education program in endodontics is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Indiana University School of Dentistry’s learning outcomes for the master’s degree in endodontics are fully supportive of the outcomes required by the ADA. IU’s program follows academic and clinical standards determined by the commission to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dentally related education, and to reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. Full details are published in the ADA’s Standards for Dental Education Programs under Advanced Specialty Education Programs, Endodontics Standard 4: Curriculum and Program Duration (http://www.ada.org/115.aspx#general).

General Practice Residency (GPR)

One-year hospital-based postgraduate residency leading to a certificate. Residents provide services at two hospital-based clinics as well as a community health center. Rotations in oral and maxillofacial surgery, general anesthesia, family practice medicine, the Indiana University Cancer Center, and the Orofacial Pain Clinic. There are no tuition fees. For application forms, admission requirements, and other information about the GPR program, contact the School of Dentistry’s Department of Oral Surgery and Hospital Dentistry (see Contact Information).

Core Competencies

The graduate of the general practice residency program will be prepared to:

  1. function as a patient’s primary care provider, treating or managing all aspects of oral health care using advanced dental treatment modalities as well as understanding the oral health needs of the community by engaging in community service and directing health promotion and disease prevention activities;
  2. enhance and expand knowledge and skills in multidisciplinary comprehensive and emergency dental care, therefore providing a greater confidence in all phases of professional life;
  3. plan and provide multidisciplinary oral health care for a wide variety of patients including patients with special needs and while utilizing the values of professional ethics, lifelong learning, patient-centered care, adaptability, and acceptance of cultural diversity in professional practice.
  4. interact with other health care professionals in the hospitals, outpatient clinics, community health center environments, and within interdisciplinary health care teams, in order to facilitate the patients' total health care; and 
  5. participate in critical-thinking analysis, evidenced-based care, and technology-based information retrieval systems and apply this knowledge in treatment decisions and continuous quality improvement.
Operative Dentistry

M.S.D. degree program. Minor concentration: dental materials or preventive dentistry.

Core Competencies

Graduates of the two-year postdoctoral program in operative dentistry will be prepared to:

  1. manage caries risk patients based on Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA);
  2. discuss current direct and indirect dental restorative materials (gold, dental amalgam, ceramics, glass ionomer cement, and resin-matrix composite) including associated setting reactions, physical properties, and indications and contraindications for their clinical use;
  3. demonstrate clinical proficiency when performing routine and advanced restorative procedures;
  4. demonstrate a broad knowledge base of dental restorative materials and procedures;
  5. demonstrate knowledge of current restorative dentistry scientific literature;
  6. develop and present evidence-based restorative dentistry lectures; and
  7. develop a research protocol and perform controlled dental research.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Four-year hospital-based postgraduate residency leading to a certificate in the specialty. For application forms, admission requirements, and other information about this program, contact the School of Dentistry’s Department of Oral Surgery and Hospital Dentistry (see Contact Information).

Core Competencies

The advanced specialty education program in oral and maxillofacial surgery is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Indiana University School of Dentistry’s learning outcomes for the specialty certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery are fully supportive of the outcomes required by the ADA. IU’s program follows academic and clinical standards determined by the commission to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dentally related education, and to reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. Full details are published in the ADA’s Standards for Dental Education Programs under Advanced Specialty Education Programs, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Standard 4: Curriculum and Program Duration (http://www.ada.org/115.aspx#general).

Orthodontics

M.S.D. degree program. Minor concentration: dental materials, oral pathology, dental education, or life sciences.

Core Competencies

The advanced specialty education program in orthodontics is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Indiana University School of Dentistry’s learning outcomes for the master’s degree in orthodontics are fully supportive of the outcomes required by the ADA. IU’s program follows academic and clinical standards determined by the commission to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dentally related education, and to reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. Full details are published in the ADA’s Standards for Dental Education Programs under Advanced Specialty Education Programs, Orthodontics and Dental Facial Orthopedics Standard 4: Curriculum and Program Duration (http://www.ada.org/115.aspx#general).

Pediatric Dentistry

M.S.D. degree program (hospital-based). Minor concentration: child psychology, dental materials, education, genetics, oral pathology, preventive dentistry, radiology, or speech pathology.

Core Competencies

The advanced specialty education program in pediatric dentistry is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Indiana University School of Dentistry’s learning outcomes for the master’s degree in pediatric dentistry are fully supportive of the outcomes required by the ADA. IU’s program follows academic and clinical standards determined by the commission to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dentally related education, and to reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. Full details are published in the ADA’s Standards for Dental Education Programs under Advanced Specialty Education Programs, Pediatric Dentistry Standard 4: Curriculum and Program Duration (http://www.ada.org/115.aspx#general).

Periodontics

M.S.D. degree program. Minor concentration: oral pathology.

Core Competencies

The advanced specialty education program in periodontics is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Indiana University School of Dentistry’s learning outcomes for the master’s degree in periodontics are fully supportive of the outcomes required by the ADA. IU’s program follows academic and clinical standards determined by the commission to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dentally related education, and to reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. Full details are published in the ADA’s Standards for Dental Education Programs under Advanced Specialty Education Programs, Periodontics Standard 4: Curriculum and Program Duration (http://www.ada.org/115.aspx#general).

Preventive Dentistry

Available as an M.S. or M.S.D. degree program or as a track offered in the Ph.D. in Dental Science degree program. Minor concentration: life sciences, operative dentistry, microbiology, or public health (for M.S. and M.S.D. degree). For details about the Ph.D. preventive dentistry track, see the Preventive Dentistry Track Core Curriculum section of this bulletin.

Core Competencies

The graduates of the preventive dentistry program upon graduation will be able to define terms and explain basic principles, concepts, and theories related to Cariology. They will be prepared to:

  1. describe the dental caries process in detail;
  2. describe and contrast the interaction of the etiological factors associated with dental caries;
  3. distinguish and assess the different presentations of dental caries;
  4. recognize the epidemiology of dental caries;
  5. discriminate populations at high risk for dental caries;
  6. analyze the external and internal risk determinants of dental caries;
  7. compare and contrast the different methodologies utilized for caries detection;
  8. demonstrate diagnosis of dental caries;
  9. assess caries risk status;
  10. assess salivary flow measurements, buffering capacity, and management approaches for patients with low salivary flow;
  11. compare and contrast some of the different strategies utilized for caries management;
  12. discriminate the therapeutics used in caries management;
  13. compare and contrast the use of sealants based on risk assessment, for individuals and populations;
  14. support the values of prevention, evaluation, and reevaluation;
  15. develop an Oral Health Plan to be incorporated by a health professional team;
  16. develop a community health plan;
  17. summarize the basic principles on developing patient education plans;
  18. critically review scientific methodology; and
  19. recognize the different methodologies and techniques related to caries research.
Prosthodontics

M.S.D. degree program. The maxillofacial prosthetics track is hospital-based. Minor concentration: dental materials.

Core Competencies

The advanced specialty education program in prosthodontics is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation. Indiana University School of Dentistry’s learning outcomes for the master’s degree in prosthodontics are fully supportive of the outcomes required by the ADA. IU’s program follows academic and clinical standards determined by the commission to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dentally related education, and to reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. Full details are published in the ADA’s Standards for Dental Education Programs under Advanced Specialty Education Programs, Prosthodontics Standard 4: Curriculum and Program Duration (http://www.ada.org/115.aspx#general).

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