The clinical program is oriented to dentists who want to enter private practice and provide excellent Endodontic care. The placement of implants is not a component of this program. Residents treat patients with diverse Endodontic and associated problems. Degrees of difficulty range from uncomplicated to the highly complex.

Each resident has their own operatory with x-ray unit and digital radiography. The close working relationship between the attending faculty and residents allow residents to provide a variety of treatment for patients with complicated histories and clinical needs. The current faculty to student ratio (6 faculty / 8 students) meets the goals and objectives of the program. The program director is full-time. five part time faculty members each spend ½ day to 1 day per week in clinical teaching activities.

Patient referrals for consultation and treatment come from many sources including the advanced education programs at UB and private general and specialty dental practices. Endodontic residents see an array of emergency conditions for diagnosis and treatment.

The new resident is introduced to a basic technique for cleaning, shaping and obturation that includes the used of hand and rotary instrumentation and warm vertical condensation. Warm gutta-percha techniques have been taught at UB for over 30 years. In addition, methods for diagnosis, retreatment, removal of posts and broken instruments, use of ultrasonics, and more are used routinely in the clinic. The opportunity to use different treatment systems is available to the resident as they progress in the program. Of course surgical Endodontics is also taught, again with close faculty oversight and participation.

The advanced program provides Zeiss microscopes to all students as well as camera attachments, Camcorders, adaptors, co-observation ports, etc., to enhance the clinical and learning experience. By completion of the program, the resident provides at least 95% of Endodontic treatment with the microscope.

The Post-graduate students are required to purchase some chairside instrumentation such as electronic heat obturators, gutta-percha delivery systems and electronic apex locators. All instruments are supported by the program while the advanced student is matriculated. All purchases are made between the advanced student and supplier. Files, rotary files, burs and surgical instruments are provided by the program. A PC compatible laptop computer is also required.

The program length is 24 months of full-time attendance beginning August 1st, the first year. Successful completion of the program leads to a Certificate of Proficiency in Endodontics and fulfills the educational requirements of the American Board of Endodontics. Students may combine endodontic training with study for a graduate degree such as an M.S. in Oral Sciences or a Ph.D. in Oral Biology or other disciplines. The combined programs may entail a longer period of matriculation depending on the chosen graduate program.

The Advanced Program in Endodontics accepts 3 applicants to the program each year. Successful applicants are generally from the top 10% of their class though not exclusively. The selection committee reviews all aspects of an application before making any final decisions. National Board scores, Part I and/or II, are NOT required. Standardized tests, however, provide the ability for comparative review of applicants.

The Advanced Program in Endodontics includes classroom lectures and true seminar style conferences to study the art and underlying science of Endodontics. Course work is often complementary to Master of Science requirements. The Division of Endodontics maintains a private library with over 350 hard copy titles concentrating on Endodontics. Care is taken to obtain new titles as they become available. Appropriate licensed software and e-books are also made available for faculty and resident use.

Frequent case presentations and literature reviews are core activities that help residents acquire personal skills and knowledge in the program. Collegial peer and faculty review heighten this learning experience. Graduates have over a 97% success rate in passing written Endodontic board exams in the US and Canada.

The Endodontic conference room is where many activities take place. It equipped with a laptop computer, data projector, video, ether net, wireless, audio, conference phone and multiple laptop input, for didactic courses, seminars, visiting faculty, and meetings. Another room includes a desktop PC with scanners and video software for editing of clinical and teaching videos. All residents have access to Endoshare, a server holding shared PowerPoint presentations, e-books,case presentations, videos, literature reviews, and more. Residents each have their own office workspace.

The Health Sciences library is adjacent to the School of Dental Medicine and provides instructional programs and services to the health sciences schools including seminars tailored for the Advanced Program in Endodontics. Currently, the library has approximately 1370 full-text electronic journals (including 140 dental related journals), newsletters, and other serials. Biomedical databases are available through HUBNET (Hospitals and University at Buffalo Library Resources Network sponsored by 35 institutions). HUBNET is an enhanced reference and communications system that provides computer access to health-related bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE, full-text journals, clinical manuals and textbooks, drug-information resources, expert systems, and communication tools. HUBNET is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access is provided through Ethernet and wireless access available to all students throughout the UB campus.

The following are the minimum requirements for successful completion of the Advanced Program in Endodontics. Modifications may be made at the discretion of the Program Director. 

The Post-Graduate Endodontic Student: 

1) Is required to report to the Post Graduate Endodontic clinic throughout the program whether a patient is scheduled or not. The Graduate Program requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 150 non-surgical clinical cases. 10 surgical cases,  as well as complete 20 recall examinations. The Program director, with faculty consensus, can waive the minimum require if the resident has demonstrated clinical proficiency. 

2) Is required to participate in an on-call schedule as developed and defined by the Program Director and the Post Graduate students. 

3) Is required to submit and present all clinical cases on Endolit as well as evaluating all clinical cases posted by their peers. 

4) Must become and maintain student membership in the American Association of Endodontists. 

5) Is required to take the written board of the American Board of Endodontics in the final year of the program. 

6) Is required to satisfactorily complete required biomedical science didactic courses and all endodontic core courses with a grade of S or an average grade of B or better. Grades below C in any course are considered to be unsatisfactory. 

7) Is required to take and pass all oral exams given through out the program. Failing the oral exam may require remediation in a written or an oral format.

8) Is required to submit 10 cases in an ABE format using the “Endolit online forum”. 

9) Is required to attend and present in at least one annual session of the American Association of Endodontists. Financial support may or may not be available from the Division of Endodontics.

10) Is required to participate in and facilitate the presentation of Continuing Education Courses in Endodontics when sponsored by the Division. 

11) Is required to teach in the undergraduate preclinical technique course and in the pre doctoral clinic. There is no University remuneration for teaching. 

12) Is allowed 20 days per year for personal time. This would include semester breaks, intersession, personal time, practice development, etc. This excludes time spent at professional meetings and University designated Holidays (not semester breaks). ALL time away must be requested in writing (or e-mail) and approved in advance by the Program Director. 

13) Must conduct a research study in the area of clinical or basic science. The student is required to submit a thesis and a manuscript based on this study suitable for publication in a targeted peer reviewed professional journal, such as the Journal of Endodontics. Upon completion of the study, the student will be required to defend the results of their investigation before a selected panel of faculty and outside reader(s). Successful completion of these requirements must be attested to by the research mentor. The student must identify a research mentor an topic by the beginning of classes in the first semester of the program. Following, the Program director will meet with the student and Mentor to develop expectations for completion of the research project. If in a Masters Program, receipt of the Certificate of Proficiency is contingent upon successful defense of the Master’s Thesis.

Upon completion of the above requirements, a Certificate of Proficiency in Endodontics will be conferred to the student. 

Required Coursework

CLD 555 Head and Neck Anatomy

CLD 946 Postgraduate Implant Dentistry

CLD 950 Interdisciplinary Patient Care Seminar

OS 502 Physiology of Pain

OS 506 Dental Biomaterials

OS 510 Research Seminar In Oral Sciences 

OS 512 Research Design In Oral Sciences 

ODS 535 Advanced Oral Pathology 

ODS 972 Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Management 

PER 865 Book Review

PER 900 Journal Club

PER 901 Endodontic Literature Review Seminars

PER 903, PER 904, PER 924, PER 925 - Advanced Lecture Series 

PER 905 Advanced Endodontic Clinic

PER 906 Endodontic Treatment Planning and Case Presentations

PER 926 Supervised Teaching in Endodontics 

PER 927 Advanced Endodontic Techniques 

PER 928 Advanced Endodontic Surgery

PER 978 Clinical Dental Pharmacology

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Endodontics Program accepts application materials through the American Dental Education Association, Postgraduate Application Support Service (PASS). This service enables applicants to send an originals of most application materials to PASS for distribution to all the programs that the applicant selects.

Application materials for Fall 2018 enrollment will be accepted through PASS from May 17 - August 1, 2017. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Information and application materials for PASS can be obtained from: 

Postgraduate Application Support Service (PASS)

https://portal.passweb.org/

Instructions for Applicants:

• On-line PASS Application - Apply Now
• $50.00 non-refundable application fee paid on UBePay

Additional documentation to include in PASS application:

• CV / Resume
• Three Letters of Evaluation (Professional Evaluation Forms (PEFs)) to ADEA PASS (do not send directly to the school).  Graduates of US or Canadian dental schools must submit an Institutional Evaluation Form (IEF) or Dean's letter.   The other letters may be from academic faculty
  
• Official U.S. dental school transcript, official foreign dental school transcript (in English) is strongly preferred, foreign dental school transcript evaluation, translation or request for exception to PASS
• NBDE Scores are to be reported on the IEF by the Dean's Office of your respective insitution; they are not to be self-reported.  NOTE: For graduates of US or Canadian dental schools the NBDE Part I is required with Part II preferred; For graduates of international dental schools the NBDE Part I and Part II are preferred but not required.

International Applicants (in addition to the requirements listed above):

• TOEFL Score reported in ADEA PASS Application (Official score report NOT required; do not send directly to the school). Score must be at or above minimum of 550 (written) / 213 (computer based) / 79 (internet based) or better obtained within eighteen months of the application deadline.
•  ***REQUIRED ONLY if Accepted into the program:
•  UB Financial Form / Financial Scholarship Letter (This document will be submitted at a later time - Not throughPASS)
• If student is sponsored by their government, an official financial documents verifying scholarship support has to be submitted - upload in Bank Documents section
• No certificate of eligibility will be issued without satisfactory financial documentation. Financial documentation is required for visa issuance only- documentation may be submitted after acceptance but I-20 documentation cannot be issued without it.

* All documents become property of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and are not returnable to the applicant.

If you have questions regarding the application process please contact:

Advanced Education Admissions Coordinator via email: sdmpg@buffalo.edu or phone (716) 829-6927.

The Endodontic postgraduate student is required to purchase a laptop computer, electronic heat obturator, injectible gutta-percha instrument, electronic apex locator, and other misc. chairside instruments. Hand files, rotary files, and electric motors are supplied. Complete information will be given at time of interview or upon request.

Advanced Education Estimated Expenses

Additional Estimated Endodontics Expenses

CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS 

Hesham M. ElTagouri, D.M.D., M.D.S.

CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Patrick J. Battista, D.D.S.

Paul G. Calabrese, D.D.S., M.S.

Hatim A. Hamad, D.D.S., M.S 

Lucila Piasecki, D.D.S., M.S. Ph.D.

Richard Rubin, D.D.S., M.S.

Sandra Shostad, D.M.D., M.S

Harry Singh, D.D.S.

Steven M. Stern, D.D.S.

Giana Siegel, D.D.S.

Michael Vatral, D.D.S., M.S 

ASSISTANT CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS

Michael Gengo, D.D.S.

EMERITUS

Eugene A. Pantera, Jr., D.D.S., M.S.

Ming Shih Levine, D.D.S., M.S.

Continuing Education Program Overview

The Department of Endodontics offers an advanced education course entitled “Individualized Advanced Education Program” in Endodontics (IAEP/Endo). The Program is designed to allow the dentist with specialty training the opportunity to focus their study on a special interest area within their discipline. The course curriculum is tailored to include experiences in clinical or basic research, clinical and didactic teaching methodologies.

Program Details

This course is twelve months (1 year) in length, beginning January 1 and ending on December 31st. The tuition is $32,280.00 per year, made up of four non-refundable quarterly payments of $8,070.00. Upon completion of the program, 500 CEU’s and a certificate of completion from the Continuing Education Department is awarded. In addition, you may need to purchase a laptop (College’s choice), scrubs, and certain textbooks. Details will be provided upon acceptance.

Completion of the Continuing Education Program is an educational goal in itself, and in no way insures acceptance to a Postgraduate Residency Program. Although many resources will be provided by the endodontic division, this is a Continuing Education program and is not listed on the University at Buffalo Registrar’s records.

Course Objectives

Actively participate in a research project with the goal being an abstract for a national meeting and future presentation.

Participate in the Endodontic dental core curriculum Attend the Endodontic Dental case conferences
Attend all Endodontic Dental seminars and journal clubs

This program does not permit participants to perform any clinical procedures on patients. 

Faculty: All UB Division of Endodontics faculty participate in the program.

Course Director: Dr. Adham A. Azim