Summer Orientation

The summer program is used to establish a solid foundation in the skills that residents will use throughout their program and career.  The first portion of the experience is a one-week technique course taught at an affiliated Orthodontics laboratory. The course consists of study model fabrication, laboratory appliance fabrication, 3D technology, diagnostic setups and development of other clinical skills. The second portion is the standard edgewise and multi-loop edgewise typodont course. This course prepares residents for the Tweed Technique course that they attend at the Tweed Foundation in Tucson, AZ.  Both experiences assure that, regardless of the varied orthodontic experiences obtained in their individual dental educations, each resident becomes similarly equipped prior to beginning the formal portion of their first year. At the conclusion of the summer program, residents participate in dental photography, impression, diagnosis and treatment planning, computer and internet technology and other clinically relevant seminars to prepare them for beginning clinical care.

First Year

The first year curriculum focuses primarily on foundational didactic courses and clinical experiences and secondarily on exposure to research topics and methodology. Approximately ten clinically relevant didactic courses are provided in the first year including clinical Cephalometrics, Growth and Development, and Biomechanics. The students also register for specific core courses to fulfill requirements of the Graduate School. Additionally, these courses are designed to prepare a clinician who has a sound foundation in biomedical sciences and who can continue to evolve and integrate novel findings in practice after graduation.  The students also begin their initial teaching experience serving as teaching assistants within the third year dental student laboratory course.

Second Year

The second year curriculum focuses on developing greater depth, breadth, and sophistication in didactic knowledge and clinical experience. Additionally, it is expected that students provide a progressively increased contribution to classes, such as ABO case presentations, Journal review, ABO review, Case transfer class, Aligner therapy, and Orthognathic surgery. This format requires that the students have a detailed knowledge and understanding in order to present the material, enhancing active learning and improving presentation skills.

Third Year

The overall objectives of the third year are to synthesize and refine the concepts learned on the principles and clinical practice of orthodontics and help develop a mature, competent and confident orthodontist.  As a reflection of their growing confidence and maturity, the students are expected to facilitate in leading class discussions and provide critiques of points that are raised. In addition to continuing to participate and present cases, the students make every attempt to complete as many cases as possible to the highest possible level. Each student must complete and defend a thesis in partial fulfillment of the Master’s program.  It is the current goal of the department that all residents be prepared to take the ABO Phase III clinical examination upon program completion.

Outline of the core and orthodontic curriculums

* Offered every other year

The UBSDM orthodontic clinic fills a number of educational and therapeutic functions:

• Provides the Western New York public with high-quality orthodontic care according to the standards demanded by the American Board of Orthodontics
• Enables orthodontic patients to receive treatment by the residents in the Orthodontic Department under the care of highly skilled specialist orthodontists
• Gives the residents a valuable opportunity to apply the latest treatment techniques while also providing the patients under their care with treatment that is of the highest caliber

The clinical course of instruction is designed to satisfy all of the requirements that make the orthodontic residents eligible for certification as specialist and diplomate with the American Board of Orthodontics.  The postgraduate residents admitted to the UBSDM orthodontic program are expected to demonstrate a high level of clinic proficiency and professionalism of the highest standard.

Each resident is assigned to one operatory. Operatories are situated so that a senior, junior, and first-year resident work in close proximity in order to facilitate the learning experience. Each resident starts a minimum of 50-55 cases during the first year of the program and accept over 25 transfer cases during their second and third year. The program director evenly distributes cases to residents based on type and complexity, and each case is assigned to a faculty member to oversee diagnosis, treatment planning, and efficient comprehensive care.

Residents are trained in the full spectrum of contemporary techniques with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment planning. Among the techniques available are pre-adjusted edgewise appliances (both 0.018 and 0.022 slot size), removable appliances, customized lingual appliances, orthopedic appliances, in-office clear aligners, and temporary anchorage devices. Residents receive annual laser certification and have access to a Diode laser to perform routine procedures within the orthodontic clinic.

Residents gain in depth knowledge and become competent in treatment planning complex cases with multidisciplinary approaches in collaboration with multiple advanced education programs.

Twenty-one operatories equipped with a dental chair, high- and low-speed handpiece connections enable the department to have each resident assigned to a specific operatory. Much of the daily equipment and supplies are located within individual operatories for greater patient care efficiency.

To keep abreast of technology advancements, the clinic utilizes digital 3D intraoral scanning, 3D printing, soft tissue diode lasers, and cone-beam computed tomography. Also, a 3D dental benchtop scanner of study models for clinical and research purposes is available within the department.

A full-function orthodontic clinical laboratory, including an area for model fabrication and trimming room, is located near the clinic.

All residents are required to perform an approved, hypothesis-driven Master's research project and submit their work to the Graduate School in order to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Orthodontics. 

Residents in the program are eligible to apply for research travel awards.  The Dr. John J. Cunat Scholarship award supports travel for orthodontics residents presenting their work at national meetings.

The following theses were successfully defended by the Class of 2023:

The 36-month program provides sufficient time for residents to complete the required Masters of Science degree in Orthodontics. It is mandatory for each resident to take and pass the written American Board of Orthodontics examination (Part II). Residents are also required to submit 6 completed cases in the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) format for grading.  Completing the Part III clinical ABO examination while not required, is highly recommended. 

At all times, the faculty will place the quality of the education provided to the residents above all other considerations. The Department continually evaluates the program in both formative and summative ways. Each resident will be required to complete certain projects, which will count toward the grade he/she receives. They will also be required to treat a minimum number of patients and to present the records of these patients to a group consisting of faculty and fellow residents.

Travel opportunities for courses offered outside of the department's curriculum are encouraged and in some cases, required.  To broaden the learning experience, a medical teaching model is expected, whereby first, second, and third year residents work in teams in conjunction with the faculty.

Teaching is a required element for the program and helps many of our graduates prepare for full- and part-time teaching roles following graduation. Residents spend at least 3 hours per week (on a rotating basis) teaching the basics of orthodontics to junior and senior dental students.

Each resident must provide his or her own camera for use during the program. We would strongly advise you to purchase a suitable dental camera and learn how to use it in a clinical situation prior to beginning this orthodontic course.  

Record keeping is a legal requirement in all clinical disciplines and in this respect orthodontics is no different. Residents are required to document their work with each patient. 

The school monitors the infection control practices of students, faculty and staff.  Students, faculty and staff are required annually to complete mandatory infection control and compliance training via online course modules.