Students primarily interested in careers as clinical specialists may choose the program in Periodontics combined with the M.S. in Oral Sciences, although the combination of postgraduate training in Periodontics with other appropriate degree programs - such as the M.S. in Biomaterials - can be arranged. This arrangement affords the opportunity to complete didactic training and a research project in preparation for careers in specialty practice, industry, or academics.

The research component of the Periodontics/M.S. in Oral Sciences Program is administered through the office of Dr. Ernesto DeNardin (716-829-3998). This track usually requires 3 or 4 years to complete, depending on the interests of the student, and involves research in a variey of areas at the Master's level.

Stipends are available to graduates of U.S. or Canadian dental schools (and to foreign graduates of those schools with visas enabling them to work in the U.S.). However, the possibility of financial support exists for all students in this track during the second and subsequent years of the program from teaching assistantships, or from individual faculty mentors with research funds.

Students primarily interested in careers as academicians and research scientists may choose the program in Periodontics combined with the Ph.D. in Oral Biology or other academic departments. In this track, the first year usually is devoted to course work applicable to the Ph.D program. Thereafter, the Ph.D. and Clinical Periodontics requirements are satisfied concurrently.  The Periodontics/Ph.D. Program typically requires 5 to 6 years to complete. Students perform research and complete a thesis in fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree.

The Ph.D. in Oral Biology is administered by Dr. Mira Edgerton. Students on this track are usually supported by research grants funded by the National Institute for Dental Craniofacial Research. Please note that NIDCR support is available only to U.S. citizens, or to those persons with Permanent Resident status. However, support for non-citizens ineligible for NIDCR fellowships usually is available from teaching assistantships, or from individual faculty mentors with research funds.

Program interviews will be offered to selected candidates following review of completed applications by the Admissions Committee. The program is unable to accommodate interview or tour requests prior to Admissions Committee review.

Space is limited and there is a rolling admissions process for the combined Periodontics/Ph.D. and Periodontics/M.S. Programs. For those tracks, positions will be filled as suitable candidates are identified.  

Applications must be completed by August 31st of the year prior to admission (i.e. August 31, 2017 for Fall 2018 admission). 

The program DOES NOT participate in the national PASS or Match programs.

To apply for the Periodontics Certificate program please submit all documents listed below on-line in GRADMIT.  Your application will not be complete until these items have been received and you have submitted your application for formal review.

1. On-line Application - Apply Now

• Please Note: Non-immigrants must complete the International On-line Application; check the box for "International Applicant" after selecting degree program on the Interactive Graduate Application Site (GRADMIT)

• Please complete all questions on the application completely and accurately.

2. $50.00 non-refundable application fee paid on UBePay

• Once you have submitted your online application for formal review, you will be able to pay the application fee by credit/debit card only. Your application cannot be reviewed until the fee has been paid. Please note that the $50 application fee is non-refundable.

3. CV / Resume

4. Two letters of recommendation and a Dean's letter (if graduated from a US or Canadian dental school), otherwise three letters of recommendation.Recommendation letters must be uploaded electronically:

• In the recommendation section of this online application, you submit three referees with their email addresses.  They will receive an email notification to electronically submit an online recommendation only after you submit your application for formal review.

5. Unofficial transcripts from EVERY college/university attended

• If you are accepted into the program you will be asked to submit original transcripts with proper signatures, seals or stamps. Academic documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an exact, certified translation.International applicants please include copy of certificate with proof of degree.

6. Unofficial scores from the National Board Dental Examination (US dental school graduates) Part I and/or Part II (Optional for International Applicants).

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

7. Unofficial TOEFL Score Report at or above minimum of 550 (written) / 213 (computer based) / 79 (internet based) or better obtained within eighteen months of the application deadline.

•  If you are accepted into the program you will be asked to submit original TOEFL score reports.

8. UB Financial Form / Financial Scholarship or Bank Documents

• All International applicants must complete and upload to their application the UB financial form documenting all the sources of your financial support with the sponsor's signature. Official supporting documentation as outlined in the instructions must also be uploaded.
• Official financial documents verifying scholarship support from your government - 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.

9. Photocopy of passport biographical page

10. Photocopy of your current I-20 AND the F-1 visa stamp in your passport if you are currently an F-1 student

* 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 the Advanced Education Admissions Coordinator via e-mail sdmpg@buffalo.edu or phone,  Telephone: (716) 829-2839.

International Advanced Dental Education Program for Foreign Faculty

The International Advanced Dental Education Program for Foreign Faculty program is designed for applicants who are supported by their government, a hospital, or similar facility, and who intend to return to their country and engage in teaching, research, or institutional practice. This program is academically equivalent to the Clinical Periodontics/M.S. Program. Since students are supported by their government or hospital, there is no additional funding available from the School of Dental Medicine.

Application Process:

If you wish to apply to the International Advanced Dental Education Program for Foreign Faculty, follow the regular Application Instructions for the Periodontics/M.S. in Oral Sciences Program, but indicate your interest in the International Program on the application.

Visiting Scholar Program

The Visiting Scholar Program is for applicants interested in an externship or customized continuing education rotation in clinical periodontics, and does not lead to a Certificate of Proficiency of graduate degree. However, a Certificate of Completion is awarded. The Visiting Scholar Program essentially is a custom-designed continuing education program that can be arranged according to the applicant's interests, and is very flexible with regard to time and content (e.g., one month to 1 or more years). The program may involve clinical or basic sciences, teaching, research, or various combinations of those components. Tuition is variable (depending on the length of the program), and financial support is not available.

Application Process:

If you are interested in the Visiting Scholar Program, please send a letter (or email) of intent directly to Dr. Othman Shibly, 250 Squire Hall, Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214-8006. We will forward the appropriate application form and arrange program details, determine program costs, and provide any additional information required.

General information can be found on the University's website regarding Financial Aid policies and resources.  Individual questions can be answered by a Financial Aid Advisor in 104 Harriman Hall on the South Campus or by calling (716) 645-8232 to make an appointment.

Details regarding University fees and billing dates are available on the Student Accounts website.

Estimated program expenses are outlined below:

• Advanced Education Estimated Expenses
• Periodontics Additional Estimated Expenses

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS 

Sebastian Ciancio, D.D.S. 

Joseph J. Zambon, D.D.S., Ph.D. 

PROFESSORS 

Robert E. Cohen, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D. 

Michael J. Levine, D.D.S., Ph.D. 

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS 

Robert E. Schifferle, D.D.S., Ph.D.

CLINICAL PROFESSORS 

Othman Shibly, D.D.S., M.S., Program Director

CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSORS 

Lisa Yerke, D.D.S., M.S. 

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS 

Abhiram Maddi, B.D.S., Ph.D. 

Required Clinical Courses for all Periodontics Postgraduate Residents

• PER 912 Advanced Periodontics Clinic (6 credit hours per semester; 8 semesters)
• PER 922 Hospital Practice of Periodontics (0.5 credit hour; 2 semesters)
• PER 930 Supervised Teaching in Periodontics (1 credit hour per semester; 3 clinic hours/week; 4 semesters. The teaching requirement may be partially waived for Ph.D. residents).

Required Clinical Sciences Courses for all Periodontics Postgraduate Residents

• PER 603 Seminars in Periodontal Biology (2 credit hours; length of program/1 cycle)
• PER 907 Hospital Anesthesiology/Conscious Sedation (4 credit hours; 1 semester)
• PER 910 Advanced Periodontics Tutorial (1 credit hour; 2 semesters)
• PER 914 Postgraduate Treatment Planning (1 credit hour; length of program)
• PER 916 Conjoint Clinical Sciences (0.5 credit hour; length of program)
• PER 917 Critical Analysis of Literature in Periodontics (length of program)
• PER 978 Seminar in Dental Pharmacology (0.5 credits)
• OSU 963 Nitrous Oxide Sedation (1 credit hour; 1 semester)
• ORB 545* Dynamics of Bone (2.0 credits)
• ODS 514 Anatomy and Physiology of the Masticatory System (3.0 credits)
• ODS 971 Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine (1.0 credit).
• CLD946 Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, Surgery and Prosthodontics of Clinical Implant Dentistry (0.5 credit hour; length of program)
• CLD 947 Seminars in Implant Dentistry (0.5 credit hour; length of program)
• CLD 948 Implant Dentistry Tutorial (1 credit hour; 1 semester)
• CLD 949 Implant Dentistry Journal Study Club (0.5 credit hour; length of program)
• ODS 535 Advanced Oral Pathology (2 credits)
• OSC 506 Biomaterials (1 credit)
• OS 518 Biostatistics/Biostatistics Laboratory (4 credits) or †STA527 Statistics for Biologists
• GSC 637* Graduate Professional Ethics or PMY528* Research Ethics
• CLD 555 Head and Neck Anatomy

Course options will be determined in conjunction with the Program Director to accommodate the individual needs and research goals of the resident.

Basic Sciences Courses for Periodontics/Ph.D or Periodontics/M.S. Residents

Additional in depth didactic training in 1) Immunology, 2) Molecular Biology and Genetics, 3) Microbiology and Microbial Physiology, and 4) Biochemistry and Cellular Biology is a requirement of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics. This training will be provided through comprehensive, graduate level courses in consultation with each resident’s graduate (Ph.D./M.S.) and thesis committees.

Residents have the freedom to choose among the various courses in each of those subjects that may be offered by the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, and other graduate Departments. Review of course syllabi where indicated and approval of the selection of basic science courses will be performed after consideration of each Resident’s research program, research interests, and performance. Approval of each basic science course must be obtained from the Program Director.

Examples of basic science courses that may be considered are as follows:

Immunology

• OSC 504† Oral Immunology
• PTH 655† Cellular Immunology
• BIO 568† Molecular Immunology
• MIC 512 General Immunology

Molecular Biology and Genetics

• BCH 608* Gene Expression/Genomics/Bioinformatics
• ORB 509† Genetics of Oral Diseases
• BIO 566† Molecular Pharmacology
• BIO 501 Advanced Molecular Biology

Microbiology and Microbial Physiology

• MIC 644† Molecular Virology

Biochemistry and Cellular Biology

• BMS 501* Cell Biology I
• BMS 503* Principles of Biochemistry
• BMS 505* Cell Biology IIA-Dynamics in Cell Interactions
• BMS 506* Cell Biology IIB-Cell Growth, Differentiation, and Transformation
• BCH 507* Protein Structure/Function/Proteomics/Bioinformatics
• ORB 510* Saliva and Salivary Glands
• PGY 505† Cell and Membrane Physiology
• BIO 504 Advanced Cellular Biology

Research and Laboratory

• (varies) Research
• (varies) Thesis Guidance

*(These courses may be necessary for Ph.D./Periodontics students in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. program in Oral Biology).

†(These courses are acceptable selective courses for Ph.D./Periodontics students in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. program in Oral Biology).

Please note that while matriculating for a graduate degree, the requirements of such programs will have course requirements that are distinct from those noted above; in some cases, there will be overlap.