Periodontics Certificate
The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics is research-oriented and has trained clinician-scientists for careers in academia, research, teaching, or industry for more than 40 years.
Fall 2023 Enrollment
Applications will be accepted from May 12 - August 1, 2022
Early application is highly recommended. Program interviews will be offered to select qualified candidates following faculty review of complete applications.
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English Language Proficiency Requirement
International candidates must demonstrate English language proficiency. Acceptable documentation includes the TOEFL (score 79+) or IELTS (overall 6.5+) and scores must be less than two years old at the time of admission.
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About the Program
The clinical phase of the Periodontics program is offered in conjunction with either of two research programs: Periodontics/M.S. in Oral Sciences or Periodontics/Ph.D. in Oral Biology. Admission to these dual programs is highly competitive and early application is recommended.
Concurrent Enrollment
The Periodontics Clinical Advanced Education Program must be conducted concurrently with either the MS or PhD program in the Department of Oral Biology. If admitted into the Periodontics program, the applicant will be required to submit a completed application to either the Oral Sciences masters or Oral Biology doctoral program by the specified application deadline; acceptance into either research program is a separate process.
Periodontics/M.S. in Oral Sciences Program
Students who wish to combine their Periodontics training with the MS in Oral Sciences must submit a separate application to the master's program. Selecting this combination typically requires three years of full-time study.
Periodontics/Ph.D. Oral Biology Program
Students who wish to combine their Periodontics training with the PhD in Oral Biology must submit a separate application to the doctoral program. Selecting this combination typically requires five or six years of full-time study.
Accreditation
The program in periodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of accredited without reporting requirements. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is www.ada.org/en/coda.
Program Faculty
Professors
Robert Schifferle, DDS, MMSc , PhD
Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics; Department of Oral Biology
Associate Professors
Clinical Professors
Christopher Heard
Clinical Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Michael Levine
Clinical Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Clinical Assistant Professors
Anna Paritsky, DMD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Amarpreet Sabhavwal
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Phone: (716) 829-3845
Email: amarpree@buffalo.edu
Our Residents
Our residents train together and come from a variety of backgrounds and institutions. We typically accept two to three new students each year.
Coursework
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 | Periodontics/Ph.D or Periodontics/M.S.
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 can 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, and other graduate departments.
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
- ORB 517* Oral Microbial Ecology
- 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 Periodontics/Ph.D. 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.
Cost of Attendance
The Advanced Education overview page provides information about the Cost of Attendance.
Additional Expenses
How to Apply
Applications must be completed by August 1st of the year prior to admission (i.e. August 1, 2022 for Fall 2023 admission).
The program does not participate in the national PASS or Match programs.
To apply, please submit all documents listed below. Your application will not be complete until these items have been received and you have submitted your application for formal review.
Required (All candidates applying via the UB Application)
1. The On-line UB Application
- Please complete all questions on the application completely and accurately.
- You must select your desired entry term (i.e. Fall 2022) and intended program of study as you begin the application.
- The personal information section of the application provides special instructions for international applicants; be certain to following instructions on how to accurately enter your name.
2. $50.00 non-refundable application fee
- Once you have submitted your online application for review, you will be able to pay the application fee by credit/debit card. Your application cannot be reviewed until the fee has been paid. Please note that the $50 application fee is non-refundable.
3. CV/Resume (upload to application)
4. Personal Statement (upload to application)
5. Letters of Recommendation
- 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 by your recommenders.
- You will submit names, titles and email addresses for three recommenders. They will receive an email request to electronically submit a letter on your behalf. The notification is traditionally sent to recommenders after the application is submitted for review. However, you can opt to have the email requests sent immediately as you enter recommender names; this option is suggested for candidates who are applying close to the application deadline to ensure sufficient time for upload.
6. 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; ECE course-by-course report is preferred. International applicants please include copy of certificate with proof of degree.
7. Unofficial GRE Score (if applicable)
- The GRE is required for application to the MS programs in Biomaterials and Orthodontics. The requirement is waived for applications to the Oral Biology PhD program.
8. Unofficial NBDE Scores (optional)
- Unofficial scores from the National Board of Dental Examination Part I and/or Part II; optional for all programs not using the PASS application.
Additional Requirements — International Applicants
In addition to the requirements listed above, please submit the following:
English Language Proficiency Requirement
International applicants must demonstrate English Language proficiency with an appropriate exam score less than two years old at the time of admission; copies of score reports are acceptable via upload on the admissions portal.
TOEFL (79+) | IELTS (6.5 overall) not accepted on PASS application
Additional information is available on UB's admissions page.
Upon acceptance, official scores must be sent to UB using Institution Code: 2925.
2. UB Financial Form
- All International applicants must complete and upload the UB financial form documenting all sources of anticipated educational support. The upload option will appear in the applicant portal after application is submitted for review.
Note: Bank Statements are not required for application but they are required after acceptance for visa issuance; an I-20 cannot be issued without sufficient bank statements/financial documentation.
3. Photocopy of Passport Biographical Page
4. Photocopy of Your Current I-20 AND the F-1 Visa Stamp in Your Passport (if 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.
Fall 2023 Applicants — Important Dates
| Step | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Applications Accepted | May 12 - August 1, 2022 |
| Interviews | Rolling after review of complete applications |
| Acceptance Notices Sent | To be determined |
Interview and Admissions Process
A limited number of positions are available each year; early application is highly recommended.
The program is unable to accommodate interview or tour requests prior to Admissions Committee review.
Questions?
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