The School of Dentistry offers advanced dental education programs in specialty and nonspecialty disciplines of dentistry. Postdoctoral certificates, Master of Science (M.S.), and Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degrees are available. The purpose of these programs is to offer candidates an opportunity to integrate advanced clinical training with meaningful exposure to applied basic science and research. For additional information and to submit an online application, interested applicants should visit the School of Dentistry website (Graduate Programs).
Advanced dental education programs leading to a professional certificate with an option to also pursue the Master of Science (M.S.) degree or the Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degree include:
These programs are organized to comply with the standards of the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association, and the objectives and content meet the requirements of the respective specialty boards. In addition, the programs in endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
https://dentistry.llu.edu/admissions/advanced-dental-education-programs
Graduate students and residents in advanced dental education programs are expected to:
The required time in residence varies with each program. For the length of a program, refer to the information under each program description.
Stipends are provided in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pediatric Dentistry programs. For details, contact the program coordinator personally.
Tuition, fees, and other cost-of-attendance items are located on the Find a Program webpage.
The student must complete a research project presented in thesis format and orally defend it according to the standards set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A written thesis, approved by the student's research committee, must be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in order to receive a satisfactory grade for the course.
Students on the Master of Science in Dentistry degree track must submit a publishable paper no later than one year from the date they complete their certificate program. Candidates are admitted to only one master's degree track of their choice.
For information about requirements and practices to which all graduate students are subject, the student should consult Section II of this CATALOG.
An appropriate degree from an accredited college or university is required for admission into the advanced dental education programs and postgraduate programs. A doctoral degree in dentistry (Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine) or the equivalent is required for admission to all programs. The applicant should have achieved a general grade point average of not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, with no grade below 2.0. In addition to acceptable scholastic performance, the applicant must give evidence of personal and professional fitness for growth in the science and art of the intended dental discipline. For application deadlines, see the section on each individual program or refer to the chart on the following page.
After applicants are accepted into the advanced dental education programs in endodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, or the postdoctoral program in implant dentistry, they may apply to the Office of Admissions to earn an M.S.D. or M.S. degree (in addition to the advanced program certificate). Applicants for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree who meet or exceed the minimum entrance requirements may be accepted by the School of Dentistry in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). The master's degree thesis must be completed, defended, and accepted in final form by both the graduate program and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Students have up to five years from the date of acceptance of the certificate program to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree. All the M.S.D. requirements may be completed during the program but no later than one year from the candidate’s anticipated program completion date.
| Program | Official Transcript(s)1 | Cumulative G.P.A.2 | GRE3 | National Boards Part I3 | DAT | TOEFL4 | Letters of Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endodontics 10 (27 mo./2 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Not required for certificate program | Required (only U.S.-trained applicants) | Not required | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Implant Dentistry (36 mo./3 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Not required for certificate program | Not required | Not required | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 11 (6 yrs./2 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Not required for certificate program | Required (all applicants) score of 86 or higher | Not Required | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 6, 7, 9 (27 mo./6 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Required | Required (all applicants) | Required (all applicants) | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Pediatric Dentistry 10, 12 (24 mo./4 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Required for internationally trained applicants | Required (only U.S.-trained applicants) | Not required | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Periodontics 8 (36 mo./3 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Not required for certificate program | Required (only U.S.-trained applicants) | Not required | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Prosthodontics (36 mo./4 positions) | Required | 3.0 | Not required for certificate program | Required (only U.S.-trained applicants) | Not required | Required (internationally trained) | 3 |
| Program | LLU Applications Open | LLU Applications Close | Admissions Committee Meets | Pass Applications Open | Pass Applications Close | Advanced Education Programs Start Date | Advanced Education Programs Ending Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENDN | 5/2023 | 7/17/23 | July | 5/2023 | 2 weeks prior to deadline | July 1 | Late September |
| IMPD | 5/2023 | 9/31/2023 | November | 5/2023 | 2 weeks prior to deadline | July 1 | June 30 |
| OMFS | 5/2023 | 11/15/2023 | January | 5/2023 Match participant | 2 weeks prior to deadline | July 1 | June 30 |
| ORDN | 5/2023 | 8/1/2023 | November | 5/2023 | 2 weeks prior to deadline | End of June | Late September |
| PEDN | 5/2023 | 11/1/2023 | November | 5/2023 Match participant | 2 weeks prior to deadline | July 1 | June 30 |
| PERI | 5/2023 | 8/1/2023 (rolling admissions) | September | 5/2023 | 2 weeks prior to deadline | July 1 | June 30 |
| PROS | 5/2023 | 8/1/2023 | September | 5/2023 | 2 weeks prior to deadline | July 1 | June 30 |
Transcripts. Transcripts from all postsecondary schools from which credit was received, whether or not the work pertains to your LLU degree, are required to complete your application.
Grade Point Average (G.P.A.). A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for admission.
National Boards, INBDE or Part I. Refers to Part I of the two-part U.S. National Board Examinations. Part II must also be submitted when available. All must be passing grades.
English Language Skills. Non-U.S. applicants for whom English is not their primary language and whose secondary education has been given outside the U.S. are required to take the TOEFL examination. To be competitive, a score of 100 or higher is strongly recommended on the internet-based exam. A minimum score of 20 is required in each area. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.
Dental License. All applicants for the Advanced Education Program in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery program must have a Californian Dental License.
International Dentist Program. All graduates from non-ADA-accredited dental schools who apply to the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics must complete an accredited International Dentist Program.
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. This program requires applicants to meet the requirements for the certificate program and the Master of Science (M.S.) degree track. To be considered, applicants must take the GRE.
Periodontics. This program has a rolling admission process between May and September, which means it reserves the right to fill some but not all of its entering class prior to the September deadline.
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The program reserves the right to admit selected students to the certificate program, which would require submission of a certificate application due by the regular application deadline.
Endodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. All applicants for the Endodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Program who have received their dental school training outside the U.S. or Canada must have a current dental license from their country and submit a notarized copy with their application.
National Board Medical Examination (NBME) Comprehensive Basic Science Examination. Applicants for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program who take the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Part I after January 1, 2012--and, therefore, do not have a numerical score--must take the National Board Medical Examination (NBME) Comprehensive Basic Science Examination and have their official test results reported to Loma Linda University by the application deadline.
TOEFL Scores for Pediatric Dentistry. The Pediatric Dentistry Program requires a minimum score of 20 in each area. To be competitive, a score of 100 or higher is strongly recommended on the internet-based exam. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.
Graduate students and residents enrolled in certain advanced education programs are eligible to apply for and be awarded a Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degree, if they fulfill the following requirements.
Graduate students and residents enrolled in certain advanced education programs are eligible to apply for and be awarded a Master of Science (M.S.) degree, if they fulfill all of the requirements stated below.
The following information outlines the grading systems for all postdoctoral students/residents enrolled in advanced education programs in the School of Dentistry. Each course taught in the school has been approved for either a letter grade or an S/U grade, and deviations from this are not allowed other than MS (marginally satisfactory) grades as specified below.
| A | 4.0 | Outstanding performance |
| A- | 3.7 | Very good performance |
| B+ | 3.3 | Good performance. |
| B | 3.0 | Satisfactory performance. |
| B- | 2.7 | Minimum passing grade without remediation; Cumulative G.P.A. must be 3.0 or higher to avoid academic probation. |
| C+ | 2.3 | Remediation required and cumulative G.P.A. must be 3.0 or higher to avoid academic probation. |
| C | 2.0 | Remediation required and cumulative G.P.A. must be 3.0 or higher to avoid academic probation. |
Postdoctoral students/residents who receive one or more of the following grades in any quarter will be placed on academic probation and must retake the course(s) for which these grades were received.
| C- | 1.7 | Unsatisfactory; Course must be retaken. Cumulative G.P.A must be 3.0 or higher to avoid academic probation. |
| D | 0.0 | Failure; course must be retaken. |
| F | 0.0 | Failure; Course must be retaken; Academic probation required. |
| S | none | Satisfactory performance; Equivalent of a B grade or better. |
| MS | none | Marginally satisfactory; minimum passing grade; equivalent to a B- grade; Multiple MS grades may result in academic probation. |
| U | none | Unsatisfactory; The U grade is not computed in the G.P.A. The Course must be repeated to count toward a certificate and/or degree. |
University policy states that "a student may repeat a course only once, and no more than two courses may be repeated in a student's degree program."
Academic probation for postdoctoral students/residents will be for a minimum of one academic quarter following the quarter in which the unsatisfactory performance was noted. Probationary status will be reviewed on a quarterly basis until successful remediation has been recorded. Such action must be confirmed by memorandum to the student.
Under the following conditions, a postdoctoral student/resident will be sent an advisory letter from the Office of Academic Affairs regarding the potential for placement on academic probation.
A postdoctoral student/resident will be placed on academic probation if they meet one or more of the following conditions:
Total of three or more MS grades.
The level of academic probation indicates the seriousness of the cumulative academic deficiency. However, depending on the seriousness or nature of the academic deficiency, a postdoctoral student/resident may be considered for academic leave of absence or discontinuation at any level of probation.
First term on academic probation.
Second term on academic probation, consecutive or nonconsecutive.
EXCEPTION: Continued academic probation due to failing grade in a course that cannot be repeated until a later term.
Third term on academic probation, consecutive or nonconsecutive. If a student/resident is unable to remove academic probationary status within the following term, they will be considered for academic discontinuation.
EXCEPTION: Continued academic probation due to failing grade in a course that cannot be repeated until a later term.
If a student/resident meets criteria for academic probation for a fourth term, consecutive or nonconsecutive, they will be considered for academic discontinuation.
A student/resident on academic probation:
A postdoctoral student/resident who is not performing up to expectations (academic and professional) may receive the following:
All recommendations to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for probation must be supported by well-documented evidence of repeated counseling and other internal measures designed to point out deficiencies and take corrective action through a detailed remediation program. A remediation program must be specific in design, implemented, and monitored for any postdoctoral student/resident who is not performing up to a program’ s stated standards. It is important to have documentary evidence on record by multiple faculty members with detailed accounts of dates, times, explanations or counseling, discussions, and corrective measures. Written statements from support staff should also be included if they have direct contact or knowledge of a matter involving a postdoctoral student/resident.
Postdoctoral students/residents may be placed on academic probation, professional standards (behavioral) probation, and/or clinical probation. Probation begins at Level I and may progress to Level III. Postdoctoral students/residents should be placed on probation for the academic quarter immediately following the quarter in which the unsatisfactory performance was documented. Probationary status will be reviewed on a quarterly basis until successful remediation has been documented. This information will be conveyed to the postdoctoral student/resident verbally and in writing.
Postdoctoral students/residents who are not progressing as expected may be continued in their year group for as long as necessary before being promoted to the next year or discontinued. To exercise this option, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will inform University Records of the decision to continue a postdoctoral student/resident and state the anticipated length of that continuation. Program directors make the determination to recommend continuing or discontinuing a postdoctoral student/resident and when the postdoctoral student/resident has completed their program. Recommendation for continuation will be submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for review and approval.
Postdoctoral students/residents who do not achieve required measurable improvement by the end of the prescribed remediation and counseling periods may be recommended for discontinuation by their Program Director to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for review. Recommendation to discontinue a postdoctoral student/resident will be submitted by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, in writing, to the Dean for review and action.
Graduate students and residents enrolled in certain advanced education certificate programs are eligible to apply for and be awarded a Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degree, if they fulfill the following requirements.
The M.S.D. degree is not offered by the advanced education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
Graduate students and residents enrolled in certain advanced education programs are eligible to apply for and be awarded a Master of Science (M.S.) degree, if they fulfill all of the requirements stated below.
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