Education

Advanced Education Programs

2010-08-11

 

SPECIALTY PROGRAMS


The Dental Branch offers three types of programs which are designed for the dentist who wishes to pursue advanced education. These programs are: graduate (degree & certificate), postgraduate (certificate), and residency (certificate).

Graduate
The graduate program leads to a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree and a certificate in a specialty area of dentistry. Programs are designed to meet the eligibility requirements for examination by the particular American Specialty Board and accreditation standards of the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The following clinical specialties are offered: Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Periodontics.

The curriculum in the graduate programs varies between programs based upon discipline specific requirements. Orientation in research and human subjects is required for students pursuing a graduate degree. A thesis is required, and the total length of the program varies with the area of specialty. The minimum period of time is five or six academic semesters and three summer sessions, depending on the requirements of the particular specialty. Graduate programs are combined programs and under no circumstances are the Degree and Certificate awarded separately.

Postgraduate

The postgraduate program leads to a certificate in general dentistry or a specialty area and an optional Master of Science in Dentistry degree consisting primarily of basic science courses, clinical science courses and seminars, and a clinical program designed to meet eligibility requirements for examination by the particular American Specialty Board and accreditation standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The following specialties are offered: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. General Dentistry Programs include the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and the General Practice Residency (GPR). A thesis is required for the Master of Science in Dentistry degree. Orientation in research methodology and human subjects’ research is required for students pursuing a specialty certificate. The award of the certificate is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the required basic and clinical science courses, clinical conferences, appropriate clinical training for the area of specialization and research project if required by the department.

Residency
Residency programs lead to a certificate and consist primarily of basic science courses, clinical science courses and a clinical program designed to meet eligibility requirements for examination by the particular American Specialty Board and accreditation standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The specialty program offered is in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Four-year certificate and six-year combined MD/certificate Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery programs are included. The award of certificate is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all program requirements.

Application Procedure  
ALL applicants should complete a PASS application for the Advanced Education Programs. Applications for PASS are obtained online at:

http://www.adea.org

    The completed PASS application requires submission of the following to PASS:
  • Dental School transcripts.
  • Dean’s letter of recommendation. Letter must include Dental National Board Examination scores, cumulative grade point average and class standing if these are not shown on the official transcript.
  • Three letters of recommendation in addition to the Dean’s letter are required. Applicants who graduated more than two years prior to this application may submit letters of reference from fellow practitioners in the community or from their supervisors if employed by any government service.
  • Official Dental National Board Examination I scores are required for all programs. (Scores are on file if you are a graduate of the UTHSC-H Dental Branch DDS program. Check with the Office of the Registrar. The scores are to be submitted in the Dean’s letter.)
  • Satisfactory scores obtained on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE is a requirement for the Orthodontic program.
  • Those applying for Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), General Practice Residency (GPR), Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), Orthodontics, and Pediatric Dentistry must register with the MATCH.
  • Applicants who are nationals of countries where English is not the parent tongue are requested to submit scores from the TEST OF ENGLISH AS FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL).
  • Please see PASS Program Information Site for any required supplemental documents to apply to a program. Any additional documents need to be sent directly to the specific program.
    Upon conditional acceptance to the program the following needs be submitted to the Registrar’s Office:

    Office of the Registrar
    The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    7000 Fannin, Suite 2250 UCT
    P.O. Box 20036
    Houston, Texas 77225-0036

  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended including dental program. Dental transcripts must show completion of dental degree. (Transcripts are on file if you have attended any UTHSC-H school. Check with the Office of the Registrar.)
  • Official Dental National Board Examination II scores are required for all programs, if not already included on the PASS application. (Scores are on file if you are a graduate of the UTHSC-H Dental Branch DDS program. Check with the Office of the Registrar.)
  • Official GRE scores need to be sent directly from the Testing Center. This process may take up to 3 weeks.
  • A recent photograph (suggested size 2″ x 2″)
 

 
Application Deadlines

  • (of the year preceding the date of expected enrollment)

    Periodontics – August 15
    Endodontics – August 15
    Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) – September 15
    Orthodontics – October 1
    Pediatric Dentistry – October 1
    General Practice Residency (GPR) – October 1
    Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) – October 1
    Prosthodontics – November 1
Eligibility & Criteria for Acceptance

Generally, applicants for advanced education programs are considered on the basis of the following criteria:

    • Completed Application
    • Grade Point Average
    • Class Standing
    • Official Transcript/Pattern of Academic Achievement
    • Graduate Record Examination (if required by program)
    • National Board Scores
    • Experience and Training
    • Recommendations
    • Specific Program Requirements
    • Personal interview (when requested by the program)

Other specific information may be requested by a program for consideration.
Required Exams

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Test is a requirement to apply to the Orthodontics program. The codes to use for the UT Dental Branch are 6906 or 6907.

Information for candidates and schedules of tests may be obtained by writing to:

 

Graduate Record Examination
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000

By phone:
(609) 771-7670 or (866) 473-4373

By visiting their website at:
http://www.gre.org

 

MATCH

The Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (MATCH) is a requirement to apply to the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), the General Practice Residency (GPR), Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry programs.

Information for candidates and schedules of tests may be obtained by writing to:

National Matching Services Inc.
P.O. Box 1208
Lewiston, NY 14092-8208

By phone:
(609) 771-7500

By visiting their website at:
http://www.natmatch.com/dentres

TOEFL
Applicants who are nationals of countries where English is not the primary language are requested to submit scores from the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). The codes to use for the UT Dental Branch are 6906 or 6907.

Information for candidates and schedules of tests may be obtained by writing to:

TOEFL Services
Educational Testing Services
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151

By phone:
(609) 771-7500 or (877) 863-3546

By visiting their website at:
http://www.ets.org/toefl/
Financial Aid

Loans & Scholarships
A limited number of loans and scholarships are available for qualified students. For more information contact: 

Office of Student Financial Aid
The University of Texas
Health Science Center at Houston
P.O. Box 20036
Houston, Texas 77225
(713) 500-3860

Stipend Availability
Contact the specific program for eligibility and stipend amounts.

Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)
(1-year and optional 2nd-year program)

Program Director: Raymond K. Simmons, DDS, DMSC

Contact: Sudarat Kiat-Amnuay, DDS, MS, FACP, FAAMP, FICOI, FIAOO
Director of Postgraduate General Dentistry Clinics, Prosthodontist

Website address: http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/aegd

The Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Program is a one-year, broad-based clinical and didactic experience in comprehensive general dentistry. This program is based at the University Dental Center (UDC) in the University of Texas Physician building. The program currently accepts five to six (5-6) residents per year. Each resident spends 12 months in the AEGD clinic, a modern well-equipped area with eleven operatories (share with GPR residency program). Residents work directly w