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Graduate Certificate in Prosthodontics

The 34-month postgraduate certificate program in Prosthodontics in the Kornberg School of Dentistry at 51�Թ�� will provide postdoctoral education for dentists wishing to prepare for specialized practice. Clinical and didactic expertise is strongly emphasized to prepare students for successful attainment of Board Certification. The program offers a Certificate in Dentistry in Prosthodontics with mandatory enrollment in the Master of Science degree in Oral Health Sciences included in the certificate program tuition.

Students in the program have the opportunity to treat a vast, highly diverse patient pool with a wide range of prosthodontic treatment needs. Collaborative educational activities are available with other prosthodontic specialty programs and faculty within greater Philadelphia.

The postgraduate certificate in Prosthodontics admits four residents per year and requires three consecutive years of study to complete. Residents enrolled in the postdoctoral program will also complete all requirements to subsequently earn the Oral Health Sciences MS offered by the Kornberg School of Dentistry. The Prosthodontics program at 51�Թ�� offers postgraduate students both a didactically and clinically rich program with experienced, board-certified faculty supervising in a busy urban clinic. Features include digital radiography including CBCT, electronic health records system, and cutting-edge classroom, clinical and laboratory technology.

Oral Health Sciences MS

Students in the Graduate Program in Prosthodontics apply for the Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences upon acceptance to the program. In this 30-credit postgraduate master’s program, students apply modern biological principles and research techniques that aid in diagnosing, treating and preventing oral and craniofacial diseases and anomalies.

Through the interdisciplinary curriculum, students study the structure, development and function of oral tissues; their interrelationships; and their connections to other organ systems. Research areas include advanced general dentistry, clinical fields, and periodontal and craniofacial regeneration.

The program’s Clinical Specialty Track is specifically tailored for postgraduate students currently enrolled in an advanced training certificate in the Kornberg School of Dentistry. Coursework in students’ postgraduate certificate programs count toward the required 30 credits for the Oral Health Sciences MS degree.

Learn more about the Oral Health Sciences MS.

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Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg, CLA ’14

Prosthodontics Program Goals

Program Goal I: To educate dentists to become competent specialists in the delivery of prosthodontic treatment.

Objective for Goal I

At the end of the program, the graduate will:

have an in-depth knowledge of biomedical, clinical, and biomaterial sciences for the practice of prosthodontics;
demonstrate the science behind the practice of prosthodontics;
have treated a sufficient number of clinical cases for residents to be competent in the independent practice of prosthodontics;
demonstrate the ability treat complex prosthodontic cases within a team of other medical or dental specialists;
demonstrate the ability to apply current technology and best scientific evidence into their clinical practice;
be able to describe the requirements to be ethical, compassionate, and professional healthcare providers;
debate the ethics of different treatment plans and follow the ADA Code of Ethics; and
critically analyze proposed treatment and success or failure of treatment options.

Program Goal II: To prepare students to contribute to and pursue the broad body of basic and applied knowledge related to oral and systemic health.

Objective for Goal II

At the end of the program, the graduate will:

have the appropriate understanding of, and the skills to, answer a question using appropriate research methods;
demonstrate knowledge in research methodology, biostatistics and data analysis;
have the experience and knowledge to conduct research;
have the skills to develop a research manuscript for publication; and
be able to critically evaluate the dental literature.

Program Goal III: To prepare students for examination by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Objectives for Goal III

At the end of the program, the graduate will:

have the knowledge and skills necessary to challenge the American Board of Prosthodontics certifying exam;
have passed simulated experiences of the oral American Board of Prosthodontics certifying exam; and
have challenged the written American Board of Prosthodontics exam.

Program Goal IV: To encourage students to disseminate information after graduation about the skills involved with the specialty of prosthodontics.

Objectives for Goal IV

At the end of the program, the graduate will:

demonstrate the ability to organize, develop and deliver quality oral presentations on prosthodontics;
have the opportunity to present topics at local, regional or national prosthodontic scientific meetings; and
be able to describe teaching methodologies for prosthodontic principles to general dentists, other specialists and the general public.

Program Goal V: To encourage students to engage in service to the dental community.

Objectives for Goal V

At the end of the program, the graduate will:

have experience in teaching;
be able to discuss the importance of service to the dental profession; and
have had experiences in the dissemination of prosthodontic principles.

Program Format & Curriculum

The postdoctoral program combines a required Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences with the clinical and didactic certificate program. Clinical work and research are intended to give students advanced, real-world experience with the patients they will see in the field of prosthodontics.

Students are required to take the following courses, among many others.

Advanced Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Bioethics and Critical Thinking
Clinical Anatomy of the Head and Neck
Introduction to Implantology
Oral Pathology
Prosthodontics Literature Review

Learn more about the required courses in the Graduate Certificate in Prosthodontics program.

Related Graduate Certificates

Careers

Students who graduate from the Prosthodontics certificate program are well prepared to pursue a specialized career in prosthodontics in academics, clinical and private practice, and research. Graduates have expertise in biomaterials, implant dentistry, maxillofacial prosthetics and oral biology, and they have the experience and compassion necessary for a patient-centered practice.

Program Requirements

The Prosthodontics postgraduate program at 51�Թ�� Kornberg School of Dentistry is a complex prosthodontic program encompassing all prosthodontic disciplines—fixed prosthodontics, removable partial dentures, complete dentures, maxillofacial prosthetics and implant therapy—both in the didactic and clinical curriculum. The guidelines set for clinical accomplishments are as follows.

Fixed arches: 5
Complete dentures: 20
Removable partial dentures: 10
Maxillofacial prosthetics: 5
Implants restored: 40
Surgical implant placement: 10

These guidelines include full mouth rehabilitations, use of attachments and all ancillary prosthetic procedures. Students are encouraged and supported to exceed these guidelines when possible. Students are required to use various clinical techniques to demonstrate understanding of most laboratory procedures.

Didactic requirements include pre- and post-testing, preparation of three lectures and scholarly activity. Students are required to purchase an appropriate clinical camera, laptop computer, one articulator and facebow as described in the acceptance letter.

Students are encouraged to present a table clinic, poster presentation or an original paper at local, regional or national prosthodontic meetings. Successful completion of the program may require an extension beyond 34 months to fulfill clinical or other requirements.

Teaching experience during the program is required and is generally limited to the third year of postgraduate training. Participation in the A Exam (written) is mandatory, and three board-type cases should be completed during the program and presented in a mock oral board. Mock oral board written examination will be administered each year.

Time Off

General time off policies are contained in the postgraduate handbook. Attendance at local, regional, and national scientific meetings are allowed at the discretion of the program director.

Facilities

With construction completed in January 2025, the postgraduate Prosthodontics program enjoys working in a brand new, state-of-the-art, well-equipped clinic and laboratory space. Each resident has their own clinic chair and laboratory bench with an en-suite digital design milling/printing room and wet lab.

Career Development

Through the Office of Student Affairs, students pursuing careers in dentistry can get counseling and support during their tenure at Kornberg and after they graduate. The office regularly hosts career events and guest speakers covering a wide range of topics including

corporate and private practice careers,
debt management,
general practice residencies,
military service, and
specialty education.

Once enrolled in the Prosthodontics Certificate (Graduate) program, you will receive regular notifications about career opportunities. Additionally, the school provides a that is updated regularly for dental professionals across the U.S.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with 51�Թ��’s commitment to access and affordability, this certificate offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more.

You can view the full .

Program Contact

Louis DiPede is the associate dean for graduate education and the contact for the Graduate Certificate in Prosthodontics program.
Phone: 215-707-9664
Email: [click-for-email]

The program in prosthodontics is accredited by the [and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval 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 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation has accredited the program in prosthodontics. However, accreditation of the program does not in itself constitute recognition of any dental specialty status.

Additional Program Information

School/College Site