Prosthodontics Postgraduate Program

The mission of the Postgraduate Program in Prosthodontics in the Department of Restorative Dentistry is to educate dentists to become competent specialists in Prosthodontics. This is continuously assessed through evaluations, surveys, guidelines for clinical accomplishments, mock board examinations, lectures, participation in research or other scholarly activities, and student participation at regional and national meetings.

1. To educate residents to become competent specialists in prosthodontics.
2. To prepare residents to contribute to and pursue the broad body of basic and applied knowledge related to oral and systemic health.
3. To prepare residents for examination by the American Board of Prosthodontics.
4. To encourage residents to disseminate information after graduation about the skills involved with the specialty of prosthodontics.

All applications are submitted online through Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS). This is a centralized application service, that has been designed by the American Dental Education Association for individuals applying to postdoctoral dental education programs. PASS provides participating postdoctoral programs uniform standardized information, eliminating the need for multiple applications. You only submit one application to PASS. Postdoctoral dental programs benefit by receiving uniform information on all candidates. PASS charges a separate application fee in addition to the $95.00 non-refundable application fee charged by the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The PASS deadline for all materials is October 15.

Applicants will also need to register with the National Matching Program at https://www.natmatch.com/dentres and provide the Match Number.

Foreign trained dental students or dentists are invited to apply. Official results of all National Board Dental Exams (NBDE) scores must be forwarded to RSDM. NBDE Part I is required for international students. Official transcripts with course-by-course evaluation by WES or ECE must be sent directly to RSDM. Any information concerning class rank also should be included.

Selection Criteria

To be considered for admissions, you must hold a DDS/DMD degree from a CODA accredited school (or foreign equivalent such as a BDS) before the start of the program and satisfy all required materials indicated in the PASS application. All applicants who hold a DDS/DMDS degree from a CODA accredited dental school must pass both Part I and II of the National Board examination (NBDE). Licensure in the United States is required if eligible. Foreign applicants must take and score well on the TOEFL examination, and obtain legal foreign student status. Preference will be given to applicants with high academic accomplishments and other significant awards as noted in their curriculum vitae, e.g., advanced degrees, publications, or research activities. An offer of acceptance will be made following the interview and skill assessment process.

Interview for Applicants

Prospective applicants are interviewed. All expenses incurred during this interview process will be the responsibility of the applicant.

The CORE Curriculum is designed to provide a broad foundation in the Biomedical Sciences upon which training in specialized dental disciplines is based. The PGY1 CORE course is Foundations of Oral Biology, which consists of the following modules:

• Professional Ethics
• Research Design and Data Analysis
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Gross Anatomy
• Histology and Pathobiology

The PGY2 CORE course is Advanced Biomedical Science in Dentistry, which consists of the following modules:

• Orofacial Pain
• Oral Medicine & Pathology
• Advanced Dental Therapeutics and Pharmacology
• Embryology and Genetics
• Behavioral and Social Science in Dentistry

These courses are taught in an interdisciplinary format to residents in RSDM’s Advanced Specialty Education programs in Endodontics, Orofacial Pain, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics, as well as students in RSDM’s Masters programs. This didactic instruction occurs in a weekly two-hour seminar.

The Prosthodontic Postgraduate Program at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine encompasses all prosthodontic disciplines to include Fixed Prosthodontics, Removable Partial Dentures, Complete Dentures, Maxillofacial Prosthetics, and Surgical Implant Therapy, both in the didactic and clinical curriculum.

Participation in the American Board of Prosthodontics examination Part A is mandatory, and all three patient presentations are required for the Board certification examination. A mock board written examination is administered each year, and a mock board patient presentation examination is administered each year.

Residents attend interdisciplinary seminars in Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and Oral Surgery that which provide exposure to more complex patients being treated outside of the department. Many of these patients are treated by residents in conjunction with other departments using an inter-disciplinary approach.

The program requirements include preparation of an annual lecture presentation, and other scholarly activity that may include an original research project and report, table clinic, poster, or oral presentations at local, regional or national prosthodontic meetings. Teaching experience during the second and third year of the program is required and is limited to one-half (1/2) day per week.