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.

1. EDUCATION: To enable residents to attain skills and knowledge representative of a clinician proficient in the theoretical and practical aspects of the specialty of prosthodontics.

2. RESEARCH:  To ensure that residents are involved in scholarly activities and to prepare residents who are enrolled in the MDS degree program for future roles in the areas of laboratory and clinical research.

3. PATIENT CARE: To ensure that prosthodontic residents provide high-quality patient care.

4. SERVICE: To ensure that the Postdoctoral Prosthodontic Program is involved in community service, service to the profession, and service to the dental school.

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.  PASS charges a separate application fee in addition to the $125.00 non-refundable application fee charged by the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The PASS deadline for all materials is October 15.

Applicants also must 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 the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) must be forwarded to RSDM. A passing grade on the INBDE is required for all applicants. Official transcripts with course-by-course evaluation by WES or ECE must be sent directly to RSDM for all foreign transcripts. Any information concerning class rank also should be included.

Selection Criteria

To be considered for admission, you must hold a DDS/DMD degree from a CODA accredited dental school (or foreign equivalent such as a BDS) before the start of the program and satisfy all required materials indicated in the PASS application. Licensure in the United States is expected if eligible. Foreign applicants must take the TOEFL examination with a minimally acceptable score of 90, 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 for candidates who match by the National Matching Program, 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 Dental 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 preparation of at least one patient presentations for the American Board certification examination is required. A mock board written examination is administered each year, and a mock board patient presentation examination is administered in the third year.

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

The program requirements include preparation of an annual lecture presentation to the residents and faculty, and other scholarly activity.  Residents are required to give a poster presentation or oral presentation at a local, regional, or national prosthodontic meeting. Teaching experience during the second and third year of the program is required and is limited to one-half (1/2) day per week.