Program Overview

This program is designed to train clinical specialists at the graduate level and includes extensive didactic, clinical, and research experience. Although the major study concentration is in orthodontics, research in any of the allied medical or dental sciences is acceptable. Successful candidates must complete the requirements for both the Master's degree in Oral Biology and the Orthodontics training program in order to be awarded a certificate of completion for the Orthodontic program.

Length of program - 36 months

Number of Residents Accepted Each Year - 4 positions for domestic candidates and 2 positions for international candidates. (Designated number for the international position is subject to change). 

Candidates interested in applying to the International Orthodontics training program, please contact the Section Administrator at mpatino@dentistry.ucla.edu for more information.

Accredited by Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of subject matter that has direct application in orthodontic practice. Examples of such subjects are (1) orthodontic seminars covering etiology, diagnosis, and treatment planning, (2) applied clinical orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics,(3) cephalometrics, and other auxiliary imaging methods (4) biomechanical principles, (5) anatomy, (6) growth and development, (7) review of orthodontic literature, (8) gnathology, TMJ function and dysfunction, (9) surgical orthodontics, (10) craniofacial anomalies (11) embryology, (12) biostatistics, (13) metallurgy of orthodontic materials, (14) research design, (15) research and manuscript preparation.

Concomitant with their formal education, candidates attend the regularly scheduled seminars of the Craniofacial Team of the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences and take part in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with various developmental abnormalities in the UCLA Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic.

Candidates participate in a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment and diagnosis of complex adult orofacial problems. In the clinic our candidates have the opportunity to treat skeletal and dental problems in the deciduous and mixed dentition.

Candidates are required to concurrently enroll in and successfully complete the Masters in Oral Biology program.

The above course requirements are consistent with the recommendations of the Council on Orthodontic Education of the American Dental Association of Orthodontics. 

Requirements/Pre-requisites

• DDS or DMD from an ADA-accredited dental school
• Application to Oral Biology Masters program  through the UCLA Graduate Division on or before October 5, 2008. 

Application Process & Timeline

• Application through PASS (including official National Dental Bd Examination Part I scores and 3 recommendation letters)
•General Application Form  - due September 1
• Submission of completed application to the Masters Program in Oral Biology  through the UCLA Graduate Division by October 5.

Other National and Local Dental Websites of Interest:

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO): www.braces.org