Program Overview
- State date: July 1, 2027
- Length of program: three years (full-time specialty training program)
- Two positions available (PGY1)
The University of Utah School of Dentistry is developing a three-year Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics integrated with a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) with an emphasis in Periodontics. The inaugural class is anticipated to begin July 1, 2027, contingent upon the program receiving initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The clinical certificate and MSD are designed to be completed concurrently through a comprehensive curriculum that combines advanced biomedical and clinical sciences, evidence-based didactic education, supervised clinical training, research, and scholarly activity.
Residents will receive advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, surgical and nonsurgical periodontal therapy, implant dentistry, regenerative and mucogingival procedures, interdisciplinary treatment planning, and moderate sedation. Clinical education will be complemented by advanced study in the biomedical sciences, critical evaluation of current literature, research methodology, biostatistics, and evidence-based practice.
Throughout the program, residents will assume progressively greater responsibility for the management of complex periodontal and implant cases while receiving close mentorship from specialty faculty. Residents will also participate in teaching and interdisciplinary educational experiences and complete an original scholarly research project and thesis as part of the MSD.
Successful completion of the integrated program will result in both the Master of Science in Dentistry degree and a certificate in Periodontics. Graduates will be prepared for specialty practice, board certification, academic dentistry, research, and leadership within the profession.
The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics and the Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) with an emphasis in Periodontics are a combined program and must be completed concurrently. The MSD is not offered as a stand-alone degree, and the Periodontics certificate cannot be completed independently of the MSD.
Graduate Medical Education (GME) trainees receive annual stipends. Stipend levels are reviewed and adjusted each year. The FY27 Stipend Letter indicates the stipend levels for the upcoming academic year for PGY1 is $72,841.
Benefits:
- life insurance
- disability insurance
- health insurance
- dental insurance
- 15 working days of paid leave
- five working days of sick leave
- malpractice insurance
- automatic enrollment in Utah's state retirement plan
- reduced tuition
- bookstore discount
Additional Program Benefits:
- safe sedation training
- advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS)
- Utah Dental Association (UDA) meeting registration
- reduced tuition for CE courses
The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics is a full-time, three-year program completed concurrently with the Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) with an emphasis in Periodontics. Residents do not receive a salary or stipend.
Tuition / Program Charge: $56,000
University of Utah Fees: To be determined
Additional Periodontics Program Fees, if applicable: To be determined
Total Annual Cost: To be determined
Financial Aid
Students enrolled in the MSD will be eligible for financial aid. Additional information regarding financial aid, including application instructions and deadlines, will be provided prior to enrollment.
Enrollment Deposit
Information regarding any required enrollment deposit will be provided to accepted applicants.
The University of Utah Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics uses a holistic admissions process. No single factor determines admission. Applicants are evaluated based on academic achievement and readiness for advanced dental education, clinical experience and preparation for specialty training, professionalism, communication skills, leadership and service, research and scholarly activity, letters of recommendation, personal statement, interview performance, and their potential to successfully complete the full-time, three-year program.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and must be graduates of a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited predoctoral dental education program leading to a DDS or DMD degree, or graduates of an international dental school that provides an equivalent educational background and standing as determined by the program.
All applicants must have successfully completed the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) prior to applying.
Qualified international dental graduates are eligible to apply. International applicants must provide an official course-by-course credential evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), documentation of successful completion of the INBDE, and an official TOEFL iBT score of 80 or higher, unless waived by the program.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2027
Applications to the University of Utah Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics are submitted through the ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS).
Applicants selected to continue in the admissions process following initial review of their ADEA PASS application will be required to pay a $100 nonrefundable supplemental application fee to the University of Utah School of Dentistry before an interview is scheduled. Selected applicants will receive payment instructions directly from the School of Dentistry.
The University of Utah Periodontics Residency Program will not participate in the National Matching Services (Match) for its inaugural 2027 entering class. Applicants for the inaugural class will receive admission decisions directly from the program. The program anticipates participating in the Match for subsequent admissions cycles.
Combined Periodontics/MSD Application Process
Applicants apply to the combined Periodontics/MSD program through ADEA PASS. Applicants who are accepted into the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics will subsequently be required to complete the University of Utah Graduate School admissions process to formally matriculate in the Master of Science in Dentistry with an emphasis in Periodontics.
Applicants should not submit a separate application to the MSD prior to acceptance into the Periodontics program.
ADEA PASS Applicant Information: ADEA PASS for Applicants | ADEA PASS Program Finder
International dental graduates must also submit the required ECE course-by-course credential evaluation and TOEFL documentation. ECE - Applicants to U.S. Institutions
Accreditation Status
The University of Utah Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics is a new developing program recruiting its inaugural class. The program has applied for initial accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has completed the required CODA site visit. At the time of this application cycle, CODA has not yet taken final action to grant initial accreditation. The program is currently awaiting CODA’s accreditation decision, which is anticipated by mid-December 2026.
The University of Utah has been authorized by ADEA PASS to participate in the application cycle while the program’s CODA accreditation review is pending. Participation in ADEA PASS does not indicate or guarantee accreditation by CODA. Accreditation may be granted only by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
No residents will enroll or begin the Periodontics program unless and until CODA grants the program initial accreditation.
If CODA does not grant initial accreditation in time for the anticipated start of the inaugural class, the University of Utah will notify all applicants that the program will not enroll residents as planned. In accordance with the University’s agreement with ADEA PASS, the program will refund applicants for ADEA PASS application fees paid in connection with their application to the University of Utah Periodontics program.
This page will be updated when the official accreditation decision is received.
CODA Policies
See CODA’s Policy on Third Party Comments and Complaints currently provided on the DDS Accreditation page.
Commission on Dental Accreditation
401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60611-4250
Phone: 800-232-6108
Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)