Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics
Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics
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 FY26 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 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