Postgraduate Program in Pediatric Dentistry - Certificate

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Degree Offered: Certificate
Program Leadership:
Thuan Le, DDS, Interim Program Director
Jungsoo Kim, DDS, MS, Assistant Program Director

Admissions Inquiries:
Brennan Crilly, Assistant Director, Admissions and Outreach

Program Description

UCSF offers a three-year certificate program in Pediatric Dentistry with co-enrollment in a Master of Science (MS) program in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at UCSF.

Instruction in all areas of pediatric dentistry is provided through lectures, seminars, and clinical experiences in diverse clinical settings including specialty inpatient and outpatient clinics, hospital operating rooms and affiliated federally qualified health centers. Emphasis is placed on pediatric dentistry's relationship to all other areas of dentistry and medicine, including the medically complex and special health care needs patients. All residents will complete a core curriculum in biostatistics, biomaterials, oral pathology, pharmacology, medical ethics and research designs and methods. Residents are also exposed to different dental public health topics that impact providing oral health care to the most vulnerable population. This diverse curriculum develops residents' ability to apply evidence-based principles to clinical decision-making and critical thinking.

The program's clinical component provides well-balanced experiences in treating healthy children, children with special health care needs, broad exposure to traumatic injuries, children with acute medical conditions, and interceptive orthodontics. Exposure to different pharmacological and non-pharmacological behavior guidance techniques is an integral part of the training. Residents receive well-rounded and in-depth clinical experiences to prepare them for multiple scenarios, which enhances their ability to respond to and manage clinical situations that they will encounter in practice.

Clinical rotations include medical anesthesia and pediatric medicine. The presence of the divisions of orthodontics and craniofacial anomalies within the department leads to strong ties and education in these areas. Residents are exposed to interceptive orthodontics from the beginning of the program. They also serve as teaching assistants in the pre-doctoral pediatric dental clinic, which further develops skills in clinical analysis and patient management.

Residents must complete, under a faculty member’s supervision, a research project that will result in presentations at state or national conferences.

Admission Requirements

We accept five residents into the three-year program (MATCH selection process) each year. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Hold a DDS or DMD degree issued by a dental school accredited by the U.S. ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) by the start of the program.
  • National Boards: a passing score on the National Board Dental Exam (NBDE), Part 1&2 or Integrated National Board Dental Exam (INBDE) is required.  Applicants that have completed dental school must Pass and submit NBDE Parts 1&2 or INBDE by application deadline.  An applicant in dental school can be considered for an interview without having taken the exam but will not be ranked without an official INBDE score uploaded to ADEA PASS by January 1. Matched applicants must Pass and submit NBDE Part 2 results of the program is the NBDE Part 1/2 exam was taken.
  • Learn more about Pediatric Dentistry Program admissions: https://dentistry.ucsf.edu/programs/post-grad/pediatric-dentistry/admissions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, learners will be expected to:

  1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge in the evidenced-based science that drives the practice of pediatric dentistry.
  2. Develop an appropriate comprehensive treatment plan that includes prevention, restorative, endodontic, surgical and orthodontic procedures for the healthy as well as the medically complex and special health care needs pediatric patient.
  3. Be able to manage pediatric dental patients using different behavior guidance modalities, from basic behavior management techniques to advanced behavior management techniques.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the evaluation and medical management of pediatric patients who have acute and chronic medical conditions.
  5. Be able to function as an integral member of a medical interdisciplinary team.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in managing the needs of patients with different craniofacial anomalies.
  7. Demonstrate knowledge and clinical competence in management of traumatic injuries to primary and permanent dentitions.
  8. Demonstrate knowledge and awareness on dental public health issues affecting the pediatric and adolescent population, including those in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
  9. Be eligible to participate in the ABPD certification process.

Additional Information

Program Faculty