Prosthodontics Certificate

Return to: School of Dental Medicine

The Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics is an American Dental Association-accredited three-year certificate program with the option to complete a master’s degree. Students who pursue a master’s degree will receive their MDS upon completion of the extra required didactic courses within the three year limit. The Program’s didactic and clinical components are designed to train and equip the graduate to transfer new prosthodontic knowledge and approaches, to implement evidence-based prosthodontic decision-making in clinical practice, and to prepare for certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Residents in the Prosthodontics Residency Program may elect to pursue a master of dental science degree (MDS) alongside their certificate. Eligible residents who elect this option must pass the Master of Dental Science Entrance Examination and enroll in the tract with the Pitt Registrar’s Office. Please talk with the dental residency program administrator for details.    

Objectives

The objectives of the residency program in the Department of Prosthodontics are to:

Provide clinical training in all aspects of prosthodontics including:

• clinical experiences to ensure proficiency in all aspects of prosthodontics;
• clinical experiences to ensure proficiency in diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of multi-disciplinary cases;
• to recruit and retain faculty with broad and varying backgrounds in clinical prosthodontics, who espouse diverse philosophies in patient care and prosthodontic procedures, and effectively communicate their knowledge and skills to residents.

Provide biologically and scientifically based education in order to:

• develop, monitor, and update all prosthodontic seminars and conferences to present contemporary, technologically, and biologically-oriented information;
• provide opportunities for scholarly activities, applied research, scientific articles, and clinical and/or research presentations.

Prepare and train residents for a career in prosthodontic practice and/or academics to:

• require all residents to complete annual comprehensive examinations (ACP Annual Board Review Examinations);
• provide opportunities for completion of a treatment case suitable for presentation to the American Board of Prosthodontics;
• provide residents with opportunities to pursue academic degree(s) in related disciplines.

Provide quality and professional care to all patients to:

• ensure ethical and professional conduct by all individuals involved in patient care;
• ensure proper care of all patients in the prosthodontic residency program;
• ensure patient satisfaction with the care they receive.

Program Requirements

The program’s clinical components focus on diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment of edentulous, partially edentulous, and completely edentulous patients. Fixed, removable, and implant prosthodontics constitute the major portion of the clinical training, with occlusion, temporomandibular disorder, and geriatrics as integral components of all phases of care. Residents are required to manage and treat patients requiring complete dentures, removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures, and implant restorations. Clinical training for residents in implant dentistry emphasizes all aspects of implant treatment including implant placement. Additionally, the program requires the resident’s involvement in the treatment of patients with congenital and acquired defects.

To learn more about the Residency Program in Prosthodontics, please visit dental.pitt.edu/prosthodontics-residency

The advanced specialty education program in prosthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653, or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/100.aspx.