PROGRAM DIRECTOR:    Peter Ngan, DMD
                                                      Professor and Chair
                                                      Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics
                                                      Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

GENERAL INFORMATION:

            The Department of Orthodontics at West Virginia University offers a 34 month advanced education Master of Science program.  The program models a private practice atmosphere with state-of-the-art clinical facilities.  The curriculum is centered on daily clinical seminars and private instruction with each individual class.  Also included are regularly scheduled orthognathic surgery conferences and seminars with other dental and medical specialists.

            A stipend plus tuition waiver will be provided for graduate students in Orthodontics at the end of the second year for Summer Session and Fall/Spring Semesters.
           
            This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.  For details about the faculty, publications and alumni information, please visit the Department website at www.hsc.wvu.edu/sod/department/ orthodontics.

PROGRAM GOALS:

            The postgraduate program is designed to develop skilled practitioners who can easily transition into and manage a busy orthodontic practice.  The goal of this program is to teach a variety of treatment mechanics that are scientifically valid, and let the residents make choices based on treatment needed on a case-by-case basis.  Clinical experiences are diverse, including cleft lip and palate and orthognathic surgery cases.  An original master’s thesis project is required and is designed to obtain results suitable for publication in a reputable dental journal.  The curriculum focuses on didactic and clinical materials to prepare residents in taking the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Examinations.  Classes pertaining to the written board are given throughout the 3-year program.  It is a requirement for every 3rd year resident to take and pass the written component of the ABO and all residents are encouraged to complete the board certification process.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSON TO THE ORTHODONTIC PROGRAM:

1. Must have passed the National Dental Board Examination - Part I.

2. Must have earned a DMD/DDS degree, or its equivalent.

3. Must be proficient in the English language.
   
   
4. Must provide the most recent TOEFL score (if you are a foreign applicant).
   
   
5. Must submit undergraduate transcripts.
   
   
6. Must display evidence of scholastic and clinical achievement that would indicate the applicant’s ability to progress in a program of this nature.  Generally, a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 is required.
   
   
7. Must apply to the program through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS, www.adea.org/pass) and have all application materials in PASS by September 1.  Each applicant must also have a MATCH number from National Matching Services (www.natmatch.com).  Please see the HOW TO APPLY section for more detailed information.
   
   
8. To become familiar with the West Virginia University School of Dentistry's policy and procedure for Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases. (click here)
   
   
9. Provisionally accepted candidates to the WVU School of Dentistry advanced education programs must consent to and pass a criminal background investigation prior to final acceptance.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE ORTHODONTIC PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY:

1. Fulfillment of University requirements for graduate study.

2. Thirty-four months (three academic years and two summer sessions) of consecutive full-time advanced study and clinical training at the School of Dentistry.

3. An approved master’s thesis based on original research completed during the course of study in an area related to Orthodontics.

4. Must satisfactorily pass the Mock ABO clinical examination which includes a written and an oral examination.

5. Must pass the written component of the ABO examination.

6. Must complete all didactic and clinical work in the required curriculum.

7. Must have demonstrated satisfactory clinical competency in this field.
   
   
8. Completion of a minimum of 77 credit hours, including 49 hours of orthodontic courses and a minimum of 13 hours of selected basic science subjects, two hours of teaching practicum, and a research/thesis (13 hours).

9. Achievement of a 3.0 GPA or an overall competence in the student’s field.  A minimum grade of “B” must be earned in all work attempted in the master’s program.  A grade of “C” or below in two courses will require a faculty review of the student’s progress.  A third “C” or below will result in suspension from the program.

FACILITIES:

            The facilities of the Department of Orthodontics include a state-of-the art clinic, student laboratories, high-tech conference room, and a resident’s work room.  The clinic is modernized with desktop computers at every chair to access digital patient records and scheduling.  All of the computers in the department are networked so information can be accessed from any area.  Student laboratories are equipped with all necessary equipment for fabricating orthodontic appliances and study models. Research laboratories are separate from the department and located nearby.  The conference room is outfitted with the latest audiovisual technology to assist in presentations and teaching.  It also contains the Orthodontic Department Library, which includes relevant journals and texts.  The resident’s room is designed to be a work space for residents and is outfitted with network computers.  The Health Sciences Library is a new facility located in close proximity to the Orthodontic Clinic and contains a large resource of information that can supplement those be available in the departmental library.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

            The 34-month Master in Science program in Orthodontics begins July 1.  First-year residents begin an intensive Orthodontic Technique course on July 1 and begin seeing new patients in mid-July.  In August, first year residents begin a full clinic schedule which includes morning and afternoon clinic sessions.

            Didactic course work at the WVU Department of Orthodontics consists of faculty lead, resident taught lectures and seminar sessions for an average of 2 hours each day.  Seminar topics range from patient diagnosis and treatment planning to practice management and financial planning.  In addition, the department maintains a relationship with many commercial orthodontic companies that regularly visit the clinic to present new products and techniques.

            Clinical work simulates the private practice environment.  There are either 2 dental assistants and a patient service coordinator available in the clinic to aid residents during clinic sessions.  All orthodontic records are computerized.  Diagnosis and treatment planning can be completed entirely in the digital realm.  Billing, scheduling, and record storage is accomplished using a commercial dental office management system.  The orthodontic clinic has been chosen as the first department in the WVU School of Dentistry to be completely paperless.  This process is now underway.  The objective is to maximize clinical efficiency so residents are able to increase their number of patient experiences.

GRADUATE COURSES:

Biomechanics:  Design and function of the teeth and their surrounding structures, and response of these tissues to orthodontic procedures.

Orthodontic Technique:  Laboratory course in techniques related to fabrication and manipulation of orthodontic appliances and wires.

Orthodontic Materials:  Physical properties of materials used in orthodontic appliances.

Orthodontic Diagnosis:  Seminar class on technique of patient examination, acquiring diagnostic records.

Cephalometrics:  Use of radiographic cephalometry in studying growth of the human face, analysis of dentofacial malformations, and evaluation of orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic Mechanics:  Seminar and laboratory course on basic orthodontic mechanical properties.

Advanced Orthodontic Mechanics:  A continuation of the previous course involving more difficult case types and introducing more sophisticated appliance therapy.

Growth and Development:  Seminar course on normal and abnormal growth of the human head and its application to orthodontics.

Orthodontic Seminar:  Discussions including all branches of dental science, with special emphasis on the orthodontic interest.  Assigned topics and articles in the literature are discussed.

Orthodontic Clinic:  Clinical treatment of selected patients.

Teaching Practicum:  Supervised practice in the college teaching of dentistry.

Advanced Topics:  Investigation of advanced topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses.

Directed Study:  Directed study, reading, and/or research.

Special Topics:  A study of contemporary topics selected from recent developments in the field.

Seminar:  Seminars arranged for advanced graduate students.

Independent Study:  Faculty supervised study of topics not available through regular course offerings.

Graduate Seminar:  It is anticipated that each graduate student will present at least one seminar to the assembled faculty and graduate student body of program.

Research:  Research activities leading to thesis, problem report, research paper or equivalent scholarly project or a dissertation.

Craniofacial Growth and Maturation:  The current concepts of craniofacial growth and maturation are presented and integrated for application to clinical problems.

Special Studies in Oral Pathology:  Advanced study of local and systemic disease processes affecting oral structures through seminars, assignment of specific topics, or research activities.

Applied Biostatistics for Health:  Statistical models, distributions, probability, random variables, tests of hypotheses, confident intervals, regression, correlation, transformations, F and Chi-square distributions, analysis of variance, and multiple comparisons.