Residency Program in Advanced Prosthodontics

PROGRAM DIRECTOR:    Mark W. Richards, DDS, MEd, FACP
                                                       Diplomate, American Board of
                                                       Prosthodontics

GENERAL INFORMATION:

            The Department of Restorative Dentistry at West Virginia University offers a three year advanced education Master of Science program.  The purpose of this program is to train well qualified dentists in all aspects of prosthodontics.  Advanced training in prosthodontics consists of an integrated educational program designed to provide both knowledge in the dentally applied basic sciences and experience in the clinical science of prosthodontics.  These include but are not limited to, complete denture prosthodontics, removable partial denture prosthodontics, fixed partial denture prosthodontics, maxillofacial prosthetics and dental implantology.  A series of structured didactic and clinical courses provides the student with the level of knowledge and skill development necessary to practice prosthodontics as a specialty and to prepare for a career in teaching and research.   

            The Master of Science degree program requires the development of an in-depth research problem which must be reported in the form of a thesis.  The program meets the standards established by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and qualifies the student for examination and certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

PROGRAM GOALS:

1. Develop competent and skilled clinicians at the specialty level in prosthodontics.

2. Prepare and qualify residents to achieve certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

3. Prepare residents to successfully manage specialty practices in prosthodontics.

4. Prepare and promote a career long interest in continued professional development.
   
   
5. Develop the background and experience necessary to select materials and techniques which will appropriately meet the biological, physiological and biomechanical requirements for various oral rehabilitations.
   
   
6. Introduce residents to teaching techniques and experiences enabling them to gain an appreciation for their potential role as educators.
   
   
7. Prepare residents to critically evaluate the literature and to formulate and conduct a supervised research project.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROSTHODONTICS PROGRAM:

1.   Must have passed National Dental Board Examination – Part I.

2.   Must have earned a D.M.D./D.D.S. degree, or its equivalent.

3.   May be considered for admission if graduated from non-ADA accredited (international) dental school.

4.   Must be proficient in the English language.

5.   Must provide the most recent TOEFL score (if you are a foreign applicant).

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 October 1.  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 PROSTHODONTICS PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY:

1. Fulfillment of University requirements for graduate study.

2. Thirty-three 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 Prosthodontics.

4. Must satisfactorily pass a final oral examination.

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

6. Must have demonstrated satisfactory clinical competency in this field.
   
   
7. Completion of a minimum of 77 credit hours.  This includes 49 credit hours of prosthodontic courses, a minimum of 13 credit hours of selected basic science subjects, two hours of teaching practicum, and 13 credit hours for completion of a master’s thesis.
   
   
8. 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.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM:

FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM

            In the first year of the program the resident is introduced to the specialty of prosthodontics, its scope and its history.  The resident receives instruction in the laboratory and clinical aspects of complete dentures, removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures, maxillofacial prosthetics, implant prosthodontics and treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction.  The resident is required to know and use the materials and techniques for fabricating oral prostheses and to become proficient at performing all phases of laboratory work related to clinical patients.

            The resident will participate in seminars on specific topics in prosthodontics and on the relationship of prosthodontics to the other specialties.  The resident will study biostatistics, research methodology and select an in-depth research problem for thesis development and publication.

SECOND-YEAR PROGRAM

            The second year of the program is a continuation of the first year of training, with increased emphasis on the clinical treatment of patients and the advanced concepts of prosthodontics.  The resident will spend more time conducting a research study and in the development of a thesis.  A topic in the field of prosthodontics will be selected and developed into a high quality table clinic for presentation at the American College of Prosthodontists annual session. 

THIRD-YEAR PROGRAM

            The third year of the program continues with more advance clinical treatment and concepts of prosthodontics, including the completion of three patients to meet the current requirements for presentation to the American Board of Prosthodontics.  The resident will spend a significant amount of time treating older adult patients. 

            Throughout the training, the resident is encouraged to be inquisitive regarding all phases of treatment and to use initiative to be resourceful.  The senior resident should become a severe critic of his or her own accomplishments and be able to support clinical decisions with references from the literature.  Completion of a research problem and thesis are required, and the resident must successfully defend the thesis to Committee.  The Senior resident will be expected to present lectures and patient presentations in preparation for Board certification and future teaching responsibilities.  Satisfactory completion of this year of training qualifies the resident for examination and certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

GRADUATE COURSES:

Advanced Clinical Prosthodontics:  Advanced prosthodontic practice in the areas of fixed and removable partial dentures, complete dentures, tempomandibular dysfunction, maxillofacial prosthetics and implant prosthodontics.

Advanced Prosthodontic Theory:  Advanced theories and techniques in fixed and removable partial dentures, complete dentures, maxillofacial prosthetics, implantology and geriatric prosthodontics to include case presentations, literature surveys and articulator analysis seminars.

Advanced Oral Surgery:  Advanced study of therapeutics, hospital protocol, and surgical aspects of oral surgery involving lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and clinical applications.

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

Dental Materials:  Physical properties of dental materials.

Orthodontic Cephalometrics:  Seminar class on technique of patient examination, acquiring diagnostic records, and analyzing and correlating this information to the treatment of clinical problems.

Teaching Practicum:   Supervised practice in college teaching of dentistry.

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

Special Studies in Oral Pathology:  Advanced study of local or 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, confidence intervals, regression, correlation, transformations, F and Chi-square distributions, analysis of variance and multiple comparisons.