Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
- New Jersey
- Orofacial Pain
- sdm.rutgers.edu
Program Contact
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain
110 Bergen Street
Newark, New Jersey, 07101
Rutgers Orofacial Pain Postgraduate Program Overview
The Rutgers Orofacial Pain program, originally established in the early 1980s under UMDNJ, is one of the earliest orofacial pain post graduate programs in the United States. Since its inception, it has evolved into a comprehensive, CODA-accredited postgraduate training program in orofacial pain.
Post-graduates receive their clinical training at the Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The program provides a deep understanding of the biological mechanisms and clinical management of orofacial pain conditions.
Interdisciplinary Training
Post-graduates benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration with a range of medical specialties, including sleep medicine, rheumatology, physiatry, movement disorders, neurology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, psychology, physical therapy, and headache medicine. These rotations enrich their clinical perspective and enhance their ability to manage complex cases.
Curriculum Structure
The program consists of three integrated components: didactic instruction, clinical training, and research.
Didactic: Component Post-graduates will participate in weekly lectures on Orofacial Pain, Temporomandibular Disorders, Dental Sleep Medicine, and Interdisciplinary Care. Weekly rounds and case-based discussions with faculty promote interactive learning. Additionally, post-graduates attend a weekly Core Curriculum lecture to meet the academic requirements of the Master of Science degree.
Clinical Component: A significant portion of the program is dedicated to hands-on clinical training. Under close faculty supervision, post-graduates gain experience in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing patients with temporomandibular disorders, orofacial pain conditions, and sleep-related breathing disorders. Interdisciplinary care is a key element throughout the clinical experience, reinforcing a comprehensive approach to patient management.
Research Component: As part of the Master of Science degree, post-graduates are required to undertake a research project. Working with a mentor, they will design and implement a study, collect and analyze data, and defend a Masters thesis. Post-graduates also learn to critque scientific literature, gaining the skills necessary to evaluate current practices and apply evidence-based decision-making.
Program Highlights
Fully CODA-accredited since 2009, the Rutgers program accepts four full-time residents each year. The faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the field of orofacial pain. This rigorous two-year, full-time program prepares graduates for careers in the specialty of Orofacial for private practice, academia, or hybrid clinical-academic roles.
Program Information
| Accreditation | This program is accredited by CODA |
|---|---|
| Program Type | Orofacial Pain |
| Program Code | OFP75 |
| Degrees Offered | Certificate, Masters |
| Program Size | 4 |
| Program Length | 24 months |
| Application Deadline | October 15 |
| Program Start Date | July 1 |
| Supplemental Application | No |
| Supplemental Fee | No |
| Stipend Offered | No |
| Match Participating | No |
| Program Website | sdm.rutgers.edu |
Application Requirements
Required Standardized Tests
- INBDE
- NBDE1
- NBDE2
- TOEFL
Transcript Evaluation and Instructions
Electronic copy of original dental transcripts.
If applicant has a non-US degree, credentialing is required by the ECE or equivalent. Please select the course-by-course option for the evaluation. National Board Dental Examination scores are required.
Letters of Evaluation Instructions
Two letters of recommendation are required to be submitted on behalf of the applicant through the ADEA PASS website.
TOEFL Requirement Instructions
TOEFL scores are a requirement/ The minimum acceptable score is 95.
Other Requirement Instructions
A CV is recommended including any publications, research projects, awards and extra-curricular activities.
International Student Eligibility
This program will consider applicants who graduated, or plan to graduate, from a non-CODA accredited dental school: Yes
Applicants are eligible to enroll if they are:
- US Citizen
- US Permanent Resident
- Canadian Citizen
- Canadian Permanent Resident
- Non-US Citizen/Resident (program offers sponsorship)
- Non-US Citizen/Resident (applicant must obtain their own sponsorship)
- Other - Contact the program
Interview Schedule
Applicants will be contacted individually and interviews will be conducted via zoom/ in-person on a rolling basis.
It is recommended that applications be completed and submitted as early as possible.
Additional Information
Must submit Dental School transcripts to the program (in addition to ADEA PASS) and ONLY ECE evaluation is acceptable.