University of Pennsylvania

Program Director: Dr. Joseph Fiorellini, contact

Program Overview

The Advanced Specialty Education Program in Periodontics at Penn Dental Medicine is designed to provide postdoctoral students with advanced training in periodontics and oral implantology. Upon successful completion of this 3-year program, residents are issued a Certificate in Periodontics and are eligible for examination by the American Board of Periodontology. This program is fully by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Residents spend approximately 60% of their time in clinic and are exposed to all facets of clinical periodontics, including periodontal surgery, implant surgery, soft and hard tissue grafting, sedation, periodontal prosthesis, tooth movement and adjunctive orthodontics, orthodontics for periodontally involved cases, and integration of all facets of complex dentistry. Clinical practice takes place in Penn Dental Medicine’s Sarmiento Cewnter for Periodontics.

In addition to the core basic science courses required for all graduate students, the didactic curriculum includes basic science courses related to periodontics. Other features of the program include clinical seminars, literature seminars, interschool symposia, and an extensive guest lecture series.

The highly respected research environment at Penn Dental Medicine and throughout the University of Pennsylvania provides a valuable opportunity for students applying to residency programs to combine their specialty training with advanced research and academic opportunities. To that end, Penn Dental Medicine offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) and a Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) that can be earned concurrent with a specialty certificate, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care. Through the MSOB and DScD programs, students are encouraged to pursue their individual research interests with projects that can span the diverse disciplines and research labs within Penn Dental Medicine’s basic and clinical sciences and across the University. Learn more about the combined Periodontics/DScD Program»

Academic Track: MSOB and certificate (4 years), DScD and certificate (5.5 years)
Clinical Certificate Track: certificate only (3 years)

International Applicants must also submit the following:

• Official TOEFL Scores must be sent to ADEA PASS. IELTS is not accepted.
• ECE course by course evalaition sent to ADEA PASS. WES evalautions are not accepted. 

See http://www.dental.upenn.edu/academic_programs_admissions/graduate_dental_education_programs for additional information. 

Applicants to this program are eligible to apply concurrently to the following degree programs which extend the length of their curriculum.

 Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) - Master of Science in Oral Biology - Penn Dental Medicine (upenn.edu)

 Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) - Admissions DScD with Certificate - Penn Dental Medicine (upenn.edu)

Only upon request, accepted applicants will be required to complete the following:

• Successfully pass several Criminal Background Checks. Meet University and School of Dental Medicine vaccination and health screening requirements.
• Provide official INBDE scores if not provided to ADEA PASS at the time of application.
• Complete all required knowledge based compliance courses
• Submit a final set of official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended. For international dental school graduates we require official transcripts in the original language and an original certified English translation, a notarized copy of your dental diploma and original certified English translation, and an official ECE course-by-course evaluation.