Last updated on April 24, 2026.

University of Pennsylvania

Program Size
5
Program Length
36 months
Application Deadline
August 15
Program Start
July 1
Match Participating
Yes

Program Contact

Dr. Nupur Patel BDS, DMD, MS, FACP Director of Postgraduate Prosthodontics Program

Penn Dental Medicine
Graduate Dental Education
240 S. 40th Street
Philadephia, Pennsylvania, 19104

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Goal

The Advanced Specialty Education Program in Prosthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania is designed to prepare graduates to excel in clinical practice, research, and teaching within the specialty of Prosthodontics.

Educational Program

The Advanced Education Specialty Program in Prosthodontics at Penn Dental Medicine is designed to provide postdoctoral students with advanced training in prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics. Successful completion of the 3-year program will satisfy the formal training requirement for eligibility for the American Board of Prosthodontics certification examination. This program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

The program begins on July 1, and continues through 36 calendar months. Postgraduate students spend approximately 60% of their time in clinic and are exposed to all facets of clinical prosthodontics. In addition to the core basic science courses required for all postgraduate students, the prosthodontic specialty curriculum provides progressive clinical, laboratory and didactic training, closely supervised, at the postgraduate level in fixed, removable, implant and digital prosthodontics. Dental microscopy, maxillofacial prosthodontics, surgical implant planning, placement, and restoration, full digital dentistry workflow, aesthetics, and the interrelation of other medical/dental clinical specialties are integrated aspects of the training, culminating in the award of the Certificate in Prosthodontics.

The rotation at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania enhances the educational experience by providing a wider range of patients with maxillofacial prosthetics needs, deeper understanding of medical conditions, and close collaboration with medical colleagues and other members of the health care team.

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, the postgraduate students have the option to apply to a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program. The curriculum is integrated so that both the certificate and the Master of Science degree may be awarded simultaneously upon the completion of requirements, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry, while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care.

Clinical Certificate Track: Certificate only (3 years)
Academic Track: MSOB and Certificate (4 years)
Number of students/residents accepted: 5 per year

Program Information

Accreditation This program is accredited by CODA
Program Type Prosthodontics
Program Code PROS439
Degrees Offered Certificate, Masters, Other
Program Size 5
Program Length 36 months
Application Deadline August 15
Program Start Date July 1
Supplemental Application Yes, A link to our supplemental application and application fee will be provided to applicants 24 -48 hours after ADEA PASS certifies your applicant as complete.
Supplemental Fee Yes, $90
Stipend Offered Yes, Prosthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania is a tuition-based program. However, there is an annual stipend that offsets a percentage of the total cost of attendance which on average covers the cost of budgeted living expenses.
Match Participating Yes
Program Website dental.upenn.edu

Application Requirements

Required Standardized Tests

  • INBDE
  • NBDE1
  • NBDE2
  • TOEFL
  • Passing the INBDE before matriculation into the advanced dental education program
  • Passing NBDE Part I and Part II or INBDE scores is preferred for international dental school graduates.

Supplemental Requirements

  • Requires supplemental application
  • Requires supplemental fee

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)

Additional Information

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/admissions 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)

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