Orthodontics, M.S. in Dentistry

Saint Louis University's orthodontic program strives to balance progressive excellence with the highest standards and the compassionate service of our Catholic, Jesuit heritage. Graduates leave SLU prepared to be astute and aware clinicians using an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to caring for craniofacial and dental patient problems.

Curriculum Overview

Saint Louis University's orthodontic program offers three basic areas of training: an extensive and comprehensive clinical experience that involves diagnosis, treatment planning, active treatment and retention of patients representing a variety of malocclusions and craniofacial deformities; core courses that include biomedical sciences and clinical concepts; and orthodontic research. Students will need to complete 88 credits to graduate.

Specific courses include facial development, biomechanics, clinical cephalometrics, oral biology, surgical orthodontics, orthodontic problems related to the cleft-palate patient, speech problems related to the oral mechanism, history of orthodontics, diagnosis and treatment planning, clinical diagnosis, orthodontic analysis and treatment modalities, introduction to clinical orthodontics, principles of orthodontic techniques, seminar on child and adolescent psychology, digital orthodontics, scenario-based case analysis, orthodontic business management, review for the ABO examination and thesis research.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Following preliminary laboratory and classroom instruction, each resident in the orthodontic program initiates treatment on a large number of patients who present a broad array of dental malocclusions and skeletal deformities. Although residents are first introduced to the Tweed edgewise philosophy form of treatment, students are also exposed to Tip-Edge mechanics (the sequel to Begg therapy), functional and other removable appliances, and various straight wire appliances. The supervising faculty members present their philosophies and techniques by means of lectures, seminars, laboratory exercises and demonstrations.

In the clinic, students are exposed to a wide array of patient types. Children, adolescents and adults are treated; consequently, students are exposed to treatment in the deciduous, mixed and adult dentitions. Students are also exposed to cases with compromised oral health that require consideration of periodontal, restorative and temporomandibular joint treatment. As a result, many patients are treated by an interdisciplinary approach with other healthcare professionals. Throughout the clinical experience, each student receives a great deal of faculty attention. The development of diagnostic and treatment skills is emphasized as a major responsibility to students.

Additional courses and seminars augment the clinical experience, covering the topics of diagnosis and treatment planning, cephalometrics, theoretical and practical biomechanics, oral pathology, oral medicine, multidisciplinary treatment, speech disorders, craniofacial defects with particular emphasis on cleft lip/palate rehabilitation, adolescent and adult psychology, implants, dentofacial orthopedics, surgical orthodontics, TMJ disorders, and practice management.

Students also receive training in research design and statistics and must conduct an original research project. This effort leads to the preparation and defense of a thesis and, subsequently, the production of a manuscript suitable for publication in a journal relating to the specialty of orthodontics. The experience of discovery provided by such research is an integral part of the graduate program, and students are expected to produce a meaningful contribution to the field of orthodontics.

Careers

Our goal is to prepare orthodontic graduates to pursue a career with many possibilities: as a clinician with a practice limited to orthodontics, as a researcher or as a teacher of orthodontics.

Admission Requirements

A D.D.S., D.M.D., or equivalent general dental degree is required for matriculation in this and all other Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education dental training programs. 

Application Requirements

• Online application through ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS)
• Three letters of recommendation
• National board score test results (not required for international applicants)
• GRE Scores
• Transcript(s)
• Biographical goals statement
• Curriculum vitae or résumé
• National Match number

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Financial documents are required to complete an application for admission and be reviewed for admission and merit scholarships. 
• Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.

WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application Deadline

Applications must be completed by Sept. 1 to be considered for the orthodontic program beginning the summer semester of the following year.

Review Process

Promising applicants are invited for on-site interviews beginning in October. The orthodontic program subscribes to a national matching service and the "tell date" occurs in late November or early December.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1. 

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at https://www.slu.edu/financial-aid/index.php.

Accreditation

The orthodontic program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Following completion of the program, graduates are educationally qualified for certification by the American Board of Orthodontics.

1. Graduates will be able to use the knowledge and concepts of orthodontics, apply major practices, theories, or evidence-based literature in clinical orthodontics.
2. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in orthodontics.
3. Graduates will be able to articulate arguments or explanations to both a disciplinary or professional audience and to a general audience, in both oral and written forms.
4. Graduates will be able to evidence scholarly and professional integrity in orthodontics.

Non-Course Requirements

Supervised active and retention clinical orthodontic treatment of patients; comprehensive orthodontic specialty examinations utilizing written, oral, and practical clinical formats.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Optional Spring and Summer for 36-month Program