Pediatric Dentistry, M.S. in Dentistry

The Center for Advanced Dental Education at Saint Louis University offers a program in the specialty of pediatric dentistry that leads to a Master of Science in Dentistry and a certificate in pediatric dentistry. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for limitation of practice to pediatric dentistry and examination by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Emphasis is placed on all phases of pediatric dentistry. At the end of the program, the student will be able to provide comprehensive oral health care for the well child, the medically compromised child and the child with special health care needs. Extensive experience is provided in the areas of sedation, analgesia and the use of general anesthesia to deliver dental treatment. Research experience is gained through completion of a master’s thesis research project.

The pediatric dental postgraduate program is located in a newly remodeled six-chair clinic. Each operatory is equipped with digital radiographic capabilities and nitrous oxide. A small office area, as well as break room, library and classrooms are provided for the residents.

Program Strengths

  • Excellent educational program with dedicated faculty
  • Large patient base with extensive dental needs
  • Extensive experience managing children with a wide range of special health care needs
  • Didactic core curriculum covering basic and dental science
  • Extensive experience in sedation/general anesthesia
  • Facilitated research experience

Curriculum Overview

Seminars are held that cover topics relevant to pediatric dentistry, and a literature review course will discuss current and core articles from the pediatric dental literature. Multi-disciplinary seminars are held in conjunction with the graduate programs in orthodontics, endodontics and periodontics. Formal courses are presented in biostatistics, oral medicine, oral pathology, early and mixed dentition, therapeutics, practice management and some basic sciences. Off-service rotations occur in general anesthesia, pediatric medicine, pediatric emergency room and craniofacial clinic. 51 credits are required to complete the program.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Students will gain operating room experience and complete clinical rotations at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Residents provide 24-hour/seven-days-a-week dental consultation to the Cardinal Glennon emergency room, a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.

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 pediatric dentistry. 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 pediatric dentistry.

Careers

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

Admission Requirements

The prerequisite for matriculation in any CADE dental training program is possession of a D.D.S., D.M.D., or equivalent general dental degree.  Additionally, individuals must be able to obtain a Missouri Dental License.

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)
  • Transcript(s)
  • Biographical goals statement
  • Curriculum vitae or résumé
  • National Match Number
  • A valid Missouri Dental License
  • Applicants from foreign dental schools must be able to obtain a Missouri dental license.  Missouri requires dentists to graduate from an ADA accredited dental school.

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 Oct. 1 to be considered for the pediatric dentistry master’s program beginning the summer semester of the following year.

Review Process

A committee examines and reviews the applicant and application wholly. Promising applicants are invited for on-site interviews in November.

Tuition

Tuition Cost Per Semester
Graduate Tuition $21,900

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

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 24-month 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 Pediatric Dentistry.

  1. Graduates will be able to use the knowledge and concepts of pediatric dentistry and apply major practices, theories, or evidence-based literature in clinical pediatric dentistry.
  2. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in pediatric dentistry.
  3. Graduates will successfully complete the pediatric dentistry written and oral board exams.
BBS 5100Ethics for Research Scientists0
CAD 5010Pain: Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Treatment1
CAD 5050Introduction to Statistical Inference3
CAD 5060Ethics and Dentistry0
CAD 5070Bone Physiology1
CAD 5080Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I1
CAD 5100Dental Therapeutics1
CAD 5110Small Business Basics1
CAD 5190Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy2
CAD 5175Advanced Oral Pathology & Medicine2
ORES 5100Research Methods in Health & Medicine3
ORTH 5030Facial Growth2
ORTH 5370Orthodontic Problems Related to Cleft Palate Patient1
ORTH 5390Speech Disorders Related to the Oral Mechanism1
ORTH 5800Child and Adolescent Psychology1
PDED 5000Introduction to Pediatric Dentistry2
PDED 5200Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review (taken over multiple semesters)6
PDED 5600Clinical Pediatric Dentistry I1
PDED 5610Clinical Pediatric Dentistry II2
PDED 5620Clinical Pediatric Dentistry III2
PDED 5630Clinical Pediatric Dentistry IV1
PDED 5640Clinical Pediatric Dentistry V2
PDED 5650Clinical Pediatric Dentistry VI2
PDED 5660Clinical Pediatric Dentistry VII1
PDED 5800Principles of Orthodontics (repeatable up to 4 credits)1
PDED 5910Pediatric Dentistry Seminar (taken over multiple semesters)0-1
PDED 5950Special Study for Exams0
PDED 5990Thesis Research (taken over multiple semesters, 6hrs max)1-2
Total Credits53

Non-Course Requirements

Supervised clinical pediatric treatment of patients; comprehensive pediatric specialty examinations utilizing written, oral, and practical clinical formats; teaching practicum; oral defense of the thesis.

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
SpringCredits
BBS 5100 Ethics for Research Scientists 0
CAD 5060 Ethics and Dentistry 0
CAD 5070 Bone Physiology 1
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
CAD 5100 Dental Therapeutics 1
CAD 5190 Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy 2
PDED 5200 Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review 1
PDED 5620 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry III 2
PDED 5800 Principles of Orthodontics 1
PDED 5910 Pediatric Dentistry Seminar 1
PDED 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits11
Summer
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PDED 5000 Introduction to Pediatric Dentistry 2
PDED 5200 Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review 1
PDED 5600 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry I 1
PDED 5910 Pediatric Dentistry Seminar 0
 Credits5
Fall
CAD 5050 Introduction to Statistical Inference 3
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
ORTH 5030 Facial Growth 2
ORTH 5370 Orthodontic Problems Related to Cleft Palate Patient 1
ORTH 5390 Speech Disorders Related to the Oral Mechanism 1
PDED 5200 Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review 1
PDED 5610 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry II 2
PDED 5800 Principles of Orthodontics 1
PDED 5910 Pediatric Dentistry Seminar 1
 Credits13
Year Two
Spring
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PDED 5200 Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review 1
PDED 5650 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry VI 2
PDED 5800 Principles of Orthodontics 1
PDED 5910 Pediatric Dentistry Seminar 1
PDED 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits7
Summer
CAD 5010 Pain: Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Treatment 1
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
CAD 5110 Small Business Basics 1
ORES 5100 Research Methods in Health & Medicine (online) 3
ORTH 5800 Child and Adolescent Psychology 1
PDED 5200 Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review 1
PDED 5630 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry IV 1
PDED 5910 Pediatric Dentistry Seminar 0
PDED 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits10
Fall
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
CAD 5175 Advanced Oral Pathology & Medicine 2
PDED 5200 Pediatric Dentistry Literature Review 1
PDED 5640 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry V 2
PDED 5800 Principles of Orthodontics 1
PDED 5910 Pediatric Dentistry Seminar 1
PDED 5990 Thesis Research 2
 Credits10
Year Three
Summer
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PDED 5660 Clinical Pediatric Dentistry VII 1
PDED 5950 Special Study for Exams (Oral Thesis Exam) 0
PDED 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits3
 Total Credits59