Periodontics, M.S. in Dentistry

Saint Louis University's periodontic program strives to balance progressive excellence with the highest standards and the compassionate service of the Catholic, Jesuit heritage.

Graduates leave Saint Louis University prepared to be astute and aware clinicians using an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to caring for periodontal problems.

Curriculum Overview

SLU's periodontics master's program focuses on an extensive, comprehensive clinical experience involving diagnosis and treatment of patients with a wide variety of periodontal problems, biomedical sciences courses and research related to the discipline of periodontology and oral implantology. 61 credits are required to complete the program.

Courses include principles of periodontics, periodontal literature reviews, conscious sedation, introduction to graduate implant dentistry, advanced implant surgery, clinical teaching practicum, periodontal case presentation seminar, clinical periodontics, periodontal systemic interrelationships, orthodontic-periodontic interrelationships, current literature in periodontics and thesis research.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

The clinical portion of the curriculum encompasses all aspects of periodontal treatment including non-surgical therapy, hard and soft tissue resective and regenerative surgery, implant surgery, ridge augmentation procedures, occlusal therapy, conscious sedation, periodontal plastic surgery and maintenance therapy.

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 periodontics. 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 periodontics.

Careers

The goal of SLU’s Center for Advanced Dental Education is to prepare periodontic graduates to pursue a career with many possibilities: as a clinician with a practice limited to periodontics, as a researcher or as a teacher of periodontics.

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.  

All applicants must possess a dental license in a U.S. state or foreign country.

Application Requirements

• Online application through ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS)
• Three letters of recommendation
• National board score test results (suggested, but not required for international applicants)
• 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 Aug. 1 to be considered for the periodontic 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 September.

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 36-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 Periodontology.

1. Graduates will be able to use the knowledge and concepts of periodontics, apply major practices, theories, or evidence-based literature in clinical periodontics.
2. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in periodontics.
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 periodontics.

Non-Course Requirements

Supervised clinical periodontal treatment of patients; comprehensive periodontal 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.