Orthodontics

Objectives

To educate and train postdoctoral students in the knowledge, skills and critical judgement required to practice the specialty of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
To develop the postdoctoral student's ability to understand, assess and add to clinical research by participation in scholarly research activities.
To prepare the postdoctoral student to fulfill the requirements necessary for certification by the American Board of Orthodontics.
To prepare the postdoctoral student to become educators in their field of expertise.
To encourage the postdoctoral student to provide service to the community by participating in volunteer activities.

Scope of Training

Students gain experience in the treatment of patients with all types of dentofacial deformities. A broad mastery of alternative techniques with different variations of the Edgewise appliance is emphasized, along with modern forms of removable appliances. Treatment is provided for adults, adolescents, and children. Students also provide orthodontic treatment in complex rehabilitation cases in coordination with graduate students in prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and pediatric dentistry. Surgical orthognathic cases are treated in conjunction with oral and maxillofacial surgery residents at the University of Maryland Medical System.

Through an extensive series of lectures, seminars, and case conferences, a comprehensive didactic background in relevant basic sciences and clinical orthodontics is provided. Each student, working with faculty supervisors chosen from the dental school and university, must complete an original research project.

While pursuing a certificate in orthodontics, students are enrolled in a Master of Science degree program in biomedical sciences. Courses taken for the master’s degree also satisfy some certificate requirements. Students also serve as instructors in the predoctoral didactic, pre-clinical and clinical programs.

Site of Training

Most of the clinical and didactic program takes place within the School of Dentistry. The clinical program is conducted in a modern, seventeen chair clinic. Off-campus experiences include attendance at the craniofacial anomalies clinic at James Lawrence Kernan Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The program brings in guest lecturers, and students attend continuing education courses sponsored by the Maryland State Society of Orthodontics, The Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists, and the American Association of Orthodontists.

Number of Positions

Four

Length of Program

Three years