Pediatric Dentistry

Our Advanced Educational Program is designed to prepare future leaders in Pediatric Dentistry by providing a comprehensive education and training experience. The program is specifically designed to position students for careers in community practice or academia, and board certification status in pediatric dentistry. With a focus on dentistry for children and individuals with developmental disabilities, residents can gain clinical expertise and a deep understanding of the field.

This course of study is designed to provide an educational background and developmental atmosphere necessary for training the future clinical and academic leaders in Pediatric Dentistry. Advanced education in Pediatric Dentistry helps provide the student with an in-depth understanding of, and clinical expertise in the practice of dentistry for children and people with developmental disabilities. Pediatric dentistry is a specialty of an age group rather than a specific technique; therefore, an extensive knowledge concerning normal growth and development, behavior management, and all phases of dentistry in healthy and compromised patients is required. The programs in Pediatric Dentistry are designed to prepare students for a career in community practice and/or academics.

Each program may be tailored to fulfill the needs and interests of each student and satisfy the qualifications for certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Two programs are available including:

• Certification Program. This program is designed to allow an individualized training experience which will propel graduates into leadership roles as clinicians. Successful completion of this program leads to a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry.
• Certification/Degree Program. This comprehensive program is designed to allow an individualized training experience which will propel graduates into leadership roles either as clinicians or academicians. Successful completion of this program leads to a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Master's of Science Degree in Dentistry.

Both programs involve the development of expertise in providing total patient care for pediatric patients involves extensive clinical experiences in behavior management, outpatient sedation, medical management, dental trauma, and comprehensive treatment of malocclusions. A four-week anesthesia training with pediatric anesthesiologists at The Children's Hospital is accomplished the first year. Students also participate in weekly pediatric dentistry seminars, oncology rounds, orthodontic clinical sessions, and pediatric medicine grand rounds. Patient care includes involvement in special clinics for the Hemophilia Team, Cleft Lip and Palate Team, and Craniofacial Genetics Program (GC-CODED). The availability of a large clinic population allows all students to benefit from direct clinical experience and patient care in all fields.

During the first year, each student selects either a clinical or basic science research problem with the assistance of the program director and Pediatric Dentistry faculty. Extensive clinical research opportunities exist which will benefit future practitioners in their educational and clinical skills. Didactic and clinical training continue during the second year while the student prepares a research protocol and selects a preceptor for his/her research project. A strong clinical component of the second year allows the student to achieve excellence in the areas of hospital dentistry and rendering patient care with the aid of general anesthesia and outpatient conscious sedation. The third year is spent completing the research project for those choosing the master’s degree tract and developing an acceptable thesis, while continuing to maintain a continuity of patient care in the clinical setting. The development of advanced clinical skills is accomplished during this third year through the treatment of complex restorative and behavioral cases, in addition to long-term comprehensive treatment of malocclusions and medically compromised individuals.

Curriculum

General Information

Stipends ranging from $12,000 to $26,000, depending upon availability of funds, for U.S. Citizens/permanent residents enrolled in the Postgraduate Program who graduated from an ADA accredited U.S. dental school. The stipends are subject to external funding and vary from year to year. Interested students should contact the Program Director for more information on availability of stipends.

Tuition/fees to The University of Alabama School of Dentistry is approximately $13,042.00 per academic year. These tuition/fees are subject to increase. Prevailing fees for the Graduate School will also be paid by the student. At time of enrollment, students must present certification of vaccination for, or immunity to, Hepatitis B. In addition, each student must obtain and maintain acceptable health hospitalization insurance as well as professional liability insurance.

Additional expenses to students range upward from $2,000.00. This may include costs for books, instruments, photography equipment, computer, professional liability insurance, student health fees, parking, supplies, expenses related to research activities and thesis preparation, etc.

Each student is expected to be on duty from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of each week. In addition, students will be expected to attend meetings, seminars, etc., which do not fall within the hours listed above. All students in the advanced programs will have night, weekend, and holiday "on call" duties for patient emergencies. "On call" duties are divided among the first and second year residents. Third year residents are generally free of this responsibility.

Participation in the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dental Program requires concentrated full-time effort on the student's part. Consequently, each student should plan his or her other obligations accordingly.

All students are allowed 10-15 time-off days per year depending on their training status of certificate or Master's Program. Students receive 7 holidays (New Year's, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, and Memorial Day) each year.

Required Application Materials

Pay the pediatric dentistry program application fee. The fee for PASS application is $25.00 (please select the Applied through PASS option). In addition, undergraduate transcripts should be sent to the UAB Post-grad Admissions Office. If international applicant, a TOEFL score no more than two years old is also required.

Acceptance Deposit Fee

If accepted into the program a $100 deposit is required to hold your position. Please pay this deposit only when directed to do so by the School of Dentistry.

Pay Acceptance Deposit Fee

Additional Information