Periodontology's mission is to be recognized locally, nationally and internationally for innovative and contemporary didactic and clinical education curricula, cutting-edge research and scholarly activity, compassionate patient care and service to the school and the community. Our diverse faculty, staff and students strive to grow within a team environment. 

Teaching activities are fully integrated within the predoctoral dental student program and our advanced education program in periodontics. Faculty and graduate students are actively engaged in scholarly activity, creating a rich environment for evidence based education and patient care.

Division of Periodontics Leadership

The advanced education program in periodontics produces new scientific evidence aimed at improving health and the practice of Periodontics. The program incorporates the core professional values and codes of ethics of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology, and the Oregon Health & Science University. By fully participating in all activities within the mission of the advanced education program in periodontics, students achieve competency in clinical practice and patient advocacy, teaching, research and community service.

Program Length: 36 month, continuous program (12 academic quarters)

Learn about the Student Learning Outcomes of the periodontics program. 

Visit the OHSU School of Dentistry's advanced education programs for additional application information. 

Research

All advanced education students in periodontics are required to participate in an original research project during their program with the option to pursue a master's degree. Successful completion of the program will result in the awarding of a master of science in periodontology. Each student designs and produces a research protocol with the help of a research mentor. 

Read more about research at the School of Dentistry. 

Match

OHSU School of Dentistry participates in the Match. Completed PASS applications and all required supporting documentation received in the Office of Admissions by the specified PASS/Program deadline will be forwarded to the periodontology department for review. Interviews are by invitation only and are granted to those applicants that present competitive applications. Applicants are generally notified of their status in December. Please visit the ADEA PASS Search Engine for additional information including participating programs, deadlines, contact information, and program requirements. 

Interested in periodontology? An externship provides students with an opportunity to observe the program and interact with faculty and residents. We offer a limited number of externships to qualified individuals. If interested, please submit an inquiry form. 

Students must enrolled in a CODA accredited dental program in the U.S. or Canada in order to be eligible for our program. We are unable to accept externship requests from non-CODA accredited dental students.

• Length of externship: 2-3 days
• Clinic hours: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Interested predoctoral dental students may apply for an externship. Please note that one of our program requirements is that students must have graduated from a CODA accredited dental program in the U.S. or Canada. Please plan on spending two to three days with us to provide sufficient time to observe our program and interact with our faculty and residents. Externs are welcome to attend Wednesday morning case presentation and Thursday afternoon literature review seminar. Please indicate your preferred days of the week if you have a preference. 

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Periodontology faculty members have designed a curriculum that ensures that all students graduating from the predoctoral dental program are prepared to manage the periodontal needs of their patients within a general dental practice.

Competencies

Graduates of our program will have demonstrated competency in the following areas:

• providing a comprehensive periodontal evaluation
• generation of periodontal diagnoses and prognoses
• understanding of disease etiology
• development and execution of a properly phased and sequenced treatment plan for periodontal needs
• communication of needs and therapeutic options, evaluation, and maintenance of periodontal health

Non-surgical treatment

Students will become competent in the non-surgical treatment of mild to moderate periodontitis, and be able to provide

• oral hygiene instructions
• scaling and root planning
• occlusal therapy
• assessment of response to therapy at the reevaluation appointment
• coordinating care proficiently with specialty students, including referral for surgical periodontal and implant therapy

Surgical experience

All students have exposure to periodontal surgical experiences while serving as a surgical assistant for students within the advanced program in periodontics. In addition, predoctoral students have the opportunity to provide surgical periodontal therapy on selected cases, typically crown lengthening and flap debridement/osseous surgery procedures.