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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.

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 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.
BBS 5100Ethics for Research Scientists0
CAD 5010Pain: Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Treatment1
CAD 5030Advanced Oral Microbiology2
CAD 5050Introduction to Statistical Inference3
CAD 5060Ethics and Dentistry0
CAD 5070Bone Physiology1
CAD 5080Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I1
CAD 5100Dental Therapeutics1
CAD 5140Temporomandibular Disorders1
CAD 5110Small Business Basics1
CAD 5175Advanced Oral Pathology & Medicine2
CAD 5190Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy2
CAD 5220Clinical Immunology1
ORES 5100Research Methods in Health & Medicine3
PERI 5000Principles of Periodontics1
PERI 5010Periodontal Literature Review I1
PERI 5020Periodontal Literature Review II1
PERI 5030Periodontal Literature Review III1
PERI 5040Periodontal Literature Review IV1
PERI 5050Periodontal Literature Review V1
PERI 5060Periodontal Literature Review VI1
PERI 5100Conscious Sedation I1
PERI 5110Conscious Sedation II1
PERI 5120Optional Sedation Rotation0
PERI 5200Introduction to Grad Implant Dental I1
PERI 5210Introduction to Grad Implant Dental II1
PERI 5220Advanced Implant Surgery I1
PERI 5230Advanced Implant Surgery II1
PERI 5300Clinical Teaching Practicum0
PERI 5400Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar0
PERI 5600Clinical Periodontics I1
PERI 5610Clinical Periodontics II2
PERI 5620Clinical Periodontics III2
PERI 5630Clinical Periodontics IV1
PERI 5640Clinical Periodontics V2
PERI 5650Clinical Periodontics VI2
PERI 5660Clinical Periodontics VII1
PERI 5670Clinical Periodontics VIII2
PERI 5680Clinical Periodontics IX2
PERI 5690Clinical Periodontics X0
PERI 5700Periodontal Systematic Interrelation0
PERI 5800Orthodontics and Periodontics Interrelationships0
PERI 5910Current Literature in Periodontics (taken over multiple semesters)9
PERI 5950Special Study for Exams0
PERI 5990Thesis Research6
Total Credits62

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
SummerCredits
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PERI 5000 Principles of Periodontics 1
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5600 Clinical Periodontics I 1
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
 Credits4
Fall
CAD 5050 Introduction to Statistical Inference 3
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PERI 5010 Periodontal Literature Review I 1
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5610 Clinical Periodontics II 2
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
 Credits8
Spring
BBS 5100 Ethics for Research Scientists 0
CAD 5030 Advanced Oral Microbiology 2
CAD 5060 Ethics and Dentistry 0
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
CAD 5100 Dental Therapeutics 1
CAD 5190 Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy 2
PERI 5020 Periodontal Literature Review II 1
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5620 Clinical Periodontics III 2
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
CAD 5070 Bone Physiology 1
 Credits11
Year Two
Summer
CAD 5250 Multidisciplinary & Evidence Based Diagnosis & Treatment Planning 0
ORES 5100 Research Methods in Health & Medicine 3
PERI 5300 Clinical Teaching Practicum 0
CAD 5110 Small Business Basics 1
CAD 5010 Pain: Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Treatment 1
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5630 Clinical Periodontics IV 1
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits8
Fall
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
CAD 5220 Clinical Immunology 1
PERI 5030 Periodontal Literature Review III 1
PERI 5100 Conscious Sedation I 1
PERI 5200 Introduction to Grad Implant Dental I 1
PERI 5300 Clinical Teaching Practicum 0
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5640 Clinical Periodontics V 2
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 1
CAD 5175 Advanced Oral Pathology & Medicine 2
 Credits11
Spring
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PERI 5040 Periodontal Literature Review IV 1
PERI 5110 Conscious Sedation II 1
PERI 5210 Introduction to Grad Implant Dental II 1
PERI 5300 Clinical Teaching Practicum 0
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5650 Clinical Periodontics VI 2
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits8
Year Three
Summer
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PERI 5300 Clinical Teaching Practicum 0
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5660 Clinical Periodontics VII 1
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits4
Fall
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PERI 5050 Periodontal Literature Review V 1
PERI 5220 Advanced Implant Surgery I 1
PERI 5300 Clinical Teaching Practicum 0
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5670 Clinical Periodontics VIII 2
PERI 5800 Orthodontics and Periodontics Interrelationships 0
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits7
Spring
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
CAD 5140 Temporomandibular Disorders 1
PERI 5060 Periodontal Literature Review VI 1
PERI 5230 Advanced Implant Surgery II 1
PERI 5300 Clinical Teaching Practicum 0
PERI 5400 Periodontics Case Presentation Seminar 0
PERI 5680 Clinical Periodontics IX 2
PERI 5700 Periodontal Systematic Interrelation 0
PERI 5910 Current Literature in Periodontics 1
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 1
 Credits8
Year Four
Summer
CAD 5080 Multidis Diag + Trtmnt Plan I 1
PERI 5690 Clinical Periodontics X 0
PERI 5950 Special Study for Exams 0
PERI 5990 Thesis Research 0
 Credits1
 Total Credits70