Graduate Certificate in Prosthodontics

Participate in the rapid rise of digital dentistry while learning to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and manage the appearance, comfort, function and health of patients with deficient or missing teeth and/or oral tissues with the Certificate in Prosthodontics in the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. The 34-month postdoctoral advanced clinical program prepares students to receive clinical instruction, undergo individual research and gain real-world experience while treating a diverse patient population. Residents in the program also acquire the intensive training needed to fulfill the requirements of the American Board of Prosthodontics and succeed as a professional prosthodontics specialist.

Breakthroughs in technology and advancements in bioactive and regenerative materials have pushed the limits of dental science and created a new world of opportunity in the field of dentistry. While these advances affect all aspects of dentistry, prosthodontics is particularly impacted by these changes as the specialty involves the design and manufacture of replacements for teeth. Temple’s prosthodontics program provides residents with the facilities, support and tools necessary to respond to and create more of these advancements—including being the only clinic provider of maxillofacial prosthetic services at the university and in the surrounding area. 

Through the program’s blended curriculum of didactic and clinical courses, residents gain the skills and training required to become professional prosthodontists, including advanced expertise in biomaterials, implant dentistry and maxillofacial prosthetics. The postdoctoral program prepares residents to work with patients who require advanced prosthodontic care beyond the scope of general dentistry, as well as re-treat failed cases from the predoctoral clinic—allowing residents to gain experience in managing treatment of patients whose previous treatment was not successful. 

The postgraduate certificate in Prosthodontics program admits four residents a year and requires three consecutive years of study to complete. Residents enrolled in the postdoctoral program will also complete all requirements to subsequently earn the Master of Science degree in Oral Health Sciences offered by the Kornberg School of Dentistry.

Oral Health Sciences MS

Students in the Graduate Program in Prosthodontics apply for the Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences upon acceptance to the program. In this 30-credit postgraduate master’s program, students apply modern biological principles and research techniques that aid in diagnosing, treating and preventing oral and craniofacial diseases and anomalies.

Through the interdisciplinary curriculum, students study the structure, development and function of oral tissues; their interrelationships; and their connections to other organ systems. Research areas include advanced general dentistry, clinical fields, and periodontal and craniofacial regeneration.

The program’s Clinical Specialty Track is specifically tailored for postgraduate students currently enrolled in an advanced training certificate in the Kornberg School of Dentistry. Coursework in students’ postgraduate certificate programs count toward the required 30 credits for the Oral Health Sciences MS degree.

Learn more about the Oral Health Sciences MS.

Photo credit: Ryan S. Brandenberg, CLA ’14

Program Format & Curriculum

­The postdoctoral program combines a required Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences with the clinical and didactic certificate program. Clinical work and research are intended to give students advanced, real-world experience with the patients they will see in the field of prosthodontics.

Students are required to take the following courses, among many others.

  • Advanced Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • Bioethics and Critical Thinking
  • Clinical Anatomy of the Head and Neck
  • Introduction to Implantology
  • Oral Pathology
  • Prosthodontics Literature Review

Learn more about the required courses in the Graduate Certificate in Prosthodontics program.

Related Graduate Certificates

Careers

Students who graduate from the Prosthodontics certificate program are well prepared to pursue a specialized career in prosthodontics in academics, clinical and private practice, and research. Graduates have expertise in biomaterials, implant dentistry, maxillofacial prosthetics and oral biology, and they have the experience and compassion necessary for a patient-centered practice.

Career Development

Through the Office of Student Affairs, students pursuing careers in dentistry can get counseling and support during their tenure at Kornberg and after they graduate. The office regularly hosts career events and guest speakers covering a wide range of topics including

  • corporate and private practice careers,
  • debt management,
  • general practice residencies,
  • military service, and
  • specialty education.

Once enrolled in the Prosthodontics Certificate (Graduate) program, you will receive regular notifications about career opportunities. Additionally, the school provides a list of job opportunities that is updated regularly for dental professionals across the U.S.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Certificate in Prosthodontics offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. 

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

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Additional Program Information