Periodontics

Periodontics banner36-month M.S./certificate program

The goal of this program is to develop Periodontists who desire to enter clinical practice or an academic career in Periodontics. Graduates of this program will develop the ability to:

  1. Apply scientific-based therapeutic techniques to treat diseases of the periodontium.
  2. Manage all types and degrees of periodontal disease, mucogingival deformities, and inter-disciplinary therapies.
  3. Perform esthetic surgeries to correct soft tissue deficiencies.
  4. Manage alveolar defects with the latest techniques of hard and soft tissue grafting.
  5. Place and restore dental implants.
  6. Appreciate and conduct research in Periodontology.

This is a 36-month program which leads to a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science in Dental Sciences with specialization in Periodontics. The program fulfills guidelines set forth by the Council on Dental Education and the American Academy of Periodontology.

Academically oriented students may elect to pursue a Ph.D. degree either concurrent with the certificate program or subsequently. At this time, UF does not offer a Ph.D. in Periodontics.

A stipend is available. Tuition is required.

For additional program information, including tuition, fees, and stipends, please visit the links below:

Contact Information

Dr. Pamela Sandow
University of Florida College of Dentistry/Periodontics
P.O. Box 100402
1395 Center Drive, D3-5
Gainesville, FL 32610-0402
Phone: 352-273-5956 | Fax: 352-846-0311
Email: GradAdmissions@dental.ufl.edu

Application Process

The deadline to apply to this program is Thursday, August 15, 2024.

We strongly encourage all applicants to have complete applications on file with PASS and UFCD prior to the deadline.

PASS Application Status Updates

All program applicants must apply through PASS (Postdoctoral Application Support Service), sponsored by the American Dental Education Association (www.adea.org). ADEA PASS is the centralized application service for applicants for advanced dental education programs.

  • Please be aware that it may take up to four weeks to process a PASS application.
    • Within two weeks of submitting your PASS application, you will receive a confirmation via email.
    • Within four weeks of submitting your PASS application, you will receive an email with your current application status and/or any remaining actions that you may need to take.
  • Applications that have met all requirements, including uploaded documents, will be forwarded to the program director for review.
  • Incomplete applications or those that do not meet all requirements will not be eligible for review.
  • Please email our office at GradAdmissions@dental.ufl.edu with questions. No materials from applicants should be mailed to our office.

Checklist for Candidates Applying to the Periodontics Program

Application Requirements (Deadline – August 15, 2024)

  1. Apply to ADEA PASS (All Applicants)
  2. Upload Documents to PASS Application (All Applicants)
  3. Upload Additional Documents for Applicants who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico or who are Internationally-Educated Dentists (All other applicants skip to Section 4)

a.  Applicants who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico
b.  Applicants who are Internationally-Educated Dentists

  4. Submit the following materials to UF College of Dentistry (All Applicants)
  5. Register for the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (All Applicants)
  6. Apply directly to the University of Florida Graduate School (All Applicants)

Matriculation Requirements (Upon Request Only)

  1. Interview (Upon Invitation Only)
  2. Provide Official Documents (Upon Request for Accepted Candidates)
  3. Provide Additional Documents for Candidates who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico or who are Internationally-Educated Dentists (Upon Request for Accepted Candidates)

a.  Candidates who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico
b.  Candidates who are Internationally-Educated Dentists


Instructions for Checklist Items

Application Requirements (Deadline – August 15, 2024)

1. Apply to ADEA PASS (All Applicants)

Applying through ADEA PASS (opens in May) is mandatory for this program. We advise applicants to apply as early as possible. Only one application per cycle is permitted.

For an application and instructions, please contact:

ADEA PASS
Email: passinfo@passweb.org
Phone: (617) 612-2065

2. Upload Documents to PASS Application (All Applicants)

All application documents that are listed below should be uploaded with the PASS application.

  • National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Parts I and II or Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) score report
    • An official NBDE or INBDE score report submitted to ADEA PASS from the JCNDE is preferred.  If necessary, an unofficial NBDE or INBDE score report uploaded to PASS is sufficient at time of application. An official NBDE or INBDE score report sent directly to the University of Florida College of Dentistry is required after acceptance into the program.
    • NBDE Part I and II or INBDE are highly recommended, but are not required for matriculation for Internationally-Educated Dentists.
  • Undergraduate, Graduate (if applicable), and Dental school transcripts (from all institutions attended, even if the coursework is listed on another school’s transcript)
    • Unofficial transcripts are sufficient at time of application. Original official transcripts in an envelope sealed by the institution are required after acceptance into the program.
  • CV/Resume
  • Personal statement
  • Two Professional Evaluation Forms (PEF)
    Please note: an Institution Evaluation Form (IEF) does not equal a PEF
  • No ADAT required

3. Upload Additional Documents for Applicants who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico or who are Internationally-Educated Dentists (All other applicants skip to Section 4)

All application documents that are listed below should be uploaded with the PASS application.

a. Applicants who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico

  • Official TOEFL Scores
    • A minimum TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-Based version) or 550 (paper-based) is required.
    • Please note that TOEFL scores expire after 2 years. For the 2025 Application Cycle, TOEFL scores must be dated February 8, 2023, or later.
    • For the TOEFL, scores must be from the same test date (the “MyBest Scores” are not accepted or considered).
    • The TOEFL ITP is not accepted.

b. Applicants who are Internationally-Educated Dentists

  • Official TOEFL Scores
    • A minimum TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-Based version) or 550 (paper-based) is required.
    • Please note that TOEFL scores expire after 2 years. For the 2025 Application Cycle, TOEFL scores must be dated February 8, 2023, or later.
    • For the TOEFL, scores must be from the same test date (the “MyBest Scores” are not accepted or considered).
    • The TOEFL ITP is not accepted for admission purposes.
  • Official Course-by-Course Evaluation Report
    • You must choose from either:
      1) Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
      www.ece.org
      2) World Education Services (WES)
      www.wes.org
  • Dental school transcript(s) and diploma(s)
    • DDS/DMD degree equivalent(s)
  • Transcripts from every institution of higher learning that was attended
  • Translations of all transcripts and diplomas (if the native language of the documents is not English)
  • All international students must secure an F1 visa prior to matriculation on July 1.

4. Submit the following materials to UF College of Dentistry (All Applicants)

All application documents that are listed below should be emailed to GradAdmissions@dental.ufl.edu.

  • Digital Photo
    • Email your photograph to the admissions office. Send the file in JPEG format and make sure your photo is not smaller than 400 x 400 pixels. Photos should show you from the shoulders up, directly facing the camera. See examples of correct and incorrect photos

5. Register for the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (All Applicants)

All program applicants must register with the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program.

National Matching Services
20 Holly Street, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4S 3B1
416-977-3431
Email: dentres@natmatch.com

6. Apply directly to the University of Florida Graduate School (All Applicants)

Complete the Graduate Application.

  • Select the “Graduate” option (do NOT select “Professional”).
  • Mark “Masters” and “Summer B 2025″ for the term.
  • The UF Graduate Application requires a non-refundable fee of $30. Instructions on how to submit payment are included at the end of the application. DO NOT mail any payments to our office.
  • Once you have submitted your payment, you will be given an 8-digit UFID number.
  • Do not mail or email the UF Graduate Application to our office.

Matriculation Requirements (Upon Request Only)

1. Interview (Upon Invitation Only)

  • Selected candidates are required to participate in an interview.
  • Interviews for the Periodontics Program will be held in September and October.

2. Provide Official Documents (Upon Request for Accepted Candidates)

For matriculation, the following documents must be on file with the University of Florida College of Dentistry:

  • Official electronic NBDE or INBDE score reports
  • Original official undergraduate transcripts in an envelope sealed by the institution.
  • Original official graduate school transcripts (if applicable) in an envelope sealed by the institution.
  • Original official dental school transcripts in an envelope sealed by the institution.

3. Provide Additional Documents for Candidates who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico or who are Internationally-Educated Dentists (Upon Request for Accepted Candidates)

For matriculation, the following documents must be on file with the University of Florida College of Dentistry:

a. Candidates who attended post-secondary and dental schools in Puerto Rico

  • Official TOEFL scores
    • The UF College of Dentistry code is 8612.

b. Candidates who are Internationally-Educated Dentists

  • All international students must secure an F1 visa prior to matriculation on July 1
  • Official TOEFL scores
    • The UF College of Dentistry code is 8612.
  • Official Course-by-Course Evaluation Report
    • Course-by-Course Evaluations must be sent directly to the University of Florida College of Dentistry in an envelope sealed by the evaluation service.
  • Original official dental school transcript(s) and diploma(s)
    • DDS/DMD degree equivalent(s)
  • Official transcripts from every institution of higher learning that was attended
  • Official translations of all transcripts and diplomas (if the native language of the documents is not English)
    • Translations must be sent directly to the University of Florida College of Dentistry in an envelope sealed by the translation service.