Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The School of Dentistry and the Department of Periodontics offer a program of advanced study and clinical training leading to the degree of Master of Science. The program requires a minimum of thirty-four months (three academic years) of full time residency in the School of Dentistry. It is designed to qualify dentists for careers in periodontic clinical practice, teaching and research.
A stipend plus tuition waiver will be provided for graduate students in Periodontics at the end of the second year for summer session and fall/spring semesters of the third year. Special fees are not covered by the tuition waiver. You must pay special fees each term/semester.
Inquiries concerning this program should be directed to the Office of Dental Admissions, Recruitment and Access. Applications will be processed by the School of Dentistry. Applicants approved for admission to the program will be notified soon after interviews have been completed.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. For details about the faculty, publications and alumni information, please visit the Department of Periodontics website.
Program Goals
The postgraduate program is designed to train well qualified dentists in all aspects of periodontics. The program is organized into five components: biomedical science didactics, periodontal science didactics, clinical science activity, research and teaching. The department philosophy is to provide comprehensive training that encompasses all aspects of periodontal and implant therapy. The program qualifies the student for examination and certification by the American Board of Periodontology.
The Master of Science degree program requires the development of an in-depth research problem which must be reported in the form of a thesis.
Program Curriculum
First-Year Program
In the first year of the program, the resident is introduced to the specialty of periodontics, its scope and its history. The resident receives instruction in the scientific and clinical aspects of periodontics and implant dentistry.
Seminars on current and classic periodontal literature will be offered in addition to case presentations and interdisciplinary seminars. The residents will also participate in didactic courses in biostatistics and research methodology.
The didactic activity will be combined with supervised patient care.
Second-Year Program
The second year of the program is a continuation of the first year of training, with increased emphasis on the clinical treatment of patients and the advanced concepts of periodontics. The resident will spend more time conducting a research study and in the development of a thesis.
Third-Year Program
Throughout the training, the resident is encouraged to be inquisitive regarding all phases of treatment and to use initiative to be resourceful. The senior resident should become a critic of his or her own accomplishments and be able to support clinical decisions with references from the literature. Completion of a research problem and thesis are required and the resident must successfully defend the thesis at the Committee level. The senior resident will be expected to present lectures and patient presentations in preparation for Board certification and future teaching responsibilities. Satisfactory completion of this year of training qualifies the resident for examination and certification by the American Board of Periodontology.
Faculty
Chair and Graduate Program Director
- Arif Salman - BDS., MDSc
Assistant professor
- Shorouk Elnagdy - BDS., MD
Admissions for 2026-2027
The program's admission requirements are as follows:
- Must have passed National Board Dental Examination - Part I at the time of application and Part 2 upon entrance to the program or the Integrated Exam (INBDE).
- Must have earned a D.M.D./D.D.S. degree, or its equivalent.
- Must be proficient in the English language or provide a recent TOEFL score (if from a non-English speaking country).
- Must display evidence of scholastic and clinical achievement that would indicate the applicant's ability to progress in a program of this nature. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required.
- Must apply to the program through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) and have all application materials in PASS by September 15.
- Must apply to National Match Services and obtain a MATCH number to be considered for admission to the program.
- Must complete and submit a WVU Graduate Application if invited for an interview.
- Must participate in an interview.
- Must consent to and pass a criminal background investigation prior to final acceptance.
- Must submit documentation of required immunizations. A complete list is available on the School of Dentistry website.
- Must become familiar with the West Virginia School of Dentistry's policy and procedure for Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases.
- Must meet federal and university standards regarding the Responsible Conduct of Research.
- Must be eligible for and obtain a West Virginia dental license or dental resident/intern permit prior to the first day of program orientation.
Major Code: 8019
Degree Requirements
- Fulfill University requirements for graduate study.
- Complete 34 months (three academic years) of consecutive full-time advanced study and clinical training at the School of Dentistry.
- Complete an approved master’s thesis based on original research completed during the course of study in an area related to Periodontics.
- Pass the American Board of Periodontology written qualifying examination.
- Pass the Mock American Board of Periodontology oral examination.
- Pass the Written American Board of Periodontology Written Exam with a score > 60 percentile.
- Complete all didactic and clinical work in the required curriculum successfully.
- Demonstrate satisfactory clinical competency in periodontics.
- Complete a minimum of 94 credit hours, including 70 hours of periodontic courses and a minimum of 7 hours of selected basic science subjects, 6 hours of teaching practicum, and a research/thesis (11 hours).
- Achieve a 3.0 GPA or an overall competence in the student’s field. A minimum grade of B must be earned in all work attempted in the master’s program. A grade of C or below in two courses will require a faculty review of the student’s progress. A third C or below will result in suspension from the program.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
| Minimum grade of B- is required in all courses. | ||
| Biomedical Sciences | ||
| DENT 600 | Advanced Oral Surgery | 3 |
| DENT 601 | Advanced Oral Microbiology | 1 |
| DENT 602 | Special Studies in Oral Pathology | 2 |
| PALM 716 | Craniofacial Growth and Maturation | 1 |
| PCOL 765 | Advanced Biomedical Sciences: Applied Pharmacology | 1 |
| Periodontic Courses | ||
| ORTH 633 | Orthodontics-Periodontics Seminar | 1 |
| Core Classic Literature Review | 4 | |
| Core Classic Literature Review | ||
| Classic Periodontics Literature Review | 12 | |
| Classic Peri Lit Rev | ||
| Clinical Management of Medically Compromised Patients | 6 | |
| Clinical Management of Medically Compromised Patients | ||
| Clinical Periodontics | 35 | |
| Clinical Periodontics | ||
| Implant Dentistry | 6 | |
| Implant Dentistry | ||
| Advanced Periodontal/Implant Surgery | 6 | |
| Introduction to Advanced Periodontal/Implant Surgery | ||
| Teaching Practicum | 4 | |
| Teaching Practicum | ||
| Research/Thesis | ||
| DENT 686 | Applied Statistics in Dentistry | 3 |
| DENT 687 | Research Methods | 1 |
| DENT 697 | Research | 7 |
| Total Hours | 93 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Semester | Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| DENT 600 | 1 | ||
| PERI 640 | 2 | ||
| PERI 650 | 4 | ||
| PERI 664 | 2 | ||
| 9 | |||
| Second Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 600 | 2 | ||
| DENT 686 | 3 | ||
| DENT 602 | 2 | ||
| PCOL 765 | 1 | ||
| PERI 642 | 2 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 650 | 3 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| 15 | |||
| Third Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 601 | 1 | ||
| DENT 687 | 1 | ||
| PERI 642 | 2 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 650 | 4 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| 10 | |||
| Fourth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PALM 716 | 1 | ||
| PERI 640 | 2 | ||
| PERI 650 | 3 | ||
| PERI 664 | 2 | ||
| 9 | |||
| Fifth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| ORTH 633 | 1 | ||
| PERI 642 | 2 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 650 | 4 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| 11 | |||
| Sixth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PERI 642 | 2 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 650 | 4 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| 10 | |||
| Seventh Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 697 | 2 | ||
| PERI 650 | 5 | ||
| PERI 664 | 2 | ||
| 9 | |||
| Eighth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PERI 642 | 2 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 650 | 4 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| 10 | |||
| Ninth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PERI 642 | 2 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 650 | 4 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| 10 | |||
| Total credit hours: 93 | |||