Department website: http://dentistry.hsc.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The School of Dentistry and the Department of Restorative Dentistry offer a program of advanced study and clinical training leading to the degree of Master of Science. The program requires a minimum of 34 months (three academic years) of full-time residency in the School of Dentistry. It is designed to qualify dentists for careers in prosthodontic clinical practice, teaching, and research.
A stipend plus tuition waiver will be provided for graduate students in Prosthodontics at the end of the second year 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 and Recruitment. Applications will be processed by the School of Dentistry. Applicants approved for admission to the program will be notified by the MATCH program if they are selected for admission and a formal letter will be sent from the Office of Dental Admissions.
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 website at Prosthodontics Program.
Program Goals
The Advanced Education Program is designed to train well qualified dentists in all aspects of prosthodontics. Advanced training in prosthodontics consists of an integrated education program designed to provide both knowledge in the dentally applied basic sciences and experiences in the clinical science of prosthodontics. These include but are not limited to, complete denture prosthodontics, removable partial denture prosthodontics, fixed partial denture prosthodontics, maxillofacial prosthetics, and surgical and prosthodontic dental implantology. A series of structured didactic and clinical courses provide the student with a level of knowledge and skill development necessary to practice prosthodontics as a specialty and to prepare for a career in teaching and research. The program qualifies the student for examination and certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.
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 prosthodontics, its scope, and its history. The resident receives instruction in the laboratory and clinical aspects of complete dentures, removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures, maxillofacial prosthetics, implant prosthodontics, implant surgery and treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction. The resident is required to know and use the materials and techniques for fabricating oral prostheses and to become proficient in performing all phases of laboratory work related to clinical patients.
The resident will participate in seminars on specific topics in prosthodontics and on the relationship of prosthodontics to the other specialties. The resident will study biostatistics, research methodology, and select an in-depth research problem for thesis development and publication.
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 prosthodontics. The resident will spend more time conducting a research study and in the development of a thesis. The resident will also expand their clinical skills with the inclusion of surgical implant placement and restoration as well as modern digital dentistry principles to support patient outcomes.
Third-Year Program
The third year of the program continues with more advanced clinical treatment and concepts of prosthodontics, including the completion of a master's thesis and defense. The resident will spend a significant amount of time treating older adult patients. The resident will also be trained to identify patients that meet the current requirements for presentation to the American Board of Prosthodontics.
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 severe 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 Prosthodontics.
Faculty
Chair
- Lauren Godwin - D.D.S.
West Virginia University
Graduate Program Director
- Shelby Alexander - D.D.S., M.S.
West Virginia University
Assistant professor
- Bryan Dye - D.D.S., M.S.
West Virginia University
Admissions for 2026-2027
The program’s admission requirements are as follows:
- Must have passed National Dental Board 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 foreign applicant).
- 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 Matching 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 a dental resident/intern permit prior to the first day of program orientation.
Major Code: 8020
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 Prosthodontics.
- Pass a final oral examination.
- Complete all didactic and clinical work in the required curriculum successfully.
- Demonstrate satisfactory clinical competency in Prosthodontics.
- Complete a minimum of 98 credit hours. This includes 68 credit hours of Prosthodontic courses, a minimum of 5 credit hours of selected basic science subjects, 8 hours of teaching practicum, and 12 hours devoted to research/thesis.
- 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 required. | ||
| Minimum grade of B required in each course. | ||
| Biomedical Sciences | ||
| DENT 601 | Advanced Oral Microbiology | 1 |
| DENT 602 | Special Studies in Oral Pathology | 2 |
| ORTH 618 | Orthodontic Materials | 1 |
| PALM 716 | Craniofacial Growth and Maturation | 1 |
| PCOL 765 | Advanced Biomedical Sciences: Applied Pharmacology | 1 |
| Prosthodontic Courses | ||
| DENT 600 | Advanced Oral Surgery | 3 |
| Clinical Management of Medically Compromised Patients | 2 | |
| Clinical Management of Medically Compromised Patients | ||
| Implant Dentistry | 6 | |
| Implant Dentistry | ||
| PROS 675 | Introduction to Advanced Prosthodontics | 2 |
| PROS 676 | Introduction to Advanced Complete Dentures Prosthodontics | 2 |
| PROS 677 | Introduction to Removable Prosthodontics | 1 |
| PROS 678 | Introduction to Fixed Prosthodontic Theory | 2 |
| Prosthodontic Classic Literature Review | 9 | |
| Prosthodontic Classic Literature Review | ||
| Prosthodontic Current Literature Review | 9 | |
| Prosthodontic Current Literature Review | ||
| PROS 688 | Advanced Clinical Prosthodontics (Repeated) | 28 |
| PROS 693A | Advanced Prosthodontics Seminar | 9 |
| Teaching Practicum | ||
| DENT 690 | Teaching Practicum (Repeated) | 8 |
| Research/Thesis | ||
| DENT 686 | Applied Statistics in Dentistry | 3 |
| DENT 687 | Research Methods | 1 |
| DENT 697 | Research | 7 |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Oral Examination | ||
| Demonstrate satisfactory clinical competency | ||
| Total Hours | 98 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Semester | Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| DENT 600 | 1 | ||
| PROS 675 | 2 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 3 | ||
| ORTH 618 | 1 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| ORTH 625 | 1 | ||
| 11 | |||
| Second Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 600 | 2 | ||
| DENT 686 | 3 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| PCOL 765 | 1 | ||
| PROS 676 | 2 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 2 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| 16 | |||
| Third Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 601 | 1 | ||
| DENT 687 | 1 | ||
| PERI 644 | 1 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| PROS 677 | 1 | ||
| PROS 678 | 2 | ||
| PROS 688 | 2 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 12 | |||
| Fourth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PALM 716 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 4 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 9 | |||
| Fifth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| DENT 602 | 2 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 3 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 11 | |||
| Sixth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 697 | 2 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 4 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 10 | |||
| Seventh Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 2 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 3 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 9 | |||
| Eighth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 2 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 4 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 11 | |||
| Ninth Semester | Hours | ||
| DENT 690 | 1 | ||
| DENT 697 | 1 | ||
| PERI 662 | 1 | ||
| PROS 680 | 1 | ||
| PROS 681 | 1 | ||
| PROS 688 | 3 | ||
| PROS 693A | 1 | ||
| 9 | |||
| Total credit hours: 98 | |||