Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - Certificate
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the causes, processes, and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral pathology includes research and diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, and biochemical examinations. Through completion of a three-year training program, the oral pathologist acquires diagnostic and treatment skills.
The program’s major emphasis is surgical pathology and the diagnosis of biopsy specimens. Clinical management of patients with oral disease and radiographic interpretation of pathologic conditions of the head and neck are also emphasized. A research project and successful defense of a written thesis is required of each student as a part of the MS requirements. Completion of the certificate program qualifies the individual to challenge the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Examination. Successful completion of this examination is a requirement for an individual to be able to provide microscopic diagnosis for surgical specimens in a pathology laboratory.
The completion of an MS in Oral Biology is mandatory for this specialty program. The combined MS in Oral Biology and Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is a post-doctoral training program. It qualifies dentists to practice the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. The program is 36 months in length. A prerequisite for enrollment in the program is a DDS/DMD degree from a dental school in the United States or Canada that is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. However, individuals who are graduates of a dental school outside the United States or Canada may qualify for enrollment if appropriate certification is provided that verifies equivalency of training in a United States or Canadian dental school.
All courses within this program are taught face-to-face, on campus at the School of Dentistry, in Dallas. This program may require off-campus assignments at local, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex hospitals or dental clinics.
The application deadline is October 1 of each year, for matriculation the following June. The program uses the ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS).
For more information about the Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, visit our website.
This program prepares students for the opportunity to pursue an occupational license. Please refer to the Notification for Students Pursuing an Occupational License in our catalog for additional information.