Dentistry: Dentistry PhD; Specialty: Oral Medicine

The Dentistry PhD, Oral Medicine specialty is a six-year full-time program. The specialty in Oral Medicine focuses on nonsurgical management of oral diseases including the management of oral mucosal and salivary gland diseases, temporomandibular disorders, and orofacial pain, the oral complications of systemic disease, and dental management of medically complex patients.

Students start the program in the Summer session. Upon completion of all program requirements, students are eligible for the PhD degree and certification in the chosen field of dental specialty. Program completion will be contingent upon completion of all requirements for the research and specialty training components of the program.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Dentistry's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Students are normally admitted to the PhD program with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or equivalent, with at least an A– standing (3.7 out of 4.0 grade point average [GPA]) in the final year from a recognized university.

Completion Requirements

  • Students undertake a customized program, approved by an advisory committee and the Associate Dean, Graduate Education, comprising advanced study and original research culminating in the defence of a thesis. After consultation with the Associate Dean, Graduate Education, a committee will be appointed to plan and arrange the student's coursework and research programs, approve the course of study, and monitor progress as part of an annual report to the Associate Dean for approval and continuance of candidacy.

  • Students must successfully complete a total of 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a thesis as follows:

    • Year 1:

      • DEN1010H Research Ethics

      • DEN1015H Introduction to Biostatistics

      • DEN1101H Introduction to Research Methods and Dissemination

    • Years 1 and 3:

      • DEN1100H Graduate Research Dissemination Seminars.

  • In the specialty of Oral Medicine, complete 7.5 required FCEs and 1.0 elective FCE as follows. Students have the option to take DEN1008H Cone Beam CT Imaging, in addition to the total FCEs required for the specialty.

    • Year 1:

      • DEN1002H Oral Pathology

      • DEN1007H Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

      • DEN1014H Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Care

      • DEN1211Y Oral Medicine I

      • DEN1311Y Oral Surgical Pathology

      • Develop a thesis proposal, form a supervisory committee, and complete an ethics review (if applicable)

    • Year 2:

      • DEN1212Y Oral Medicine II

      • DEN1312Y Advanced Oral Surgical Pathology I

      • Continue with thesis research

      • Successfully pass a qualifying oral examination between 12 and 24 months to demonstrate an adequate capacity for oral health sciences research through previous work. Students will be examined on their thesis proposal and their breadth of knowledge relative to the research project.

    • Year 3:

      • DEN1213Y Oral Medicine III

      • DEN1313Y Advanced Oral Surgical Pathology II

      • Continue with thesis research

    • Years 4 and 5:

      • 1.0 elective FCE in clinical, epidemiological, or basic science research methodology appropriate for clinical or public health practice

      • Complete any outstanding core or specialty-specific coursework

      • Continue with thesis research

    • Year 6: Successfully submit and defend the thesis at the Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

  • Participate in all graduate research activities of the advisor's research group.

  • Present at meetings and publish original research findings in a timely fashion.

  • Participate as a member of departmental and student committees as applicable.

  • Residency. Students must be on campus and participating for the duration of their registration in the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 6 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 8 years full-time

 

PhD Program: Transfer

Transfer Requirements

  • Highly qualified MSc students in the thesis option may be considered for transfer to the Dentistry PhD in the specialty of Oral Medicine. MSc students who transfer to the PhD must fulfil the admission requirements listed under the PhD program and successfully complete the transfer examination.

Completion Requirements

  • Students undertake a customized program, approved by an advisory committee and the Associate Dean, Graduate Education, comprising advanced study and original research culminating in the defence of a thesis. After consultation with the Associate Dean, Graduate Education, a committee will be appointed to plan and arrange students' coursework and research programs, approve the course of study, and monitor progress as part of an annual report to the Associate Dean for approval and continuance of candidacy.

  • Students must successfully complete a total of 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a thesis as follows:

    • Year 1:

      • DEN1010H Research Ethics

      • DEN1015H Introduction to Biostatistics

      • DEN1101H Introduction to Research Methods and Dissemination

    • Years 1 and 3:

      • DEN1100H Graduate Research Dissemination Seminars.

  • In the specialty of Oral Medicine, complete 7.5 required FCEs and 1.0 elective FCE as follows. Students have the option to take DEN1008H Cone Beam CT Imaging, in addition to the total FCEs required for the specialty.

    • Year 1:

      • DEN1002H Oral Pathology

      • DEN1007H Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

      • DEN1014H Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Care

      • DEN1211Y Oral Medicine I

      • DEN1311Y Oral Surgical Pathology

      • Develop a thesis proposal, form a supervisory committee, and complete an ethics review (if applicable)

    • Year 2:

      • DEN1212Y Oral Medicine II

      • DEN1312Y Advanced Oral Surgical Pathology I

      • Continue with thesis research

      • Successfully pass a transfer examination between 12 and 24 months to demonstrate an adequate capacity for oral health sciences research through previous work. Students will be examined on their thesis proposal and their breadth of knowledge relative to the research project.

    • Year 3:

      • DEN1213Y Oral Medicine III (1.0 FCE)

      • DEN1313Y Advanced Oral Surgical Pathology II

      • Continue with thesis research

    • Years 4 and 5:

      • 1.0 elective FCE in clinical, epidemiological, or basic science research methodology appropriate for clinical or public health practice

      • Complete any outstanding core or specialty-specific coursework

      • Continue with thesis research

    • Year 6: Successfully submit and defend the thesis at the Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

  • Participate in all graduate research activities of the advisor's research group.

  • Present at meetings and publish original research findings in a timely fashion.

  • Participate as a member of departmental and student committees as applicable.

  • Residency. Students must be on campus and participating for the duration of their registration in the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 6 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 8 years full-time