Dentistry: Dentistry PhD; Specialty: Dental Public Health

The Dentistry PhD, Dental Public Health specialty is a five-year full-time program. This specialty consists of core subjects, with optional subjects chosen by students in consultation with the program director. Courses are given by the Faculty of Dentistry as well as other units, such as the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

Upon completion of all program requirements, students are eligible for the PhD degree and certification in the chosen 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 Faculty 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 2:

      • DEN1100H Graduate Research Dissemination Seminars.

  • In the specialty of Dental Public Health, complete 7.0 required FCEs and 1.0 elective FCE as follows:

    • Year 1:

      • CHL5004H Introduction to Public Health Sciences

      • DEN1003H Preventive Dentistry

      • DEN1006Y Seminars in Dental Public Health

      • DEN1014H Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Care

      • DEN1051Y Oral Epidemiology

      • DEN1063Y Practicum in Dental Public Health

      • PDE9094Y Clinical Conferences

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

    • Year 2:

      • DEN1064H Management Principles in Canadian Dental Health Organizations

      • 0.5 FCE chosen in the area of health policy or health economics based on the student's clinical or research interests

      • 0.5 FCE chosen in the area of public health based on the student's clinical or research interests

      • Continue with thesis research

      • Successfully pass a qualifying oral examination between 12 to 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.

    • Years 3 and 4:

      • 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 5: 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.

Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 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 Dental Public Health. 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 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 2:

      • DEN1100H Graduate Research Dissemination Seminars.

  • In the specialty of Dental Public Health, complete 7.0 required FCEs and 1.0 elective FCE as follows:

    • Year 1:

      • CHL5004H Introduction to Public Health Sciences

      • DEN1003H Preventive Dentistry

      • DEN1006Y Seminars in Dental Public Health

      • DEN1014H Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Care

      • DEN1051Y Oral Epidemiology

      • DEN1063Y Practicum in Dental Public Health

      • PDE9094Y Clinical Conferences

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

    • Year 2:

      • DEN1064H Management Principles in Canadian Dental Health Organizations

      • 0.5 FCE chosen in the area of health policy or health economics based on the student's clinical or research interests

      • 0.5 FCE chosen in the area of public health based on the student’s clinical or research interests

      • 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.

    • Years 3 and 4:

      • 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 5: 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: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

Dentistry