• Alternative programs are available, such as a certificate in combination with a Ph.D. The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of five years (60 months). Upon completing original research and successfully defending a dissertation, students are granted a Ph.D. in a basic science area. Such programs are available by special arrangement and depend upon the experience and goals of the candidate. The Ph.D. degree is recommended for individuals seeking an academic career involving primarily research and clinical teaching.

Each advanced program satisfies training requirements outlined by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Graduates are eligible for certification by the American Board of Endodontics. Individuals completing the program are encouraged to see board certification. Various activities throughout the course of study will prepare the students for the Board examination process. 

Submitting Applications Location

Applications to the University of Iowa Department of Endodontics Graduate Programs should be completed and sent to the PASS program. If there is extra material or items that they do not accept, please mail them directly to the Department of Endodontics, 343 Dental Science Building West, 801 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242. Do not send any material or money to the University of Iowa Graduate College as PASS will handle the applications.

Goals of the Programs

The goal of these programs is to develop competent diagnosticians and clinicians. Specifically, advanced education students will:

1. learn the scientific and clinical basis of endodontics
2. develop clinical skills
3. gain knowledge and experience of the educational process in order to function confidently as dental educators
4. recognize the value of academic research by developing skills in designing, conducting, reporting, and publishing the results of original research
5. establish a foundation of life-long learning

Program Strengths

A major strength of advanced endodontic training at The University of Iowa is the strong didactic curriculum. This problem-solving approach is used to develop skills in diagnosis and treatment-planning. An intensive study of the scientific literature provides the biological basis for understanding the etiology of pathosis as well as the rationale for treatment. Such an approach, combined with clinical experiences encompassing a variety of challenging diagnostic and treatment problems, establishes a strong foundation for a career as an endodontist.

Program Requirements

Application Instructions

The Application Cycle for residents starting July 1, 2022 is closed and will open again mid May 2022. Thank you.

Please keep in mind the July 1 deadline for all applications to the University of Iowa Endodontic Graduate Program.

Application must be through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) website.  All items needed should be submitted with your PASS application, unless noted below.  The necessary information to include for the Certificate Program and Combined Oral Science MS/Certificate Program is:

1. D.D.S., D.M.D. or non-U.S. equivalent dental training degree prior to your start the following year.

2.  You may apply to our Endodontic Program without having either National Board Dental Examination - Part 1 and Part 2 passed at this time if you are taking the INBDE.  National Board Dental Examination - Part 1 and Part 2 OR INBDE must be successfully passed and official results sent prior to your start in our program next year, but no longer need to apply for our program no results need to be provided to apply for our program.

   • If your NBDE score(s) are not part of your IEF, Institute Evaluation Form, please upload the official NBDE results to your PASS application if you have successfully passed them.

   • You will not be able to start in our program it you have not passed both NBDE or the INBDE.

3. PASS application.  The application can be requested from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) PASS Application Services Website: (https://portal.passweb.org/).  PASS Application Services has two phone lines for applicant inquiries: (202) 667-1886 and (202) 667-1887, or you may write to: PASS, 1625 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20036-2212.

   • The PASS website has an August 1st deadline, but the University of Iowa Endodontic Graduate Program is July 1st.  Please be mindful of this discrepancy when you apply through PASS.  Thank you.

4. Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended must be upload to your PASS application. 

5. Official transcripts from all graduate institutions attended.  To do this, when you enter your dental school attended on your application,  you will have the option to print a transcript request form. You must send this print out to the dental school you attended for them to send the official transcript directly to PASS. 

6. Updated Curriculum Vitae.

7. Personal Statement.

8. Three letters of recommendation.

9. Photograph - a 2 x 2 head shot.

   • This must be mailed or emailed directly to dentistry-endo@uiowa.edu and is the only item not uploaded to PASS by you.

   • Department of Endodontics
     ​801 Newton Road
     Iowa City, Iowa  52242

10. Dental Diploma is not needed to apply for our program but must be obtain and provided at least six months prior to your start in the program, if accepted.  If you have a Dental Diploma, please upload it to your PASS Application or supply it if requested to interview.  If you cannot upload it and are invited to interview, we may ask for an electronic copy to be provided prior to the interview.

International Students from non-English-speaking Countries

***International students from non-English-speaking countries must also submit an acceptable TOEFL score of 81 or higher.  Any student who falls under 100, must complete English is the spoken language class.  If accepted into the Endodontic Program, the resident may have to be here the day before the meeting for this.  If not completed, they cannot register for classes.

Incomplete Applications

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Endodontics: Certificate Program

1. Each student follows a specific course of study and clinical practice for 24 months. Approximately half the program hours are spend in direct patient care.
2. At least one original research project will be completed, presented and prepared for publication. The certificate will not be granted until a manuscript has been completed and submitted for publication. A library research project does not fulfill the research requirement.
3. The mentor for the research may be from within or outside the Department of Endodontics.
4. Presentation of the research material is to be made at the local IADR meeting and possibly at one or more national meetings. 
5. A table clinic is to be prepared and presented at a local, state or national meeting.
6. Clinical and didactic requirements are specific upon entrance to the program.
7. Transcripts will be generated and maintained, with grades given in all courses.
8. All completed cases will be reviewed and evaluated by a member of the Department of Endodontics faculty. Students will minimally complete 250 nonsurgical cases in the 2 years.
9. Students will rotate through the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as well as the Veterans Administration Medical Center clinic. The nature and number of cases completed in the hospital setting are credited toward the total required cases and are reviewed.
10. The student will prepare 15 cases in the format consistent with the criteria established by the American Board of Endodontics. These cases will be reviewed by external examiners.

11. The student is required to take an oral exit examination during the second semester of the final year. This examination will follow the format of the oral examination given by the American Board of Endodontics and in most circumstances, will be administered by individuals from outside the college.  

Endodontics: Master of Science/Certificate Degree Program

1. Information stated under the description of the Certificate program (items 2-5 on previous page) also applies to the MS/Certificate program, with the exception of research.

2. A thesis, based upon scholarly research, will constitute a partial requirement for a Master of Science degree in Oral Sciences. The graduate student, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director in Endodontics, will be primarily responsible for selecting a thesis advisor and thesis committee.

3. The MS thesis advisor may be a member of the Department of Endodontics or of another department of the College of Dentistry or the University. At least one member of the thesis committee must be a faculty member from the Department of Endodontics.

4. All graduate students will write a research planning document or a protocol. The protocol will be presented before the thesis committee and invited faculty.

5. Other faculty and graduate students may attend the final thesis examination.

6. Minimum number of graduate credit semester hours required for the Master of Science degree with a major in Endodontics will normally be thirty (30) semester hours.

7. The program will have a "vertical" curriculum. That, early in the program the majority of time is devoted to clinical courses and patient care, with more time for research toward the conclusion.

8. Stipends will be allocated to graduate students according to funding availability. This will be determined on a yearly basis.

9. All graduate students are subject to the rules of the Graduate College as set forth in the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College. Failure to fulfill or comply with requirements and guidelines as stated in the Graduate Program Information documents of the department shall constitute grounds for altering or extending the student's program, including probation or dismissal.

Endodontics: Ph.D. Program

1. The research faculty of the College of Dentistry and the Department of Endodontics work closely with the Ph.D. Program Director to coordinate and manage each individual student's course of study and research.
2. Each student's program, as well as the nature and progress of research, has considerable flexibility and reflects individual interests and background.

3. Specific information on this program is available from the Office of the Associate Dean for Research, College of Dentistry.

4. The Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College apply to the conduct of those students enrolled in the Ph.D. program.

Graduate Program Contacts

Information is available from the following sources:

Fabricio Teixeira, D.D.S., PhD
Graduate Program Director
Department of Endodontics
DSB W343
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry
801 Newton Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1001

(319) 335-7471 Work
(319) 335-9663 Fax

fabricio-teixeira@uiowa.edu

Graduate College Website

The University of Iowa Graduate College maintains a Web site for graduate and professional students at the following address:

https://grad.admissions.uiowa.edu/ 

Endodontic: Financial Support

Persons applying to the program must be able to support themselves financially until they complete the program. Besides living expenses, the student should plan on expenses for tuition, books, specialized equipment, instrument usage, and thesis cost. All stipends are determined on a yearly basis and are dependent on available funding. 

Working towards Masters

**If looking at working towards receiving a Masters, please consult https://www.maui.uiowa.edu/maui/pub/tuition/rates.page for details how semester hours can fluctuate your expenses on the table called "Dental Certificate (Endodontics, All Other Students, Primary) Resident with Grad Appointment". You must select the semester you are looking at and College of Dentistry. If you are an international student, please consult the table called "Dental Certificate (Endodontics, Primary, Int'l Student with no US DDS) Resident".