Why Choose Iowa Orthodontics?
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Leading Researchers
Our faculty are leaders in their fields, conducting groundbreaking research year after year. Our team is a part of the Iowa Facial Growth Study, the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research, and many more State programs. We are dedicated to further the orthodontic profession to better help our patients.
![Orthodontics professor talks to residents about craniofacial scan]()
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Award-Winning
Our faculty have coached the residents to win more American Board of Orthodontic awards for well treated cases than any other school. These cases comes from patients treated in our clinics by our residents, and they regularly place #1 among over 70 orthodontics programs in the country for quality of care.
![Orthodontics professors with residents in case competition]()
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State of the Art Technology
Our facilities are equipped with some of the best tools available. We have a CBCT (Cone-Beam computed tomography VaTech), an Intraoral Scanner (iTero), 3D printers (SprintRay), in-house, aligner-type orthodontic appliances, and much more.
![Orthodontic resident scanning teeth]()
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Multidisciplinary Care
Our college features a comprehensive dental care team including experts in aesthetic dentistry, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontics, and pathology. Thus, we bring the college's elite academic quality of care to any kind of dental need, no matter how complex.
![Orthodontics faculty member discusses aligners with resident]()
Specialty Program Overview
After achieving a dental degree, dentists may wish to specialize in Orthodontics by enrolling as a resident in an accredited Orthodontic Program.
Iowa’s graduate program in orthodontics prepares residents to practice orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The programs' objectives are to provide residents with an in-depth education in biological and biomechanical principles related to orthodontics; to teach residents to diagnose, establish treatment plan, and provide patients with comprehensive orthodontic care in a state-of-the art facility; and to develop residents’' research and service skills.
Opportunities are available for research and independent study in the department, and there are special facilities for research in biomechanics and craniofacial growth. Multidisciplinary interactions with other departments within and beyond the College provide residents with learning and research opportunities such as pre-clinical/clinical biomechanics in orthodontics, surgical orthodontics, cleft lip and palate treatment, speech pathology, animal study, genetics/genomics, human growth study, and artificial intelligence.
Degree
Master of Science and Certificate in Orthodontics
The Master of Science program in orthodontics requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit. Residents must satisfactorily complete a thesis based on a hypothesis-driven original research project to qualify for an M.S. in addition to the Certificate in Orthodontics.
Satisfactory completion of 24 months (July – June) of intensive requirements qualifies residents to receive the Certificate in Orthodontics. Requirements include didactic courses, seminars, clinical practicum, oral defense and successful submission of a thesis project..
Application Process
Materials
The application deadline is August 1.
The Orthodontics MS program application process is described at http://grad.admissions.uiowa.edu/academics/orthodontics-ms and the application is available online at apply.admissions.uiowa.edu/admissions/graduate.page
Requirements
Admission requires the D.D.S. or its equivalent and satisfaction of the Graduate College Requirements.
(http://grad.admissions.uiowa.edu/academics/graduate-college-admission-requirements)
Department Requirements
Faculty in the University of Iowa Department of Orthodontics feel that residency program participation in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program is fair and beneficial to applicants. We also feel that it is in the long-term best interest of the specialty. Consequently, we have decided to interview applicants who are applying exclusively to programs participating in the Match.
Orthodontic Residents
Orthodontics residents are dentists who are pursuing additional training in orthodontics. Most residents begin private-practice in orthodontics immediately after completing our advanced training program. Residents provide the primary orthodontic care for their patients and their work is overseen by our world-class orthodontics faculty.
Brennan Alford
2nd Year Resident
"I’m originally from Dallas, Texas, and now I feel lucky to be a Hawkeye as a part of this amazing orthodontic department! My interests include playing tennis, playing instruments like guitar and piano, and spending time with my beautiful wife and 3-year-old son."
Melissa Morawski
2nd Year Resident
"I am originally from the Northeast: I was born in New Jersey, attended college in Pennsylvania, and went to dental school in Maryland. I worked for two years as a general dentist prior to coming to the University of Iowa for orthodontics residency. My husband and I love living in Iowa City! When I am not in clinic, I enjoy spending time outdoors and trying out new restaurants with family and friends."
Emma Mueldener
2nd Year Resident
"I was born and raised in West Des Moines and went to the University of Iowa for my undergraduate degree, dental school, and completed a 1-year general practice residency at UIHC. I enjoy baking and hiking!"
Lea Sarment
2nd Year Resident
"On my time away from clinic I enjoy being with my family, friends, and my dogs! During my free time I also love to do craft projects, like sewing and painting."
Daniel Taylor
2nd Year Resident
"I was born and raised in Idaho, the youngest of 3 children. I enjoy riding bicycles and running and I’ve competed in one triathlon (Olympic distance) with plans for more in the future."
Madeleine Daily
1st Year Resident
"I grew up and went to college in Maine before moving to Boston, and later, to New York City. Now, I’m fortunate to call Iowa City home and thrilled to be a part of the awesome orthodontic department at Iowa! Outside of the clinic, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. You can usually find me jogging, gardening, or eating ice cream."
Fuad Farah
1st Year Resident
"I was born and raised in Canton, Ohio and attended the Ohio State University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and my DDS. Outside of dentistry, I am a professional blues guitarist and enjoy performing in bands. My wife and I have a dog named Peanut, and we are so excited to be Hawkeyes!"
Cameron Geyer
1st Year Resident
"I grew up in Iowa and have yet to find a reason to leave! Outside of clinic, it’s a safe bet that I’m either golfing, playing chess, or spending time with family and friends. A weekend snowboarding trip every now and then also hits the spot!"
Clara Wood
1st Year Resident
"I am originally from Covington, Kentucky and am excited to be a Hawkeye! In my spare time I enjoy hiking, playing games with my family, and watching Kentucky basketball."
Daniel Wright
1st Year Resident
"I grew up in Geneva, IL, but attended college and dental school at the University of Alabama - Roll Tide! Since finishing dental school in 2018, I've been on active duty in the Navy Dental Corps stationed at Great Lakes, IL and Camp Lejeune, NC. I have a passion for fitness and nutrition, and in my spare time I enjoy personal training and nutrition coaching. My parents are both University of Iowa grads, and I’m excited to be back in the Midwest and become part of the family tradition!"
Research
The focus of the thesis project is to create new knowledge to advance the specialty of orthodontics. Alumni and supporters of the department have established the Dr. George Andreasen Memorial Fund in honor of Dr. Andreasen, former faculty member and department head who spearheaded the application of Nitinol wire in the specialty of orthodontics. This substantial fund provides support for orthodontic resident research projects. The University of Iowa is a Big Ten university and offers research facilities in all areas of endeavor.
The majority of Iowa thesis research projects result in publications in peer-reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO), the Angle Orthodontist, Progress in Orthodontics, and Seminars in Orthodontics.
Courses
General system theory, control theory, cybernetics, systems analysis; role of applied human biologist; human biology as a science.
Diagnosis, treatment planning implementation.
Literature concerning orthodontic diagnosis; treatment of particular problems; case histories of patients treated in graduate clinic.
Skills for treatment of disfiguring malocclusions; use of edgewise biomechanical therapy; laboratory focus on typodont exercises.
Principles in biomechanics applied for comprehensive orthodontic treatment combined with case-based didactic clinical review.
Theories, processes; use of accepted facial growth concepts in treatment of individuals with malocclusions during active growth period.
Render orthodontic care in state-of-the art clinical facility. The scope of treatment ranges from early interventions to comprehensive care for adolescents, adults, and patients with craniofacial anomalies.
Evaluation, discussion, criticism, defense of diagnostic and treatment approaches to orthodontic non-surgical cases that have been completed for orthodontic treatment.
Case-presentation seminar for difficult, challenging, on-going cases that have been treated by 2nd-year residents.
Residents’ thesis project: pre-proposal, thesis progress meetings, oral examination, and completed thesis submission.
Literature review on required articles for ABO-board examinations and current biological, technical publications.
Use of cephalometric radiographs (lateral and/or postero-anterior) in formulating orthodontic diagnosis, treatment plans for malocclusions; cephalometrics as a tool for craniofacial structure research.
Literature on anatomy, phylogeny, ontogenesis, physiology of craniofacial structures.
Evaluation, discussion, criticism, defense of diagnostic and treatment approaches to orthodontic cases that need, are undergoing, or have completed surgical orthodontic treatment.
Evaluation, discussion, criticism, defense of diagnostic and treatment approaches to orthodontic cases that need, are undergoing, or have completed surgical/non-surgical orthodontic treatment for patients with cleft lip and palate.