Advanced Pediatric Dentistry Certificate

The advanced pediatric dentistry certificate program is a 24-month course of study designed to provide students with the background information and clinical experience necessary for the practice of pediatric dentistry. The program in pediatric dentistry is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. The program also meets the educational requirements of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

First-year studies emphasize advanced pediatric dentistry theory and clinical treatment of the “healthy” child. Students develop a sound basis in genetics, growth and development, nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic behavior guidance, physical evaluation, research methodology and statistics, interceptive orthodontics, prevention and a review of the pediatric dentistry literature. Second year studies concentrate on oral health care of children with physical, medical, intellectual and emotional disabilities. The second year student serves as a hospital-based resident at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center/Miller Children’s Hospital or Children’s Hospital of Orange County (with the Healthy Smiles for Kids community clinic). Residents also rotate to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and the Pediatric Dental Clinic (PDC) at Los Angeles General Medical Center. Students gain experience in performing operating room procedures, oral conscious sedation, participating on interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary teams, providing emergency treatment and treating children with medical issues, developmental disabilities and pathologies in the hospital environment.

In addition to the two-year program, opportunities are available to combine the basic certificate program with a master’s or doctoral degree through the Keck School of Medicine in either Academic Medicine (MACM) or Public Health (MPH).

The purpose of the combined Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry/Master’s Degree program is to prepare highly qualified specialists in pediatric dentistry who can assume leadership positions in dental education, service to the community, dental research and oral health care of children with developmental disabilities and medically compromising conditions.

An individual who elects to apply to the combined program should apply first to the certificate program. Upon acceptance into the certificate program, the applicant would then apply for the master’s programs. The first year of the combined program would be spent in pediatric dentistry. Master’s level courses would be introduced within the second and third years of the combined programs.