Dentistry is a growing profession, currently ranked among the leading career paths in the US and scoring an 8/10 for work-life balance. Not to mention, the median annual wage for dentists was $163,220 in May 2021. This makes dentistry the country’s 11th best-paying job.

Dentistry also offers multiple options for specialization—one being restorative dentistry, where prosthodontics is a particularly highly rated occupation. In fact, with a median pay of $208,000 per year, it offers one of the top average salaries in the dental industry and the 8th most generous across all jobs.

Employment opportunities in the dental profession are forecast to rise by 8 percent between 2020 and 2030. This is according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which anticipates 5,000 additional annual openings for the next decade.

Thanks to exciting technological advances, restorative dentistry is constantly evolving to offer new or updated procedures. This opens the door for prospects looking to continue their education, as dentists can specialize or expand their practice to offer the latest devices and techniques.

Restorative Dentistry
U.S. Schools with Restorative Dentistry Programs. | Source: Shutterstock

U.S. Restorative Dentistry Schools and Programs

Here is a selection of dental schools and programs available in the US, with a focus on restorative dentistry. Unless otherwise stated, applicants need to have completed a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), or equivalent dental school degree.

Boston University: Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Programs

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental medicine offers both predoctoral and postdoctoral programs. Their DMD has both the traditional four-year program as well as a two-year Advanced Standing program for internationally trained dentists. Additionally, there are numerous advanced certificates and degrees designed to place professionals among the best practitioners and researchers in dental medicine.

Their Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials department offers programs in Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry. Both programs can be taken in Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS), Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD), and Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD).

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine: Postgraduate Programs

Tufts School of Dental Medicine offers a large variety of postgraduate programs, along with an internship and several Certificate of Achievement Programs for residency and Fellowship.

TUSDM also provides ADEA-accredited advanced education programs in various fields of restorative dentistry, which includes the following:

Prosthodontics. In this 36-month Advanced Specialty Education program, students are awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Prosthodontics, with the option of combining with a Master of Science program. The program emphasizes the didactic, clinical, and laboratory facets of prosthodontics and provides sufficient training for examination and certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Endodontics. This two-year program leads to an ADA-accredited certificate, which fulfills requirements for examination by the American Board of Endodontics. Its multifaceted approach provides clinical training and preparation for students who want to pursue a career in research or academics. Coursework involves intensive training in biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, and core endodontic courses.

Periodontology. TUSDM’s three-year program includes intensive coursework in biomedical and clinical sciences that fulfills the standards set by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Students are given comprehensive training in clinical periodontology, implant therapy, clinical research sedation, oral medicine, and teaching skills, which prove them the necessary skills needed for board certification.

Implant Dentistry. Tufts offers a new 24-month program that awards students with a Certificate of Achievement in Implant Dentistry which they can combine with a Master of Science degree. The curriculum includes training in treatment planning, advanced implant surgical procedures, and long-term maintenance and aftercare of advanced cases.

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor: Graduate Restorative Dentistry Program

The Rackham School of Graduate Studies’ three-year Master of Science (MS) in Restorative Dentistry comprises academic, clinical, and research elements. These include advanced clinical training in direct and indirect esthetic restorations, crown and bridge, and implant rehabilitation. The curriculum has recently been updated to incorporate current advancements in digital dentistry, chairside CAD/CAM technology, and smile design.

In addition to the MS degree, successful graduates receive a certificate of program completion from the university’s School of Dentistry and a certificate of training completion in Computerized Dentistry and CAD/CAM.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Graduate Program in Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials

The graduate program at UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry emphasizes teaching, patient care, and research. It prepares students for careers in dental education, clinical or technical research, consultancy services for insurance providers, public health policy organizations, and more.

The curriculum includes general as well as restorative dentistry courses. For example, it offers treatment planning and smile design, CAD/CAM restorations, restoration of fractured anterior teeth, implant planning and restoration, and digital dentistry.

Graduates receive an MS in Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials and a Certificate in Operative Dentistry. Students who are not graduates of an American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited dental school must complete a simulation exam.

Restorative Dentistry
U.S. Restorative Dentistry Schools and Programs. | Source: Shutterstock

Harvard University: Advanced Graduate Education Programs

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine offers programs leading to a Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) or Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) degree, as well as a certificate in a specialty field. Programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), thus meeting licensing requirements in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Advanced graduate programs in the field of restorative dentistry include those in:

Implant Dentistry. This two-year program rewards you with a certificate in implant dentistry. MMSc or DMSc opportunities are considered upon request but do require an additional time commitment. In addition to the usual requirements, applicants must have at least two years of advanced graduate education in a specialty or a minimum of three years of professional experience.

Prosthodontics. This three-year program awards graduates with an MMSc in Oral Biology and a Certificate in Prosthodontics. There is also an optional four-year DMSc degree for students aiming to pursue a career in academics or research. Coursework requires competency in fixed, removable, implant, and maxillofacial prosthodontics, materials science, laboratory technique, periodontology, and implantology, among others. The program is designed to satisfy the guidelines for certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Endodontics. This three-year program rewards students with an MMSc in Oral Biology and a Certificate in Endodontics, or a four-year DMSc degree. Students are thoroughly prepared for careers in specialty clinical practice, research, and academics. The program satisfies the certification requirements of the American Board of Endodontics.

Periodontology. This interdisciplinary academic and clinical program leads to proficiency in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of periodontal disease, implantology, and regenerative medicine. Residents are required to complete an advanced degree in conjunction with the periodontology certificate. This involves either a three-year MMSc or a DMSc, the latter taking between 45 and 57 months, depending on student research.

Orthodontics. This program offers a three-year MMSc or four-year DMSc, both in Oral Biology and running concurrently with a Certificate in Orthodontics. Equal emphasis is placed on clinical ability, research skills, and leadership capacity. The program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is accredited by CODA.

Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine: DMD & Postgraduate Degree Programs

Penn Dental Medicine provides postgraduate programs in various areas of restorative dentistry, namely:

Endodontics. This is a specialized two-year curriculum consisting of lectures, seminars, demonstrations, conferences, and clinical training. It covers all modalities of endodontic treatment, conventional and surgical, and includes the use of the surgical operating microscope and CBCT 3D imaging. The program is fully accredited and meets all ADA requirements. Successful graduates are awarded a certificate in endodontics and qualify for board certification by the American Board of Endodontics.

Orthodontics. This fully ADA-accredited, 35-month program ends with a Certificate in Orthodontics and an MS in Oral Biology. Ph.D. options are available. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in prosthodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, craniofacial anomalies, temporomandibular joint disorders, and orofacial pain. All graduates are required to take the American Board of Orthodontics written exam by the end of the program.

Prosthodontics. This multifaceted academic and clinical program focuses on patients with complex restorative needs. This covers fixed and removable prosthodontics, implants, and maxillofacial prosthetics. Close interaction with postgraduate programs in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral and maxillofacial surgery exposes students to integrated treatments. Three-year residency leads to an ADA-accredited certificate, which fulfills requirements for examination by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Periodontology. This course combines clinical training in periodontics with an advanced specialty program in periodontics. It leads to an MS in Oral Biology or DScD, which can be earned concurrently. This training makes up more than half of the program and provides students with experience in hard and soft tissue grafting, regeneration procedures, and the placement of osseointegrated dental implants. Graduates are eligible for examination by the American Board of Periodontology.

University of California, Los Angeles: Restorative Dentistry Advanced Clinical Training Program

This two-year program delivers clinical training in operative and restorative dentistry.

First-year subjects include operative dentistry, fixed prosthodontics, aesthetic dentistry, and restorative implant dentistry. It emphasizes developing technical skills in restorative procedures—such as direct restorations, gold, and ceramic inlays and onlays, 3/4 and 7/8 gold crowns, ceramic crown and bridge, porcelain veneers, CAD/CAM restorations, and more. Preparatory clinical courses offer more hands-on training.

The second-year curriculum puts the spotlight on direct patient care, under the guidance of the UCLA Restorative Dentistry clinical faculty at the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center. Restorative procedures include direct and indirect restorations, fixed dental prostheses, bonded ceramics, anterior and posterior veneers, CAD/CAM scanning, milling of lithium disilicate, and zirconia implant restorations.

Successful students receive a certificate equivalent to a two-year Operative Dentistry or Restorative Dentistry Program. Although not a CODA-accredited program, some states may allow graduates to get licensed.

Restorative Dentistry
How to Specialize in Restorative Dentistry? | Source: Shutterstock

How to Specialize in Restorative Dentistry?

A career path in dentistry begins with admission to a dental school. That means earning a solid college GPA and passing an admission test. Make sure that the school and degree you choose are accredited by the American Dental Association.

Most schools require students to have completed a bachelor’s degree (focused on science and dentistry-related subjects) before enrollment. After dental training school, successful graduates earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree. Students also need to pass board exams to qualify for state certification and receive their dentistry license.

From start to finish, the process can take up to eight years—four for the bachelor’s degree and four more for the doctoral degree. However, there are opportunities for hardworking, committed students to enroll in an undergraduate degree and a dental school program simultaneously. This can shorten that period considerably.

General dentistry is a rewarding career choice. Further study in a specific field of interest can be even more worthwhile. Restorative procedures encompass various areas of specialization in dentistry, such as prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and implant surgery. The time commitment required can be anywhere from an additional two to four years plus residency. Typically, this leads to an MS degree or certificate, depending on the area of specialization studied.

A Specialized Career Choice

A career in dentistry can be extremely fulfilling, both from a personal and professional standpoint. Salaries across the dental industry are also among the highest of any.

Restorative dentistry is an appealing career choice for several reasons. The profession is well-respected, financially rewarding, and overflowing with purpose. Furthermore, there are many different areas of specialization to choose from. And thanks to constant innovations in the field, it’s also exciting and challenging—with ample opportunity to continue dental education.

As a leading supplier of restorative products and services, Sterngold is committed to improving the affordability and accessibility of dental treatment. Their mission is to enhance patients’ confidence and quality of life. Visit Sterngold’s website and learn how their expertise can help increase your patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness!