Units of Credit

One unit of credit is awarded for ten hours of lecture or seminar, twenty hours of laboratory or clinic, or thirty hours of independent study per term. In the predoctoral programs (DDS and IDS), students are assigned to comprehensive care clinics for approximately 650 hours during the second year and 1,000 hours during the third, in addition to specialty clinic rotations. Units of credit are assigned in the comprehensive care clinical disciplines in proportion to the amount of time an average student spends providing specific types of care for assigned patterns.

Courses are taught on a permanent or interim (continuing) basis. Course numbers followed by the letter 'I' indicate interim courses which are taught over two or more quarters. Units assigned to interim courses build upon each preceding quarter's unit value and culminate in a final and permanent unit value. The final unit value is transcripted with the permanent course while interim courses and corresponding unit values can be found on report cards.

Full-time enrollment in the predoctoral programs at the School of Dentistry (DDS and IDS) is defined as 16 or more units per term.  Full-time enrollment in the graduate residency programs in orthodontics and endodontics and in the dental fellowship and internship programs is defined as 20 or more units per term.  

Pacific’s orthodontics residency program, instituted in 1971, is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and is recognized for educational eligibility by the American Board of Orthodontics. The program’s courses prepare the resident to provide excellent treatment based on contemporary biologic orthodontic principles.

Faculty members foster the humanistic atmosphere with informal professional relationships and mutual respect with the residents. Clinical instruction and practice are conducted in the orthodontic clinic.

Didactic courses include principles of orthodontics, cephalometrics and 3D imaging and airway consideration, facial growth, biomechanics, craniofacial biology, cleft lip and palate,  research methodology, appliance laboratory, pediatrics, statistics, anatomy, bone biology and clinical use of temporary anchorage device, TMD, orthognathic surgery, restorative-orthodontic relationships, practice management, and periodontic/orthodontic care. The faculty fosters a collegial atmosphere and mutual respect between residents and faculty.

Clinical instruction and practice are conducted in the school’s orthodontic clinic in six half-day clinics per week which include treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and multidisciplinary (integrated with periodontal and restorative procedures) patients. Adult patients constitute about one fourth of a student’s caseload. Each resident starts approximately 50-55new patients and 50-60 transfer patients during the residency program. Residents are also rotated through the Children's Hospital Oakland Craniofacial Panel as well as the Stanford Sleep Surgery clinic. Fixed appliance treatment employs the edgewise technique, although instruction permits a wide latitude of clinical variation based on patient needs and special faculty expertise. Experience in treating the entire range of orthodontic problems is provided. Each resident also starts multiple cases utilizing micro-implant anchorage, including MARPE (microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expander) appliances. From 1998 to 2002 the orthodontic department was the initial testing site for the new Invisalign technology, and today provides a state-of-the-art approach to treating a wide variety of patients with Invisalign. Each resident generally starts more than 10 patients with this clear appliance. Complete 3D digital records are obtained from Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan, iTero intra-oral scan, and 3D facial scan.  Digital orthodontics and 3D printing technology also allows residents to perform 3D digital set-up, 3D printed indirect bonding, and in-house clear aligner treatment.

Each resident engages in a research project and completes a thesis to qualify for the Master of Science in Dentistry degree. These are submitted for publication in scientific journals.

Residents are scheduled for didactic and clinical instruction five full days per week and full participation is required. While there is no prohibition of weekend private dental practice, residents’ commitments during the program seriously limit this opportunity.

More information on the program, including admissions requirements, curriculum and schedule, graduation and certification requirements is available here.

MSD (Master of Science in Dentistry) / Certificate in Orthodontics

  • Initiate and complete a research project to include critical review of the literature, development of a hypothesis and the design, statistical analysis and interpretation of data
  • Research expertise under the guidance of a faculty member and thesis committee, culminating in a thesis and its defense
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A graduate of an advanced specialty education program in orthodontics is competent to:

  1. Integrate biomedical and clinical knowledge to improve oral health.
  2. Think critically; use the scientific method to evaluate established and emerging biomedical and clinical science evidence to guide practice decisions.
  3. Practice Evidence based Orthodontics - critically evaluate the literature and other information pertaining to this field.
  4. Treat all types of malocclusion, whether in the permanent or transitional dentitions
  5. Treat and manage developing dentofacial problems which can be minimized by appropriate timely intervention
  6. Use dentofacial orthopedics in the treatment of patients when appropriate
  7. Treat and manage major dentofacial abnormalities and coordinate care with oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other healthcare providers
  8. Provide all phases of orthodontic treatment including initiation, completion and retention
  9. Manage patients with functional occlusal and temporomandibular disorders
  10. Treat or manage the orthodontic aspects of patients with moderate and advanced periodontal problems
  11. Coordinate and document detailed interdisciplinary treatment plans which may include care from other providers, such as restorative dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons or other dental specialists
  12. Develop and document treatment plans using sound principles of appliance design and biomechanics
  13. Use dental materials knowledgeably in the fabrication and placement of fixed and removable appliances
  14. Develop and maintain a system of long-term treatment records as a foundation for understanding and planning treatment and retention procedures
  15. Practice orthodontics in full compliance with accepted Standards of ethical behavior
  16. Understand current three dimensional (3D) imaging techniques to evaluate the developmental and functional inter-relationships between TMJ, occlusions, airway, and facial growth
  17. Understand the following supporting knowledge:
    • Biostatistics
    • History of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
    • Jurisprudence
    • Oral Physiology
    • Pain and Anxiety Control
    • Pediatrics
    • Periodontics
    • Pharmacology
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Psychological Aspects of Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedic Treatment
    • Public Health Aspects of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
    • Speech Pathology and Therapy
    • Sleep physiology and Sleep Disordered Breathing
  18. Engage in ongoing quality assurance to improve patient outcomes.
  19. Behave professionally: manage personal behavior and performance in accordance with standards of the school and the profession. 
  20. Practice in accordance with current local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
  21. Demonstrate ongoing reflection, self-assessment, continuous learning, and professional development.
  22. Participate in professional activities to promote the profession and serve individuals and communities.

Master of Science in Dentistry - Orthodontics

BMS 401Research Philosophy and Design I1
BMS 502Biomedical Science1
OR 401Cephalometrics4
OR 402Facial Growth4
OR 403Critical Thinking - Research Design3
OR 404Research Practicum and Thesis I2
OR 410Biomechanics7
OR 411Genetics in Orthodontics2
OR 412Orofacial Clefts and Abnormal Craniofacial Development2
OR 414Introduction to Contemporary Orthodontics4
OR 420Bone Biology and Microimplant4
OR 421Current Literature Seminar I4
OR 422Anatomy1
OR 423Comprehensive Case Analysis Seminar I4
OR 424Treatment Planning Seminar I8
OR 426Principles of Orthodontic Technique5
OR 430Surgical-Orthodontic Treatment4
OR 431Orthognathic Surgery Seminar I4
OR 432Multidisciplinary Seminar I2
OR 433Retention Seminar I1
OR 440Imaging in Orthodontics, TMJ & Airway Consideration2
OR 441Orthodontic Treatment of Craniofacial Anomolies2
OR 442Clear Aligner Technique I4
OR 443Dental Sleep Medicine I2
OR 444Periodontic-Orthodontic Relations4
OR 456Clinical Orthodontics I30
OR 457Mixed Dentition Orthodontics I8
OR 458Surgical Orthodontics I2
OR 459Clinical Orthodontics in Craniofacial Anomalies I2
OR 501Principles of Orthodontics8
OR 502Microimplant I1
OR 503Research Design I2
OR 504Research Practicum and Thesis II5
OR 511Practice Management I2
OR 512Preparation for Specialty Examination2
OR 514Temporomandibular Joint Disorders1
OR 521Current Literature Seminar II4
OR 523Comprehensive Case Analysis Seminar II4
OR 524Treatment Planning Seminar II8
OR 531Orthognathic Surgery Seminar II4
OR 532Multidisciplinary Seminar II2
OR 533Retention Seminar II1
OR 541Orthodontic Treatment of Craniofacial Anomalies II4
OR 542Clear Aligner Technique II4
OR 543Dental Sleep Medicine II2
OR 544Multidisciplinary Course2
OR 556Clinical Orthodontics II38
OR 557Mixed Dentition Orthodontics II8
OR 558Surgical Orthodontics II3
OR 559Clinical Orthodontics in Craniofacial Anomalies II3
OR 602Microimplant II1
OR 603Research Design II1
OR 604Research Practicum and Thesis III6
OR 611Practice Management II2
OR 612Ethics1
OR 613Orthodontics Speaker Series1
OR 621Current Literature Seminar III1
OR 623Comprehensive Case Analysis Seminar III1
OR 624Treatment Planning Seminar III2
OR 631Orthognathic Surgery Seminar III1
OR 632Multidisciplinary Seminar III1
OR 656Clinical Orthodontics III9
OR 657Mixed Dentition Orthodontics III2
OR 658Surgical Orthodontics III1
OR 659Clinical Orthodontics in Craniofacial Anomalies III1