Certificate in Endodontics

Program Description:

Director:
Kenneth J. Frick, DDS, MS, Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics.
 

Program Overview

The endodontic advanced education program is designed to prepare a dentist for a career in clinical endodontics, research and teaching. The overall goal is to educate dentists to become competent clinical endodontists who will serve the public and the profession at a high level of excellence. It stresses the importance of knowledge and skills in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases associated with the dental pulp and related periapical tissues. Didactic and clinical training is also conducted in other related areas within the scope of practice of the field of endodontics as established by the Endodontic Standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The correlation of basic sciences and clinical sciences is an integral part of the program. A research project is required and comprehensive oral examinations must be successfully completed. The program is also designed to prepare the graduate endodontist to challenge the requirements for certification as a Diplomate by the American Board of Endodontics. Individuals who successfully complete this advanced education program will be awarded a Certificate in Endodontics. Concurrent enrollment for an MS degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (OCS) is also possible.  The MS program requires a separate application after the student has been accepted into the Endodontics program.  An additional time commitment of three to six months is likely required to complete the MS degree.

Accreditation

The program in endodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements". The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Eligibility

An applicant for this program must be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident in the United States. Applicants must also submit evidence of graduation from a school of dentistry accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or the Canadian Dental Accrediting Commission. A minimum dental school 3.0 GPA is required for all applicants. Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) is preferred but not required. Scores can be self-reported on the ADEA PASS application. Successful completion of a U.S. regional or equivalent Canadian clinical licensure exam is required prior to or no later than the end of the first year of residency. Successful completion of a U.S. regional or equivalent Canadian clinical licensure exam is required prior to or no later than the end of the first year of residency. Applicants, who have been out of dental school for a year or more, must successfully pass a clinical licensure exam before they start in UMKC’s Endodontic residency.

Application to the optional Oral & Craniofacial Sciences MS program requires successful completion of the GRE.

Program Duration

Beginning July 1st, the certificate program runs 24 months over six continuous semesters. Enrollment in the optional OCS MS program may require an additional three to six months to complete.

Number of Residents

There are two first-year and two second-year residents.

General Applicant Information

Application to this program is through the ADEA PASS program. The deadline for receipt of application at the school is July 1st of the year prior to planned enrollment, however, applicants are highly encouraged to complete their applications by the earliest possible date. Detailed application information is available at Important Information for Applicants.

Program Stipend

Endodontic residents will receive a competitive annual stipend paid monthly.

Tuition and Fees

If selected for the program, there is a $1,000 nonrefundable acceptance fee which must be paid within two days of the time of acceptance of the position. More information will be provided to the applicant once accepted into the program.

Instruments and Equipment

Residents will be required to lease their dental instruments through the school and purchase some other instruments and equipment. The school employs a centralized sterilization program for the lease of instruments and surgical dental operating microscope. Additionally, each resident is required to purchase an SLR camera body to be attached to the microscope (Recommended: Sony a7 Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera). A list of other required instruments and textbooks will be provided when an applicant is selected to attend the program. Estimated cost for purchases for the 24-month program are approximately $5,000. All of these purchases go with the resident when he/she graduates from the program. Estimated lease expenses are: Dental instruments - approximately $8,800 for the 24-month program, $2,200 per each fall and spring semesters; Microscope– approximately $1500 per semester (six semesters total).

Advanced Education Endodontic Clinic

The advanced education endodontic clinic is a true state-of-the-art facility made possible by the generous donations of Mrs. Virginia Stowers, Dr. Ben Johnson, and other benefactors. All rooms are equipped with Zeiss Pico microscopes. Each room has its own x-ray head, 50" video monitor, Adec track light system, and ASI dental unit carts complete with air-driven high and low speed fiber optic handpieces, electric handpiece, ultrasonic handpiece, dual micro irrigators, micro air syringes, and curing light. The program is linked into the all-electronic paperless patient record management system which also integrates the digital x-ray sensors available in each operatory. Please see https://dentistry.umkc.edu/about-us/ for more information about faculty, residents and staff.

Study Areas

Residents have dedicated office space with high-speed computer and printer support connected to a high-speed LAN. The program also has a dedicated seminar room for literature reviews, case presentation, lectures, etc.

Financial Assistance

Up-to-date additional information on financial assistance can be found in the School of Dentistry portion of the Financial Aid Charts at https://finaid.umkc.edu/.

Interview

Selected applicants will be invited to Kansas City for an interview with the program director and other selected faculty and staff. If invited, the interview is a required part of the application process, and travel expenses are the responsibility of the applicant. Preference is given to those applicants who have both general practice experience and completion of an AEGD or GPR program.

Point of Contact

To request further information, please contact either the Research & Graduate Programs Office at (816) 235-6342 or umkcsodadvedpgms@umkc.edu or the program director, Dr. Kenneth J. Frick, at (816) 235-2479 or frickk@umkc.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

  • 1. The student will demonstrate advanced clinical skills in the treatment of a variety of endodontic clinical conditions, and demonstrate an understanding of the current and classical endodontic literature.
  • 2. The student will demonstrate the ability to prepare and execute a research project.
  • 3. The student will demonstrate skills of communication through examples to peers, faculty, and public presentations.

Program Requirements

ENDO 5701Endodontology 11-6
ENDO 5702Endodontology 21-6
ENDO 5703Endodontology 31-6
ENDO 5704Endodontology 41-6
ENDO 5705Endodontology 51-6
ENDO 5706Endodontology 61-6
BMS 9701Clinical Anatomy of Head and Neck2
BIO-SCI 5740Oral Pathology2
RES-ME 5700Introduction to Research Methodology2
RES-ME 5704Introduction to Biostatistics2
BIO-SCI 5760Physiology of Oral Mineralized Tissues2
BIO-SCI 5759Special Problems in Pharmacology2
BIO-SCI 5739Biomaterials for the Dental Specialist1
BIO-SCI 5805Molecular Biology of Oral Microflora2-3

Graduation Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all clinical and basic science core courses as outlined for the endodontic curriculum.
  2. Satisfactory completion of all endodontic courses and seminars.
  3. Achievement of clinical competency in endodontics.
  4. Advanced Endodontics residents must maintain a 3.0 GPA for all coursework taken at UMKC.  Courses that are audited will require 100% attendance and residents will be required to complete the final exam. Failure by any resident to meet the 100% attendance requirement for any audited courses will result in written and/or oral examinations in those courses at the discretion of the Program Director.  Residents are entitled to due process in accordance with guidelines contained in the Student Handbook on Academic and Other Policies.
  5. The goal for each resident is to complete at least 200 clinical endodontic cases.   These cases will include, but not be limited to, the following: nonsurgical, surgical, retreatment, and incomplete endodontic therapies; vital pulp treatment, apexification, trauma, endo-perio, restoration of endodontically treated teeth, and bleaching.  The cases treated should include as many and as varied types of cases, in order to give the broadest exposure and experience necessary to graduate as the best qualified endodontist.  A list of all cases will be maintained by the resident.  The completed cases will be reviewed and graded on a weekly and monthly basis by the Program Director.
  6. Preparation of an Electronic Capstone Portfolio. This portfolio of endodontic cases will showcase the resident’s best work. It will be presented in the ABE Portfolio format, with ten cases selected according to the guidelines published by the ABE, and ten other cases showing treatment diversity. Finally, a copy of the resident’s research manuscript will be included. Each portfolio will include a written self-assessment by the resident, and a completed faculty assessment rubric on demonstrated CODA clinical standards.
  7. Documented research*.  A suitable project approved by the Research Advisors and the Program Director, conduct of the research, collection of data, analysis of results, and preparation of a manuscript suitable for submission to a refereed journal must be completed before the conclusion of the program.  If, for whatever reason, a waiver is granted by the Program Director for an extension of the submission deadline date, the resident may forfeit the right of first-authorship.  A request to submit the research findings as an Oral or Poster presentation at the Annual Session of the AAE, or a poster board presentation at the Midwest Dental Conference, is required.

    *For those residents dually-enrolled in the Oral and Craniofacial Sciences program, they will complete their research requirements via the MS degree process with the degree conferred by the School of Graduate Studies.
  8. Attendance at all scheduled classes, seminars, clinics, and meetings is mandatory.  Attendance is also required for all consultant lecturers established by the Program Director or the person he has delegated this responsibility. This may involve an occasional evening or weekend event.  Absences will only be allowed under special pre-arranged conditions and may result in additional assignments such as written literature review reports.

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