American University of Beirut

The Department of Dentofacial Medicine offers post graduate residency training to dental graduates. The specialty program lasts 36 months and is designed to carry clinical activities in a scholarly environment where basic science and clinical orthodontics are integrated. A major part of the postdoctoral program consists of clinical education and training with a spectrum of treatment ranging from childhood to adulthood, including patients who require orthognathic surgery. In addition, residents are enrolled in the Master of Science (MS) in Orthodontics program. The completion of a research project and defense of a corresponding thesis, related to clinical or basic sciences, is a requirement toward certification. Under specific conditions related mainly to the research thesis PGY II and PGY III residents are allowed to spend a period of one month per year in approved US programs under appropriate conditions of attendance in the program.

Program and Cu​rriculum ​

The curriculum leading to the degree of Master of MS in Orthodontics and a residency certificate is structured after the scientist-practitioner model with dual emphasis on the scientist and practitioner aspects of the profession. The program covers, in addition to achieving competence in clinical practice, two essential requirements (also stipulated for accreditation by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation) which are the following:

• The inclusion of core credits of basic science courses (e.g. somatic, craniofacial growth and development biomechanics of tooth movement, research design and statistics)
• The conduct of original research and the corresponding successful defense of a written thesis

The degree is pursued concurrently with the clinical specialty training, which is also subject to defined requirements for clinical certification.

Basic knowledge courses include material on growth and development of the craniofacial complex and body, anatomy, anthropology, imaging of the head, scientific method, biostatistics, dental materials and biomechanics.

Daily seminars and classes are scheduled in a planned sequence over the three years and cover the basic topics as well as those related to orthodontics and other specialties necessary for multidisciplinary treatment, such as periodontics, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, minor oral and orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular dysfunction and pediatric dentistry.

Technical clinical courses and actual treatment requirements are non-credit activities commensurate with the AUBMC residency requirements. The clinical sessions include treatment delivery in the dentofacial clinic, encompassing specific requirements for the correction of malocclusions in children, adolescents, and adults, as well as discussions of treatment planning, treatment progress and case reports. Practice is based on scientific evidence interpreted to the individual conditions of each patient.

The degree is awarded after successful completion of both didactic coursework and research (thesis defense).

Adm​​ission

Admission is offered on a highly selective basis only to students who have shown distinct academic ability and success on the entrance examination. The applications to the Residency and MS in Orthodontics are separate. The application process follows the conditions currently used at AUB and AUBMC for the MS degrees and the Residency. Final acceptance in the MS program will be through the Graduate Committee (MS requirements) and the Graduate Medical Education Committee (Residency), then through the institutional process.

The specific prerequisites for acceptance in the MS program include, in addition to the AUBMC general conditions for admission in an MS program, the following: 

• Only applicants possessing the doctoral degree in Dental Medicine or its equivalent (Dental Surgery, Dentistry) from a recognized institution in Lebanon or abroad are accepted. The course requirements are designed to build upon the basic biological sciences common to those required for the dental doctoral degree
• A cumulative average in dental school of at least 3.3 or its equivalent is required if ascertained by a school using a different grading system. The candidate may be accepted on probation if the grades are between B and B+.
• The candidate must pass the entrance examination that includes practical (wire bending), written exam, and oral exams. This balanced and comprehensive examination helps evaluate the candidate’s critical and scientific approach to dentistry in general and orthodontics in particular.
• Evidence of proficiency in English is required by passing the English Language Proficiency Requirement or its equivalent as required by AUB. (refer to the requirements listed in the Graduate Studies section of the AUB graduate catalogue).
• Applicants will also be interviewed.​

Courses an​​d Credits

The total number of credits required for the proposed MS in Orthodontics is 30. The Graduate Studies Committee may waive a maximum of 6 credits of graduate course work taken as part of the candidate’s dental graduate studies upon the proposal of the Orthodontic Admissions Committee. Accordingly, a total of 24 credits including the 9 research thesis credits represent the minimal requirement. Elective courses are offered as part of the MS courses within the scope of potential research topics from clinical to interdisciplinary research. Didactic courses make up nearly a third of the curriculum. They include lectures, seminars, literature review sessions, journal club, research presentations and case discussions.

Typically, the core courses and related course work will be completed within the first two years of the program. The clinical specialty training will span over the three years of study. Most of the research will take place in years two and three, with a major focus on the research project and thesis defense in the third year. The degree will not be awarded no earlier than three years after matriculation in the program.

Clinical C​​​urriculum 

The clinical component encompasses a spectrum of treatments ranging from childhood to adulthood, including management of patients who require orthognathic surgery and those with craniofacial anomalies (e.g. cleft lip/palate). Trainees will be exposed to a variety of disorders and training experiences. Each resident will have a range of problems to treat that cover a full scope of malocclusions and craniofacial anomalies, as well as a spectrum of treatment approaches and mechanics, including orthognathic surgery of skeletal dysplasias. Supervised clinical activities are supplemented with classroom activities (seminars, case presentations, literature review).

Researc​​h

The research project may be clinical or basic. Each student will have the opportunity to develop strong research skills and conduct an original study fulfilling rigorous scientific norms. Students will register for courses in clinical and basic research methods (relative to applicable research) and elective basic medical and health sciences that are needed for the conduct of the specific project. The residents will be initiated into the formulation of research hypotheses, research design, and statistical analyses that should provide them with the skills required to complete theses of publishable quality

Collaborative projects between AUB faculties foster the concept of inter-professional cooperation, bringing together medical/dental disciplines with not only public health (most natural alliance) and business (e.g. medical management, third party pay and insurance development), but also engineering (e.g. biomedical engineering developments) and education (e.g. education policy, higher education management). Participation of mentors from other faculties/departments is based on mutual interests between the specialties and actual professors from both sides.​

Fac​​ulty

All faculty members in the program are full-time or part-time associated faculty. Depending on the courses and instruction they provide, their role is either in the basic studies, the clinical program or both. Credentials of the teaching faculty are distinguished including clinicians with certification from highly recognized orthodontic programs, including the AUB program, and American or European specialty boards.

Course ​​​​​Descriptions 

The Department of Dentofacial Medicine offers postgraduate courses to dentists specializing in Orthodontics at the American University of Beirut Medical Center/Faculty of Medicine. The courses required for the MS in Orthodontics are listed below. They do not include elective courses listed in the catalogue of graduate FM, FHS and other AUB faculties.​​

• ​​Dentofacial Medici​ne​ Gradu​ate​ Courses​​​
  

Residency and Master of Science in Clinical Orthodontics

Orthodontics Postgraduate Courses