Length of program: 2 years

Number of positions: 12 per year

Program Director: Dr. Thomas Lee

The Restorative Dentistry Advanced Clinical Training Program is an intensive two-year program designed to provide nationally- and internationally-trained dentists with clinical training in the broad realm of operative and restorative dentistry.

The program is a unique opportunity for those who seek additional restorative experience to supplement what has already been taught through formal dental education. The objective of the program is to take dentists to the next level in patient care and teaching skills while instilling a disciplined, and professional attitude.

The curriculum is highly structured and rigorous; the first-year curriculum includes didactic courses and 240 hours of hands-on training in pre-clinical settings including inlays, onlays, porcelain veneers, ceramic restorations, and conservative cast gold restorations. The emphasis of the second-year curriculum is for trainees to treat patients at the UCLA Venice Dental Center, and to receive teaching experience by working with clinical faculty while observing and assisting other providers for comprehensive patient care.

The goal of this non-CODA-accredited program is to educate trainees the knowledge and skills equivalent to a two-year Operative Dentistry or Restorative Dentistry Program, and to become competent candidates for DDS/DMD or Post-doc accredited programs in USA. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the two-year program.

Year 1: Core Knowledge and Skills Development

At the start of the program in early July, trainees immediately begin didactic courses and laboratory sessions in Operative Dentistry, Fixed Prosthodontics, Esthetic Dentistry, and Restorative Implant Dentistry.

The majority of the first-year curriculum will be dedicated to technical skills development through a series of Skill Courses, which involve the completion of 100 preparation and restoration procedures in the UCLA Simulation Laboratory under the mentorship of restorative faculty members. Trainees will learn to become proficient in the following restorative procedures: direct restorations, gold inlays and onlays, 3/4 and 7/8 gold crowns, ceramic inlays and onlays, all ceramic crown and bridge, anterior and posterior porcelain veneers, CAD/CAM restorations, and others.

During the last two-quarters of the first-year curriculum, trainees begin clinical preparatory courses in the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center. Here, the specialists will provide training in practice management, material sciences, digital radiology interpretation, treatment planning, dental anesthesia and nitrous sedation, fundamentals of dental implant surgery, implant hands-on lab training, and others. This will ensure that trainees are prepared to provide direct patient care in the second-year curriculum.

Year 2: Excellence in Clinical Dentistry

The emphasis of the second year of the curriculum is direct patient care. Trainees will participate as dental providers to treat patients under the guidance of clinical faculty in UCLA Restorative Dentistry at the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center. Through comprehensive treatment planning, trainees provide patient care through the following: caries management by risk assessment, phase one periodontal procedures and minor periodontal surgery, diagnosis of pulpal disease, direct and indirect restorations, fixed dental prostheses, bonded ceramics, anterior and posterior veneers, CAD/CAM scanning, design, milling of lithium disilicate, and zirconia implant restorations. We evaluate the trainees’ progress and competency quarterly, and all the clinical requirements must be satisfied by the end of the second year.

Literature review and case presentation sessions are held during the year. Trainees may also have opportunities to be engaged in ongoing research projects in the Restorative Section of UCLA School of Dentistry in the Westwood campus.

Another area of focus during the second year is the development of teaching skills. Trainees will be assigned a teaching rotation in the Skill Courses at UCLA’s Westwood campus. Those trainees who express additional interest in teaching will be given opportunities to assist in teaching junior and senior dental students alongside faculty members.

At the end of the two-year program, trainees will obtain the knowledge and skills equivalent to a two-year Operative Dentistry or Restorative Dentistry Program in the United States. A UCLA Certificate for Advanced Clinical Training Program is awarded upon successful completion of the two-year program.

 

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A certificate of attendance is awarded upon successful completion of the program. This certificate is not the same as the postgraduate program certificate awarded to full-time international postgraduates in specialty training as a qualification for recognition by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Although this is not a CODA-accredited program, some states in the U.S. may allow two year graduates the opportunity for licensure. Please contact individual state dental boards for specific requirements.

Selection Process & Factors

The admissions committee considers the following criteria in its decisions:

  • Language skills

  • Content of application

  • Motivation

  • Activities/professional experience since graduating from dental school (Those who have been treating patients are desired.)

Accepted candidates will be notified in March by email. A letter of acceptance signed by the Program Director and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will be issued upon acceptance. The Acceptance Package will also be emailed to the accepted candidate. 

Program Fees

Fees: $52,900 per year starting July 1, 2024 (subject to change)

Dental Kit: Trainees will be responsible for purchasing dental supplies and equipment kit upon arrival in the program, the approximate cost is $13,363 (subject to change) and will need to be purchased through the UCLA Health Sciences Store on the first day of the program. This expense is in addition to the program fees stated above.

Certificate Fee: One-time payment of $200 (non-refundable)

Program Fee Schedule  
Initial payment due April 5, 50% of annual program fee
100% refund 10 weeks before July 1
50% refund 5 weeks before July 1
None less than 5 weeks before July 1
Second payment due  Dec 15, 50% of annual program fee
100% refund before the start of Winter quarter
50% refund within first 5 weeks of Winter quarter
None after 5 weeks into Winter quarter
Third payment due June 15 of following year, 50% of annual program fee
100% refund 10 weeks before July 1
50% refund 5 weeks before July 1
None less than 5 weeks before July 1
Fourth payment due Dec 15 of following year, 50% of annual program fee
100% refund before the start of Winter quarter
50% refund within first 5 weeks of Winter quarter
None after 5 weeks into Winter quarter

Contact Us

Postgraduate Programs Officer
Phone: (310) 825-7478 
Email: postdds@dentistry.ucla.edu