Length of Program: Three (3) years

Number of Positions: Up to four (4) for graduates of non-CODA accredited OR CODA-accredited dental schools who are not US citizens or green card holders. Applicants from US and Canadian international dentist (DDS, DMD) training programs or those who have received formal orthodontic training at recognized international programs are encouraged to apply.

Program Director: Dr. Sunil Kapila

The CODA-accredited Orthodontics Postgraduate Training Program is designed to train clinical specialists at the postgraduate level and includes extensive didactic, clinical, and research experience. Although the major study concentration is in orthodontics, research in any of the allied medical or dental sciences is acceptable. Successful postgraduates must complete the requirements for both the Master's degree in Oral Biology and the Orthodontics Postgraduate Training Program in order to be awarded a certificate of completion for the orthodontic program. Successful completion of this program provides eligibility to sit on the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) examinations toward becoming a Diplomate of the ABO.

The curriculum consists of subject matter that has direct application in orthodontic practice. Examples of such subjects are orthodontic seminars covering etiology, diagnosis, and treatment planning; applied clinical orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; cephalometrics and other auxiliary imaging methods; biomechanical principles; anatomy; growth, and development; review of orthodontic literature; gnathology and TMJ function and dysfunction; surgical orthodontics; craniofacial anomalies; embryology; biostatistics; metallurgy of orthodontic materials; research design; and research and manuscript preparation.

Concomitant with their formal education, the clinical experiences of postgraduate trainees include treating a diverse patient cohort ranging from interceptive mixed dentition to complex interdisciplinary cases using conventional appliances and clear aligners. Postgraduates attend the regularly scheduled seminars of the UCLA Health System Craniofacial Team and take part in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with various developmental abnormalities in the UCLA Craniofacial Clinic. In conjunction with general dentists and specialists including periodontists, prosthodontists, oro-maxillofacial surgeons, and TMJD-orofacial pain, postgraduates also participate in an interdisciplinary approach in the treatment and diagnosis of complex adult orofacial problems. Our postgraduates have the opportunity to treat skeletal and dental problems in deciduous and mixed dentition. These course requirements are consistent with the recommendations of the Council on Orthodontic Education of the American Dental Association.

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Selection Factors

Application Due: August 15

Interviews: Late September - Early October

Acceptance Notification: Mid October - Early November 

PASS Application: Yes

Selected candidates will be invited to interview. If you have been selected, you will be notified by telephone and/or email. 

A letter of acceptance signed by the Program Director and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will be issued upon acceptance. After being accepted, candidates must apply to the Oral Biology Master's Program before their deadline on December 15

Program Fees

Program Fees: $70,000 per year for the Orthodontics program. (subject to change) Please refer to the UCLA Graduate Division fees page for information regarding tuition for the Oral Biology Master's Program.

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

One-time Application Fee: $150 (non-refundable)

International Student Fee: $1,300 (only for those requesting I-20s for F-1 student status)

Refund Policy: Application fee, certificate fee, and international fees are non-refundable.

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
*Please do not reach out to faculty directly. All inquiries about the program and admissions should be directed to the section administrator or Postgraduate Programs Officer.

Accreditation Statement

The program in Orthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association 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, by visiting www.ada.org/coda, or by mail at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678.