Advanced Postdoctoral Education Program in Endodontics

Advanced Postdoctoral Education Program in Endodontics
Department of Biomedical & Community Health Sciences, Division of Emergency Services
MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine

Faculty

For profiles of faculty endodontists in the Department of Biomedical and Community Health Sciences and Division of Emergency Services, please visit our Administration & Faculty page.

How to Apply

For the class that matriculates July 2026, the 2025 application cycle will be conducted through ADEA PASS. Please visit us again soon for more information.

Following the interview, applicants offered a position in the College of Dental Medicine postdoctoral endodontic program are required to submit a letter of intent.

Admission Criteria for International Applicants

One year of US post-dental educational experience (fellowship/preceptorship) is required.

It is the policy of the Medical University of South Carolina not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, or sex in its admissions, employment, and other educational activities and programs.

The application and all supporting data are to be sent to the program coordinator address listed above. Once received, the application and all associated documents become the property of MUSC and cannot be returned.

Endodontics Program Overview

The advanced postdoctoral education program in endodontics was granted “approval without reporting requirements” by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation, effective September 28, 2017.

The objective of this postdoctoral endodontic program is to develop specialists with a sound academic background on which to base clinical treatment, research, and teaching. As many as three postdoctoral students are accepted for matriculation each year.

Clinical components of the program include:

• Diagnostic examination and testing procedures
• Evidence-based dentistry and clinical application
• Interdisciplinary treatment planning
• Odontogenic and nonodontogenic differential diagnosis
• Emergency and pain management
• Trauma management
• Bleaching therapy
• Surgical operating microscope magnification
• Initial and retreatment nonsurgical therapy
• Surgical therapy
• Combined endodontic-periodontic therapy and osseous grafts
• Nitrous oxide and oral sedation antianxiolysis
• Medically compromised patient therapy
• Vital pulp therapy
• Pulp regeneration therapy
• Pediatric therapy
• Post space preparation, and post with core buildup procedures
• Recall assessment
• Digital radiography including CBCT
• Case preparation per American Board of Endodontics format

Didactic components of the program include: 

Treatment planning and case review, classic literature, and current literature review each occur weekly in a seminar format. Additionally, endodontic lecture presentations are presented weekly on a variety of special topics.

Emphasis is placed on training clinicians who are competent in all aspects of endodontics so that they will be eligible for certification by the American Board of Endodontics. Candidates will also be required to complete an M.S.D. (Master of Science in Dentistry - College of Dental Medicine) program with an additional curriculum of core courses in biomedical sciences. The curriculum is flexible enough to accommodate candidates desiring private practice as well as those interested in academics and research.

The M.S.D. program is completed simultaneously with the clinical Certificate program, and there is no option for a Certificate only program. The combined M.S.D. and Certificate program is twenty-seven (27) months duration and is the only track available. New students are expected to begin their program on June 6 and no provision is made for other than full-time participation in the postdoctoral endodontic program.

A research project culminating in defense of a thesis is mandatory, and the preparation of a manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal is strongly recommended. Copies of the MUSC clinic and student policies are available to the applicant upon request. The postdoctoral endodontic student will be on emergency call every sixth week. All students are required to provide their own laptop or tablet, with only contemporary models being acceptable.

Fees, Tuition, Program Costs & Personal Living Expenses

Estimated cost of attendance: Master of Science in Dentistry - Endodontics

A surgical operating microscope and all other necessary patient-related equipment, instruments and supplies are included.
All residents will be required to purchase either a laptop or tablet. Only contemporary models will be acceptable.

One-time M.S.D. Supplemental Application / Matriculation Fee (US $580.00)

• Prior to enrollment, MUSC requires submission of an online Supplemental Application and fee of US $95.00 for the M.S.D. program.
• Prior to registration, the Office of Enrollment Management requires submission of an Applicant Response Form and matriculation fee (US $485.00).

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for enrolled US Applicants to cover all fees, assessments, tuition, program costs, and personal living expenses. Following registration, an MUSC website link may be accessed to complete an application for federally subsidized funding.