The 34-month Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Residency Program begins during July each year and integrates biomedical sciences and clinical sciences to provide a unique opportunity to earn a Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in conjunction with a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology.

Six residents are admitted each year and those who graduate will be able to successfully complete all examinations and case presentations required for board certification and to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Students accepted into the Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics program will also be enrolled to earn a Master of Science in oral biology. This is a combined program within the dental school. The master’s degree is not open for enrollment independent of the certificate program.

Group of students looking at a laptop

The program begins with an introduction to orthodontic techniques and clinical procedures with patients assigned to each resident upon matriculation. The curriculum comprises clinical seminars, clinical orthodontics, diagnosis, treatment planning and case presentations, biomedical sciences, clinical sciences and practice management, research and classic literature reviews.

Patient assignments throughout the residency will be adjusted to meet the educational needs of each resident. Proficiency evaluations will be given semi-annually to ensure each resident is progressing in the program and to provide constructive feedback. The program’s plan of study outlines the courses taken during each semester.

Tuition: $185,000 (34-month program) PLUS $15,000 Clinic Usage Fees.

*Periodic tuition increases made at the discretion of the Board of Regents. In addition to tuition and clinical usage fee's residents will be required to purchase a laptop computer, a digital camera, textbooks and other materials specified by the program. Plus all fees pertaining to obtaining a “Limited License” to practice dentistry in the state of Nevada.

It is required by the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners that all dental residents must obtain a “Limited License” to practice in Nevada. For detailed information, call the NSBDE at 800-DDS-EXAM, or email nsbde@nsbde.nv.gov.

*This program does not qualify for Nevada’s Grant-In-Aid Program.

The UNLV School of Dental Medicine, Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Residency earned the status of “Approval without Reporting Requirements” from the Commission on Dental Accreditation in 2021. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. For additional information regarding this process, contact the Commission on Dental Accreditation at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

All applications to the UNLV School of Dental Medicine, Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics will be processed through the ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS). Minimum requirements for applicants to be considered for our graduate program are as follows: Applicant must be in good moral and academic standing, proficient in the English language, currently enrolled in, or have graduated from, an accredited U.S. or Canadian dental school, and have successfully completed National Boards Part I examination or the INBDE. Applicants who are planning to take the INBDE exam in the fall (after the application deadline) are eligible to apply to the program. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S., or proof of equivalent training at a foreign university. Do not apply to the Graduate College if you have not been selected for acceptance into the program.

Application Deadline

August 15

Please mail a current two-inch by two-inch color photo to the mailing address below, or send via email to OrthodonticAdmissions@unlv.edu.

Mailing Address

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
School of Dental Medicine
Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
1001 Shadow Lane, MS 7422
Las Vegas, NV 89106-4124

This program participates in the national MATCH. UNLV strives for diversity. Therefore, all applicants are ranked based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria to support the admissions committee criteria for interviewing applicants as well as admission to the program.

Selected applicants must be in good academic and ethical standing, have successfully completed National Boards Part I and II or INBDE, graduated from an accredited U.S. or Canadian Dental School, and obtained a regular or limited license to practice dentistry in Nevada. Once accepted into the program, Official NBDE Part I and Part II or INBDE Board scores must be forwarded to orthodonticadmissions@unlv.edu. Final Dental School transcript must be sent to the mailing address above (see Application) prior to matriculation.

The American Dental Association provided a link to Dental Boards that contains specific information about licensure in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.