This three-year program, the first fully accredited hospital-based orthodontic program in the United States, provides an exceptional opportunity for residents to follow complex cases through completion of treatment. In a fully supervised clinical practice, residents treat an array of malocclusions and other dento-facial irregularities in a diverse patient population.

Goals of the Program

1. To educate and prepare the resident in the theoretical, technical and ethical aspects of orthodontics
2. To emphasize the application of the basic sciences to clinical practice
3. To provide a broad understanding of the inter-relationship of orthodontics to other disciplines of dentistry
4. To develop the ability to function as a member of the healthcare team
5. To develop the diagnostic ability to render the utmost in clinical care to a broad range of patients who present at various age levels and with a myriad of clinical problems
6. To have a thorough acquaintance of the literature and research methodology
7. To provide an understanding of self-assessment and the goals of continual self-improvement through ongoing critical evaluation of care

The Clinical Experience

Learning a variety of orthodontic modalities, residents treat pediatric, adolescent and adult patients. Orthognathic surgical patients and patients with temporomandibular dysfunction are treated as well. The principal clinical method used in the Orthodontic Program, the combination technique, combines the early stages of the lightwire system with final control and finishing by edgewise appliances. Residents also receive didactic and clinical instruction in standard and straightwire edgewise systems.

Orthodontic residents follow most of their patients through the entire course of treatment. They also participate in multiple conferences devoted to the analysis and diagnosis of new cases and further evaluation of patients who are already being treated.

To broaden their knowledge and keep abreast of new directions in the field, residents regularly review and discuss classical and current literature, as well as recent advances in orthodontics. Residents also take basic science and related courses with other postdoctoral students in the Division of Advanced Dental Education at the  University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. An affiliation with the internationally recognized Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic enhances the overall learning experience.

The program gives third-year residents the opportunity to make independent treatment decisions. Third-year residents also develop teaching skills through participation in the department's teaching program by instructing general practice residents and first-year orthodontic residents.

All residents undertake research projects leading to a required thesis on an original and independent investigation.

The Orthodontic Residency Program accepts residents on an alternate year basis. New classes begin on odd numbered years (2009, 2011, 2013, etc.).