Welcome to the Section of Orthodontics. The mission of the faculty, students, and staff of the UCLA Section of Orthodontics is to improve the health of the people of California by: educating students and practitioners in dentofacial orthopedics and orthodontics; researching the causes, prevention, and treatment of malocclusion and skeletal imbalances; and providing service to our patients and the community. Teaching Programs Courses Taught Research Activities Development Patient Care Volunteer Opportunities

Teaching Programs

The Section of Orthodontics provides instruction in the predoctoral, preceptorship and residency programs.

Predoctoral
The Section of Orthodontics provides 70 hours of instruction in the second year, 40 hours in the third year and 16 hours in the fourth year of the predoctoral program. Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be capable of diagnosing and appropriately treating or referring for treatment all malocclusions that the patient desires to be treated.

Combined Orthodontic Residency/ Master's Degree in Oral Biology
The primary objective of the residency program in Orthodontics is the training of clinical specialists. Applicants who are admitted to the Orthodontic program must apply and be accepted to the Oral Biology program as well.

The curriculum consists of formal instruction in (1) anatomy (head and neck, osteology), (2) growth and development, including embryology, (3) roentgenographic cephalometrics, and (4) biomechanical principles, (5) neuromuscular physiology, (6) metallurgy of orthodontic materials, (7) gnathology, TMJ function and dysfunction, (8) surgical orthodontics, (9) craniofacial anomalies and genetics, (10) practice management with jurisprudence, (11) health sciences, (12) clinical orthodontics, (13) orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning seminars and (14) review of the orthodontic literature and other subject matters/that has direct or indirect clinical application.

Concomitant with their formal didactic sessions, postdoctoral students attend the regularly scheduled seminars of the Craniofacial Anomalies Team of the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences and take part in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with various developmental abnormalities. Through this activities, students participate in a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of various problems related to other disciplines in the School of Dentistry and are exposed to the early treatment of skeletal and oral health problems in the mixed dentition, craniofacial anomalies including cleft lip and palate, and the treatment of adults with skeletal and periodontal problems, as well as patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. The above course material is consistent with the recommendations of the Council on Orthodontic Education of the American Association of Orthodontists.

Among the requirements for a certificate in orthodontics is an original research project resulting in a manuscript approved for publication. In order to provide a background for conducting original research the student also receives instruction in: (1) biostatistics, (2) research methodology, (3) and design. Because of a natural shortage of orthodontic teachers, another objective of the program is to prepare, develop and inspire students toward a possible career in academic dentistry. The quality of the research must be of publishable quality and be written in accordance with the UCLA master thesis format guidelines which requests a critical review of the literature, development of an hypothesis and design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of data. These theses are bound and displayed in the Section’s conference room. There have been six peered-reviewed manuscripts published with our residents as co-authors since 1997. There are also 5 abstracts with orthodontic residents as co-authors in IADR/AADR 2001 to 2002. A certificate of specialization and a Master's degree in Oral Biology are awarded upon completion of the 36-month program. For those students who have a strong interest in becoming academicians, a combined residency and Ph. D. program is also possible.

Combined Pediatric Dentistry/Orthodontics Residency
The objective of this thirty-nine month program is to train individuals to provide complete dental care for the child patient, including the mentally and physically handicapped and children with craniofacial anomalies. The curriculum provides excellent preparation for individuals interested in a teaching and/or research career in orthodontics and pediatric dentistry.

The first year of the program emphasizes didactic courses basic to both orthodontics and pediatric dentistry (i.e. growth and development, cephalometrics). Although the clinical emphasis in the first year is towards traditional pediatric dentistry, the student is assigned 6-10 orthodontic patients during the first year. The second year involves courses basic to orthodontic therapy and increased clinical experience in orthodontics. Clinical experience in pediatric dentistry continues during this year. The third year focuses primarily on clinical experience and completing the required research project. The student is on call approximately one out of every five weeks. The student completes a one month rotation in general anesthesia during the second or third year of the program.

Upon completion of the program, certificates are awarded in both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. For those students who have a strong interest in becoming academicians, a combined residency and Ph. D. program is possible.

Orthodontic International Program

Program Director:
Dr. Won Moon

Introduction
This program is for foreign dental graduates who wish to specialize in the field of Orthodontics.  It is a three-year orthodontic certificate program combined with a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology.   The education is identical to the US Orthodontics Residency.   These graduates are recognized by the Committee on Dental Accreditation as a graduate from a fully accredited Orthodontics Program.  It is not a continue education program.

Requirements for admission
The candidate must be a foreign dental school graduate.   Applicants have to   apply for and be accepted into both the Orthodontics Residency program and the Master’s Degree in Oral Biology program.   You may obtain the application online atwww.dentistry.ucla.edu. The prerequisites and submission requirements for the program are:

• complete general application
• official academic records bearing the signature of the registrar or another academic official, with either a raised or ink stamp of the issuing institution. Records must be in the original language and be accompanied by certified English translations.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official National Board Scores
• Photo-2x2
• TOEFL score. When registering for the TOEFL exam, please indicate UCLA as a score recipient. The exam score must be current. You should take the test no later than August to ensure that your score arrives by the September 1 application deadline.

Please submit your completed application and supporting documentation to:

Maria Patino
Orthodontic International Program
UCLA School of Dentistry
10833 Le Conte Ave. , CHS 30-121
Los Angeles , CA 90095-1668

(310) 825-4705
mpatino@dentistry.ucla.edu

Orthodontic Preceptorship Program
The Orthodontic Preceptorship Program is designed for foreign-trained dentists who have a desire to expand their knowledge in orthodontics and/or those who want to gain further knowledge in orthodontics before applying to a postdoctoral certificate program in orthodontics. The program is also appropriate for dentists and/or orthodontists who have a sincere interest in research.

Courses Taught

Pre-Doctoral Courses

Post-Doctoral Courses

Research Activities

The Chair of the Section, Dr. Kang Ting, is a dual trained orthodontist/PhD His research is in the area of molecular craniofacial anomalies with over 38 published manuscripts and 4 million dollars in research funding. Another full-time faculty member, Dr. Eung Pae, is also a dual trained orthodontist/PhD. His area of interest is in the physiology of sleep apnea and the temporomandibular joint. Dr. Pae has published over 19 articles. Dr. Clarice Law is a dual trained pediatric dentist and orthodontist with a master’s degree in oral biology. Her research is in the area of translational molecular biological research. Dr. Law is a recipient of the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation Research Award. Dr. Jeanne Nervina is a dual trained orthodontist/PhD and her research is also in the molecular biology of oral structures. All of our full-time faculty are very active in research.

Development

Orthodontics is currently involved in a fund-raising campaign for its new clinic. The section will also be remodeling its seminar space and laboratory space. The section wholeheartedly thanks its alumni who have been very generous in supporting its campaign.

Patient Care

The section currently provides supervision for orthodontic care in the UCLA School of Dentistry and Venice clinics for patients by both pre-doctoral and postdoctoral students. In addition, the faculty members see private patients at the Faculty Group Dental Practice.

Volunteer Opportunities

People interested in volunteering should contact the UCLA Medical Center Volunteer Office for information.