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Postbaccalaureate Program

Dental Excellence Programs at Temple Dental

Dynamic opportunities for learning and practice
Engagement with patients and communities
Practice the future of dentistry!

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Dental Excellence

Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry Postbaccalaureate Program
 

The Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry offers an intensive, 11-month, preparatory program designed specifically for motivated, pre-dental students to advance their bachelor’s degree and improve their candidacy to achieve admission to U.S. and Canadian dental schools. Our intensive curriculum and DAT-prep course is paired with dental assisting training and practice, allowing students to prepare a more competitive dental school application within a structured and motivating learning environment.

Postbaccalaureate to Masters in Oral Health Sciences track

Students who successfully complete the coursework in this Postbaccalaureate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA and two letters of reference from instructors in their program may opt to complete an additional year of coursework to earn the Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences (MS OHS). For students who qualify, 15.0 credits from the Postbaccalaureate program will be applied towards the completion of the 40.0 credit MS OHS degree. Some restrictions apply. For more information contact Theresa White, Director of Graduate Programs at theresawhite@temple.edu.

Postbaccalaureate Program Course Descriptions*

ORGB 5001 Introduction to Dental Assisting (2 credit hours)

This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the dental profession, the dental team and each team member’s roles and responsibilities, infection control procedures, sterilization, and patient confidentiality. Students will also receive basic knowledge of dental terminology, anatomical structures of the oral cavity and classification of occlusion. Emphasis is placed on applying information to the clinical setting.

ORGB 5002 Chairside Dental Assisting (3 credit hours)

This course is designed to give students an introduction to dental terminology, medical-dental histories, dental instruments, charting, oral evacuation, instrument transfer and procedure-specific tray setups. Emphasis is placed on utilization of four-handed dentistry skills.

ORGB 5004 Dental Radiology (2 credit hours)

This course is designed to provide the student with basic knowledge of the principles of radiology and radiographic techniques, including the principles and methods employed in the paralleling technique and radiographic interpretation. Emphasis is placed on the practice of exposing, processing, mounting and interpreting intraoral radiographs.

ORGB 5005 Dental Anatomy (1 credit hour)

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to and basic knowledge of dental terminology, anatomical structures of the oral cavity and classification of occlusion. Emphasis is placed on applying information to the clinical setting.

ORGB 8021 Microbiome (3 credit hours)

In the first part of the course, students will be introduced to the basic principles of microbiology and immunology, host-microbe interactions, and the oral cavity as a microbial habitat. The second part will focus on the concepts of microbial biofilms and microbiome, how microbiome relates to oral health and disease, and potential strategies to modulate the microbiome. Students will be able to understand the importance of the microbiome, various human factors that control it, and its ultimate role in health and disease.

ORGB 8022 Microbiome Techniques (2 credit hours)

This course will cover topics related to laboratory techniques employed to study microorganisms in general and the human microbiome in particular. The topics will range from basic techniques including microscopy, cultivation, and biochemical and immunological identification to advanced molecular techniques including nucleic acid amplification, hybridization and sequencing, with particular focus on microbiome analysis. Students will be trained to analyze and critique scientific data for soundness of scientific methodology by reading, discussing and presenting oral microbiome research papers. Students will be able to appreciate and understand laboratory techniques and analytical methods needed for both diagnostics as well as basic and translational research in the field of microbiology and microbiome.

ORGB 8028 Basic and Advanced Statistical Methods (3 credit hours)

This course will provide students with an introduction to statistical theory and applied methods, including modeling techniques, to analyze dental data. The course will describe the impact of clustering effects of data points in the oral cavity, correction for design effects, methods of analysis of different dental outcomes and appropriate statistical modeling methods useful in contemporary studies.

ORGB 8029 Behavioral Change Theories and Practice (2 credit hours)

This course will review selected behavioral change theories associated with addressing common behavioral problems such as addiction.

ORGB 8031 Biomaterials (2 credit hours)

Developing materials for use in dentistry and medicine is a challenging interdisciplinary process and requires an understanding of material bulk and surface properties, the various biological responses to materials, the clinical context of their use, manufacturing processes, cost, sterilization, packaging, and regulatory issues. This course is designed to introduce students to the various classes of biomaterials in use, their analysis and regulation, and examination of some of their applications in selected subspecialties of dentistry and medicine.

ORGB 8032 Practical Clinical Practice (3 credit hours)

Students will be assigned as dental assistants, quality evaluators or patient advocates in the Kornberg School of Dentistry dental clinics and specialty clinics.

ORGB 8034 Advanced Practical Clinical Practice (3 credit hours)

Students will continue to be assigned as dental assistants, quality evaluators or patient advocates in the Kornberg School of Dentistry dental clinics and specialty clinics.

ORGB 8035 Introduction to Orthodontics (2 credit hours)

This course is a survey of introductory topics in orthodontics as applied to development, etiology, diagnosis and treatment of oral health conditions.

ORGB 8036 Molecular Technology for Translation to the Dental Clinic (2 credit hours)

Molecular biology research holds great promise for translation to clinical medicine and dentistry. This course is a survey of molecular technology along with its contemporary applications to clinical diagnosis and treatment. The course consists of didactic presentations to review basic concepts and student group discussions to address the importance of new technology for clinical applications, particularly in dentistry.

ORGB 8038 Inflammation and Oral Disease (2 credit hours)

This course will review all aspects of the inflammatory processes and how they relate to pulpal, periapical and periodontal disease. The course topics will include surveys of the cells and the chemical mediators responsible for the inflammatory processes. Additionally, as the primary initiators of the body’s inflammatory systems, organisms comprising the microbial world will be surveyed to define the distinguishing characteristics of different microbiological groups. Finally, the inflammatory manifestations exhibited in oral diseases will be examined.

ORGB 8039 Introduction to Dental Biochemistry and Oral Health Sciences (3 credit hours)

A course designed for Post bac and dental school students. The main lecture part of the course is designed to be a dental introduction to biochemical compounds, processes, and concepts for students in the dental and related health professions. The broad goal of the teaching of introduction to Dental Biochemistry is to make them understand the scientific basis of the life processes at the biochemical and molecular level and to orient them towards the application of the knowledge acquired in solving dental oriented clinical problems.

ORGB 8042 Introduction to Dental Biological and Oral Health Sciences (3 credit hours)

The Introduction to Dental Biological and Oral Health Sciences course is designed for postbaccalaureate and dental school students. It provides students advanced understanding and appreciation of current topics in molecular and cellular biology, while developing skills in critical thinking. The course will provide strong information about application of contemporary biology knowledge and techniques to understand molecular and biological background of human oral health and diseases. Course topics include classical and contemporary issues of biological and molecular techniques related to dental clinics such as stem cells and tissue engineering. The roles of recent progress made in biology and related disciplines in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and oral health issues are examined. In addition, students will gain knowledge in the application of molecular and biological techniques in diagnosis of human oral health and diseases.

*All course descriptions, credit hours and sequence are subject to change.

 

 

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Student Testimonial

“The Postbaccalaureate Program allowed me to strengthen all academic facets of my dental application whilst providing me with a basic understanding of the dental sciences.

The curriculum afforded me the confidence that I now possess to be a competitive dental student both academically and clinically, an invaluable feeling as I approached my first year of dental school.”

John Nuveen
Temple PostBacc ‘17
Temple DMD ‘21
Temple Graduate Program in Orthodontics ‘23

 

 

Test Preparation

Postbaccalaureate students prepare for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) with a Kaplan Career Institute course. Students take dental assisting lecture, lab and online courses to prepare for the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) online certifications that must be completed prior to fall dental assisting clinical placements.

Learn more about the admissions requirements for the Postbaccalaureate Program

Tuition & Fees Postbaccalaureate Program 2024–2025

 

Postbaccalaureate Program

Cost

Tuition for summer, fall and spring semesters combined

$48,451

University Services fee

$1,260

Matriculation fee

$90

Accident Insurance fee

$36

TB testing

$4

Total Tuition and Fees

$49,841

International Student Fee (International Students only)

$364

Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Questions?

David A. Dams, MBA
Director, Office of Admission
Email: