U of A periodontics program receives second accreditation

The periodontics team

After receiving full accreditation in 2020 from the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) — and being recognized by the American Dental Association — the MSc periodontology program at the School of Dentistry has now received its second accreditation.

Periodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with diseases and conditions of the surrounding tissues and bones of the teeth. Residents receive specialized training in gum surgeries, dental implants and bone-related surgeries.

Each professional program at the university goes through an accreditation cycle in which teaching, operations, clinic structure and student experience are evaluated. The second accreditation is mandatory after three years.

Program co-directors Monica Gibson and Doug Dederich led the accreditation process.

“We value the process of accreditation to ensure the quality of our education is at par with the national standards. We received great feedback on how our patient-management system is organized to provide efficient patient care. Accreditation takes an entire team. We have a great team and structure in place to create an excellent learning culture for our graduate students as well as a valuable patient care centre for those in need,” says Gibson.

“Accreditation validates the hard work that goes into planning and implementing a world-class curriculum in the field of periodontics,” adds program administrator Deniz Ozgan.

The MSc program takes three years to complete. Students reside in Edmonton and gain clinical experience working with patients in the school’s Oral Health Clinic. The PhD program combines the same clinical training with additional courses in research and normally takes six years.

“Our mission is to train and educate the next generation of periodontists to become excellent care providers, lifelong learners, critical thinkers, researchers and educators,” says Ozgan.

“If you’re interested in the field of periodontics, we’d love to see you apply.”

Applications for both programs open on May 1.