Graduate courses leading to the Master of Science degree are designed for dentists who qualify and wish to prepare for specialized private practice, for teaching and research, or for service with a department of hospital dentistry. The length of the program is 30 months. Each group is accepted for the first term of the academic year starting in July.

Facilities for the first year of study are located in Ann Arbor at the School of Dentistry and at University Hospital. Candidates spend the second year at the Mott Children's Health Center and at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, and return weekly to Ann Arbor to follow orthodontic patients. The final six months of the program are devoted to advanced patient care activities, clinical teaching assignments, and presentation of a research thesis. The advanced education program in pediatric dentistry is constructed to reflect the role of the pediatric dentist in a contemporary environment.

The general goals of the program are to provide the intellectual skills in applying the scientific method to solve problems in a rational and scientific manner. The student will use computer-aided bibliographic search strategies to identify pertinent literature and then locate information to assist in patient diagnosis and treatment. A second major goal is to provide training in orthodontics in order to apply appropriate appliances to manage selected dental malocclusions. Third, the student will be directly involved in two hospital based, pediatric patient care systems at the University and in Flint. Finally, the student will be assisted in defining an area of intellectual activity where new knowledge is needed. A research project will be devised and the student will carry through an area of original research in preparation of a thesis.

The major objectives of the program are to:

• Develop the ability to direct the child’s behavior during dental treatment and the child-parent relationship as they relate to oral health.
• Obtain mastery of the operative, orthodontic, and other procedures for the primary, mixed, and immature permanent dentition.
• Secure clinical experience in hospital protocol and the dental treatment of impaired children who require special care.
• Learn to practice scientifically-based therapy for pulpally involved teeth.
• Manage any condition affecting teeth that have been traumatized.
• Secure the background for diagnosing and treating dental problems of growth, development, and health that require special skills and training for proper treatment.
• Master sufficient critically appraised information to devise an adequate program of oral health and institute all proven preventive measures.
• Gain knowledge and experience in the physical appraisal of developing child related to normal growth, chronic illness, and debilitating conditions.
• Develop knowledge of investigative procedures and the evaluation of scientific reporting of original data.
• Be able to use pharmacological agents for managing the health, safety, and behavior of normal and handicapped children and adolescents for whom special care is required during dental treatment.
• Guide and work efficiently with auxiliaries during dental treatment of children and adolescents.
• Supervise and teach undergraduate students in clinical pediatric dentistry, present case histories, lead seminars and attend teaching rounds at any of the educational facilities or hospitals.
• Develop leadership skills to interact with peers and community based health care programs as an advocate for children’s oral health.

So that the special needs of individual students may be considered, course selection will be made after consulting with the program director. To complete the program of study, original investigation of some problem pertinent to the practice of pediatric dentistry must be reported in a thesis.