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Dental Public Health Certificate (Graduate)

Graduate Certificate in Dental Public Health

Train to prevent and control dental diseases and promote oral health through organized community efforts with the Dental Public Health Graduate Certificate from Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry. This residency program allows you to explore various community programs and initiatives necessary to promote oral health and prevent and control dental diseases, such as

  • assessments of oral health status and need for care,
  • program evaluations to achieve community health goals, and
  • use of scientific knowledge to influence oral health policy.

Kornberg’s location on Temple Health Sciences Center in North Philadelphia affords students in the Dental Public Health Graduate Certificate program ample opportunities for research and field experience. Students will learn to evaluate and tackle an expansive range of dental public health issues presented in the surrounding patient population and in target communities served by our affiliated organizations. 

The program will also provide residents with the educational preparation needed to

  • become eligible to take and pass the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH) and achieve diplomate status;
  • design, conduct and lead dental public health research projects; and
  • practice dental public health.

This certificate program adheres to the guidelines of the ABDPH and is designed to allow dentists with the Master of Public Health to complete the educational requirements for board certification as a specialist in dental public health.

The DPH Residency will start on July 1st, 2024. Candidates applying to the DPH program are also invited to apply for conditional early acceptance to the Temple AEGD 1-year program. Interested applicants in the DPH/AEGD track, should submit applications to both programs independently as described in the website by October 1, 2023, to be considered for the 2024-2026 cycle.

Classes & Curriculum

The Dental Public Health Graduate Certificate can be completed on either a full- or part-time basis. Students enrolled full time typically take one year to complete the certificate, while students enrolled part time can take two to three years to graduate.

The program curriculum is designed so that students come to understand not just the science, but also the art behind preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting oral and general health through various community efforts.

Courses you will take during your studies include

  • Administration in Dental Public Health,
  • Epidemiology and Prevention of Oral Diseases,
  • Planning and Evaluating Field Experience in Dental Public Health, and
  • Research in Dental Public Health.

Learn more about Dental Public Health Graduate Certificate courses.

Temple dentist and student discussing the screened image of a mouth in a dental school clinic.

Related Professional Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Internships & Opportunities

Students pursuing the Dental Public Health Graduate Certificate must complete a field experience with one of Kornberg Dental’s affiliated organizations. 

National Public Health Meetings

Residents are encouraged to attend the American Public Health Association and American Dental Public Health Association annual meetings to expand their knowledge and take advantage of networking opportunities. The program will make resources available so that all residents may attend.

Careers

Graduates from the Dental Public Health Graduate Certificate residency program are prepared to continue on in their professional careers as dentists, though they’re also equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to become 

  • administrators,
  • educators and
  • policymakers.

Career Services

Through the Office of Student Affairs, students pursuing careers in dentistry can get counseling and support during their tenure at Kornberg and after they graduate. The office regularly hosts career events and guest speakers covering a wide range of topics including

  • corporate and private practice careers,
  • debt management,
  • general practice residencies,
  • military service, and
  • specialty education.

Once enrolled in the program, you will receive regular notifications about career opportunities. Additionally, the school provides an updated list of job opportunities for dental professionals across the U.S.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Certificate in Endodontics offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. 

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

Program Contact

Marisol Tellez Merchán, associate professor and chair of the Department of Oral Health Sciences at the Kornberg School of Dentistry, is the graduate program director for the Dental Public Health program.
Phone: 215-707-1773
Email:

Accreditation

The program in Dental Public Health is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation [and has been granted the accreditation status of “accreditation with reporting requirements”]. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is https://coda.ada.org/.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation has accredited the program in Dental Public Health. However, accreditation of the program does not in itself constitute recognition of any dental specialty status.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or residents. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission's policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1-800-621-8099 extension 4653.

Additional Program Information