The Vision of the Orthodontic Graduate Program is to:  

• Develop professionals with current and comprehensive knowledge, interested in research, who are capable to respond to the needs of a continuous changing world. 
• Develop credible community and ethical professional leaders, who concentrate on people, rendering quality service in a cost-effective manner. 
• Be recognized in the Orthodontic Profession at the national and international level. 

The mission of the Orthodontic Graduate Program is to:

• Seek educational excellence, which results in a competent graduate able to diagnose and treat a wide diversity of dentofacial disorders with interprofessional  network within an ethical and humanistic context.
• Make available quality orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic services to the community.
• Promote continuous professional development of the faculty and non-teaching personnel.
• Encourage the search of new knowledge by means of continuous education, critical thinking, research and the integration of new technology.

To continually achieve the Graduate Program’s Vision, the member’s of the Orthodontic Graduate Program commit themselves to:

• Be sensitive to the needs of our patients.
• Abide and model the ethical values of our profession respecting the search for truth, justice and freedom.
• A lifelong teaching and learning process, fostering critical thinking, curiosity, creativity and innovation.
• Encourage intellectual curiosity among the residents and promote academic excellence and advancement.
• Value the importance of the inter and multidisciplinary, interprofessional work approach to satisfy the general health needs of the community.
• Strive to act as agents of positive change among the community with a sense of responsibility and commitment with regard to the issues and critical situation in the field of health in the Puertorrican society.
• Work as an enthusiastic team in order to render the highest possible quality of service.

The curriculum is composed of seven main tracks. Most of these tracks maintain continuity through all or part of the program duration.

1. Basic orthodontic subjects - Includes a comprehensive study of orthodontic philosophies, structural knowledge, clinical approaches, history and administration. Emphasis will be given to the diagnosis of different malocclusions and their related disorders, and to the design of adequate evidenced based comprehensive treatment plans for those conditions. The edgewise orthodontic mechanotherapy will be emphasized although other important techniques will also be reviewed in depth.
   
   
2. Basic Biomedical Sciences - Includes basic knowledge necessary to understand the biology and physiology of tooth movement to encourage an optimal quality in orthodontic practice. The basic subjects include anatomy of head and neck, growth and development, pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, embryology, microbiology and oral pathology. The purpose of this track is to allow that all diagnostic and clinical judgements be made upon sound and current basic knowledge of biological and psychological behavior.
   
   
3. Growth and Development - Although may be considered as a basic science, its importance in orthodontics is such that it has been maintained as a track by itself. In this track the student will analyze physical and psychological growth and development from the moment of conception through childhood and into early and late adulthood.
   
   
4. Clinical experience - Clinical courses will provide the opportunity for the post-graduate student to be exposed to supervised clinical application of most orthodontic concepts within an ethical and humanistic context. It is considered the backbone curricular track since it is in this manner that knowledge and experience is passed from instructors to residents. The emphasis of the clinical courses varies from clinical examination and patient history taking to clinical application of accepted mechanotherapies in patients with a diversity of malocclusions and craniofacial malformations. Great emphasis is given to be process of re-analyzing the progress of treatment, identifying and interpreting deviations from original treatment objectives as conceived initially in the diagnostic and treatment planning phase. All patients are expected to be treated to the American Board of Orthodontics standards.
   
   
5. Comprehensive patient treatment - This track will expose the post- graduate student to concepts and strategies on how to handle patients with other professionals in the dental, medical and other fields. Interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment planning of patients with conditions requiring surgical, periodontal, prosthetic, and restorative or any other dental, medical or related concurrent therapies will be discussed and conducted in an ethical manner through academic interactions specifically designed for such purposes.
   
   
6. Research - Basic skills in inquisitive thinking and techniques on how to conduct and report original research projects will be taught. The student is required to write a paper based on their research work and submit it for publication in a recognized peer reviewed journal. Post-graduate students are required to complete this process until the scientific paper or a thesis is submitted and approved by the Master’s Committee.
   
   
7. Elective courses - A variety of courses on related matters are either offered or allowed. This track has been designed to allow the student to incorporate individual areas of interest into his/her academic experience.

All candidates to the Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics must comply with the following requirements:

1. A degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), or equivalent
2. from an accredited dental school.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended and photocopies of the diplomas or certificates received. Candidates accepted should present the originals upon admission to the program.
4. Must have passed the first and second part of the National Dental Boards prior to beginning the
5. program.
6. A personal interview.
7. Must be fluent in English and Spanish.
8. Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)
9. Foreing Candidates must present evidence of approval of the TOEFL exam when applying to The Program.
10. $60.00 application fee

University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine-Orthodontics

Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine
Medical Sciences Campus
Main Building-Office #A103B, 1st Floor
San Juan
00936-5067

https://dental.rcm.upr.edu/
Program Director: Dr. Jose Angel Morales Diaz
Discipline Code: ORTHO
Accreditation Status: Approval without Reporting Requirements
Last Accreditation Visit: 2020
Next Accreditation Visit: 2027