Orthodontics

Get advanced education in orthodontics

Contact us

Program director: Dr. Scott Conley

Office of Graduate Education
1121 West Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
  • Phone: 317-274-8408
  • Email: dsgrad@iu.edu

The Indiana University School of Dentistry’s Graduate Orthodontics Program is designed to prepare you for a career as an orthodontist. As you work toward a Master of Science in Dentistry degree, you will:

  • Develop an appreciation of optimal occlusion in the broadest sense with special considerations given to function, stability, and esthetics
  • Gain a thorough knowledge of the dento-facial complex with reference to anatomical structure, variation, and growth and development, and their demonstration by analytical methods
  • Develop an awareness of soft and hard tissue changes during growth and repair and understand the response of these tissues to local and systemic influences, including mechanical therapy
  • Acquire an understanding of the principles and materials involved in the biomechanics of treatment and proficiency in the techniques involved

Upon completion of the two-year program, you’ll be ready for clinical practice or teaching positions in the field of orthodontics. 

About the Master of Science in Dentistry degree program

The Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degree and a clinical certificate are awarded upon completion of required didactic and clinical coursework, oral and written qualifying exams, and a research project culminating in a thesis or journal manuscript. This is a combined degree/certificate program; the school does not offer the option to earn only a clinical certificate.

The M.S.D. program starts the first week of July each year; students may not enter the program in the spring semester. If you are an international student, you must arrive on campus at the end of May to complete the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) placement test.

View the degree requirements

Core competencies

If you successfully complete the program, you will be able to demonstrate competency in these areas.

You will be able to:

  • Correctly identify dental and skeletal problems and discrepancies that contribute to malocclusion
  • Correctly classify malocclusion
  • Select, place, and activate appropriate appliances to treat malocclusion
  • Describe the relationship between material characteristics and clinical performance of orthodontic biomaterials
  • Explain the force load the appliances place on the dentition
  • Use patient management software and imaging software correctly
  • Identify the need and timing of interdisciplinary care
  • Identify the effects of growth and development of malocclusion

You will be able to:

  • Draw upon evidence-based research to select and justify appropriate treatment methods and biomaterials
  • Formulate a hypothesis and design methods to solve a problem

You will be able to:

  • Effectively present appropriate treatment plans in written and oral formats to patients and referring dentists
  • Explain research results correctly in oral and written formats
  • Provide appropriate patient education concerning the need for applicances, the care of appliances, and the effect of diet and hygiene on the dentition

How to apply

You will use the American Dental Education Association Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS) to apply for admission to the program.

The application deadline is August 1 each year.

Learn how to apply

Costs and financial aid

M.S.D. students pay an annual flat rate for tuition. The rate varies based on your residency classification (whether you’re considered an in-state or out-of-state student). Other costs include university fees and instrument rental or purchase.

Federal student loans are available to qualified students. A limited number of small scholarships are awarded by academic departments.

Learn more about costs and financial aid

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