The M.M.Sc./Certificate in Orthodontics is directed toward the development of clinician-scholars whose career goals involve clinical teaching, research, and patient care. Students satisfy didactic and clinical specialty certificate requirements and have additional course requirements distributed among oral biology, biostatistics, and basic medical sciences. The program fosters innovation and advances the orthodontic specialty through cutting-edge clinical and translational research in areas that include 3D imaging, virtual planning, custom appliances, and clear aligners therapy. A written research proposal, prepared in the format of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, is required, along with research experience, culminating in the preparation and defense of a thesis.
The goal of the D.M.Sc./Certificate in Orthodontics is to develop clinical scholars in oral biology and to prepare individuals for careers as independent investigators in translational and clinical research related to problems in oral health. The program is geared to individuals with dental degrees who are preparing for full-time academic careers. Although the clinical requirements of the certificate training program remain the same regardless of the degree pursued, for DMSc candidates the course requirements and the depth of the research experience are substantially greater, consistent with the expectations for a Harvard doctoral-level research degree.