College of Dentistry expands specialty training with new periodontology program

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Dentistry is continuing to expand its advanced education and clinical training with the launch of Saskatchewan’s only graduate specialty program in periodontology.

The three-year Master of Science program will welcome its first students in fall 2027, providing advanced specialty education in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, including contemporary regenerative and mucogingival surgery. The program will also have a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary treatment planning and research.

Applications for the inaugural class are now open and will close Dec. 31, 2026. Admission will be highly competitive, with three positions available each year to qualified Canadian and international applicants.

The addition of a graduate program in periodontology marks another significant step in the continued growth of the College of Dentistry and its evolution as a comprehensive oral health institution encompassing education, research, advanced clinical training and patient care.

“This is an exciting addition to the College of Dentistry and another important milestone in our continued growth,” said Dr. Walter Siqueira, dean of the USask College of Dentistry. “The periodontology program will allow us to provide advanced specialty training here in Saskatchewan while strengthening the clinical expertise, research and comprehensive oral health care that define our college.”

Advanced specialty training at USask

Periodontology is the dental specialty focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions affecting the supporting and surrounding tissues (gums and bone) of teeth and dental implants.

Periodontists are trained to manage complex and advanced periodontal cases, including patients whose medical histories can complicate treatment. Their expertise also includes maintenance of natural dentition, dental implant therapy, regenerative procedures and cosmetic periodontal procedures.

The new USask program will combine advanced coursework, intensive clinical practice and thesis-based research in an immersive specialty training environment.

Students will participate in evidence-based seminars, supervised clinical care and original research designed to translate advances in periodontal science into patient care. Throughout the three-year program, residents will develop their clinical judgment, critical appraisal skills and ethical decision-making while gaining progressively advanced experience in periodontology and implantology.

“Our goal is to educate highly skilled specialists who are exceptional clinicians and who also understand the importance of research and evidence-based practice in advancing patient care,” said Dr. Francisco Otero-Cagide, chair of the graduate periodontology program. “Graduates will be prepared to manage complex periodontal cases, contribute new knowledge to the profession and help advance periodontal care in Canada and beyond.”

 Training in a collaborative oral health environment

Periodontology students will train in the College of Dentistry’s integrated facility alongside students in doctor of dental medicine, dental hygiene, dental therapy and dental assisting programs.

That environment provides an opportunity for students to learn and practice within a college that brings multiple oral health professions together in one academic and clinical setting.

“Periodontology is an important addition to the comprehensive oral health institution we are building at USask,” Siqueira said. “Bringing specialty education into an environment where different oral health professions learn, conduct research and provide patient care creates opportunities for collaboration that will ultimately benefit the patients and communities we serve.”

Students will also train in the college’s newly renovated clinical and pre-clinical facilities, using advanced simulation technology, digital imaging systems and modern treatment units.

The combination of specialty education, research and advanced clinical facilities is intended to prepare graduates for practice in Saskatchewan, across Canada and internationally.

Combining clinical care and research

Research will be a significant component of the new program.

The Master of Science in periodontology requires a minimum of 147 credit units over three years, including advanced coursework in periodontology and implantology, extensive clinical education, graduate seminars and thesis-based research.

Students will undertake original research and complete a thesis and thesis defence, helping develop the skills needed to critically evaluate emerging evidence, technologies and approaches to periodontal treatment.

The program is designed to prepare graduates to pursue the National Dental Specialty Examination administered by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada, the Fellowship Examination of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and the Diplomate Examination of the American Board of Periodontology.

 Applications open September 1^st for fall 2027

Dentists interested in advanced specialty training can now apply for the inaugural fall 2027 class.

Applicants must have completed a minimal of four-year doctor of dental medicine (DMD) or doctor of dental surgery (DDS) program from a college or university recognized by USask.

Admission requirements include a cumulative weighted entrance average of at least 70 per cent during the final two years of study, a statement of academic intent and an up-to-date curriculum vitae. Additionally, recommendation letters are required.

At least one year of experience with dental practice and procedures before entering the program is preferred but not required.

Only three students will be admitted each year, creating a small-cohort specialty training environment with significant clinical, academic and research components.

“The first students to enter this program will have a unique opportunity to be part of something new at USask,” Siqueira said. “We look forward to welcoming our inaugural class and seeing the impact these graduates will have as specialists, researchers and future leaders in oral health.”

Applications for the fall 2027 master of science in periodontology program close Dec. 31, 2026. Visit the USask College of Dentistry website College of Dentistry | University of Saskatchewan  for complete admission requirements and application information.