Program Requirements
The Ph.D. in Oral Health Sciences provides training for health science researchers in advanced research in oral health problems. It will build upon an approach to scholarly knowledge that embraces discipline specific training in tandem with an understanding on one’s position in research and possibilities for collaboration.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (9 Credits)
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DENT 663 Principles of Health Research (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : Research topics and methodology, including critical thinking and evaluating evidence, scientific responsibilities, academic integrity, scientific writing, and publishing basics.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kaartinen, Mari Tuulia; Martel, Marc; Quaiattini, Andrea; Kengne Talla, Pascaline (Fall)
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken DENT 563.
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DENT 664 Health Research Communications (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : Practical training in written and oral communication skills for biomedical sciences and oral health research.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Martel, Marc; Kengne Talla, Pascaline (Winter)
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DENT 665 Leadership and Management Skills in Research (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : Introduction to leadership theory, models and practice, as well as the development of project and time management skills, resource allocation, team and consensus building.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Only open to students enrolled in the MSc Dental Sciences (Thesis), MSc Dental Sciences (Non-Thesis) or the Faculty of Dentistry's PhD program, or with permission of instructor.
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DENT 671D1 Advanced Research Seminar (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : Topics in current research in Oral Health Sciences.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Zimmermann, Elizabeth (Fall)
Students must register for both DENT 671D1 and DENT 671D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both DENT 671D1 and DENT 671D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
DENT 671D1 and DENT 671D2 together are equivalent to DENT 671
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DENT 671D2 Advanced Research Seminar (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : See DENT 671D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Zimmermann, Elizabeth (Winter)
Prerequisite: DENT 671D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both DENT 671D1 and DENT 671D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
DENT 671D1 and DENT 671D2 together are equivalent to DENT 671
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DENT 700 Comprehensive Exam Skills (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : Preparation for the written and oral comprehensive exam by formulating research proposals, conducting literature reviews and developing an oral presentation on the thesis topic. Emphasis will be placed on small group peer-to-peer feedback and mock examinations.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Kaartinen, Mari Tuulia (Fall) Kaartinen, Mari Tuulia (Winter)
Restriction: Only open to students enrolled in the Faculty of Dentistry Ph.D. program.
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DENT 701 PhD Comprehensive Examination
Overview
Dentistry : The comprehensive exam will consist of two parts: the first part (written) will demonstrate the candidate's skills in writing a research proposal. The second part (oral) will confirm that the candidate understands all aspects of the protocol.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Kaartinen, Mari Tuulia (Fall) Kaartinen, Mari Tuulia (Winter)
Prerequisite: DENT 700
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DENT 786 Foundations in Oral Health Science (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Overview of foundational ideas in oral health science. Focus on philosophy of science (for basic science, clinical and patient care, community, population and public health). Exploration of the knowledge production cycle (e.g., from basic science to bedside care to population health, and back). Research methodologies and methods, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, knowledge translation and research ethics.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Vachon-Presseau, Etienne; Zimmermann, Elizabeth (Winter)
Restriction(s): Open to students enrolled in the Faculty of Dentistry's Ph.D. in Oral Health Sciences. Other students require permission of the instructors.
Complementary Courses (6-12 credits)
* 6-12 credits from the following:
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DENT 504 Biomaterials and Bioperformance (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Biological and synthetic biomaterials, medical devices, and the issues related to their bioperformance. The physicochemical characteristics of biomaterials in relation to their biocompatibility and sterilization.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Tabrizian, Maryam (Winter)
Restrictions: Graduate and final year undergraduates from physical, biological, medical and dental sciences, and engineering.
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DENT 610 Introduction to Craniofacial Research (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Conducting craniofacial research projects using animal models, including molecular genetics as well as methodologies commonly used in a laboratory performing craniofacial research, generating and analyzing animal models, and performing comparative studies of multiple craniofacial anomalies in humans and animal models.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Registration priority will be given to students enrolled in a graduate program in Dentistry. Students from other departments may register with permission from the instructor.
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DENT 654 Mechanisms and Management of Pain (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Presentation of the neurobiology of pain and analgesia, clinical pain conditions, basic and applied research methods in the study of pain, and the theory and practice of pain management. The course is designed for graduate students interested in pain mechanisms and clinical residents interested in pain management.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Martel, Marc; Velly, Ana Miriam (Fall)
Restriction: Open to all health professionals
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DENT 669 Extracellular Matrix Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Advanced topics on extracellular matrix biology with emphasis on matrix molecules and their effects on cell communication, tissue structure and integrity.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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DENT 681 Readings in Dentistry and Health Research 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Dentistry : Advanced readings in student's area of research.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructors.
Restriction(s): Open to students enrolled in a graduate program at the Faculty of Dentistry. In some circumstances, it may be opened to students from another Faculty.
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DENT 682 Readings in Dentistry and Health Research 2 (2 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Advanced readings in student's area of research.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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DENT 683 Readings in Dentistry and Health Research 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Advanced readings in student's area of research.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructors.
Restriction(s): Open to students enrolled in a graduate program at the Faculty of Dentistry. In some circumstances, it may be opened to students from another Faculty.
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DENT 685 Theory of Dental Public Health (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Theory and principles of public health, as applied to the concepts and determinants of oral health and disease, oral disease prevention and health promotion, dental care delivery systems and professional issues related to dental care delivery.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Allison, Paul J; Bedos, Christophe (Fall)
Restriction(s): Only open to graduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Dentistry
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DENT 688 Bone Mechanobiology
(3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Foundational theories in mechanobiology in the context of skeletal tissues (namely, bone, growth plate cartilage, and periodontal tissues). Brief introduction to structure- function relations in bone, mechanical strain, and fluid flow. Emphasis is placed on the concepts of bone adaptation to biomechanical loading patterns, mechanobiology at the tissue level and mechanotransduction at the cellular level. Research methodologies and applications to disease are discussed.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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DENT 706 Advanced Seminar in Qualitative Health Research (3 credits)
Overview
Dentistry : Advanced examination of qualitative research in health disciplines include an in-depth discussion of dominant qualitative research methodologies - particularly grounded theory, phenomenology/hermeneutics and ethnography - as well as a review of data collection techniques. Each qualitative methodology and technique will be examined from the perspective of a) their underlying philosophical paradigms (i.e.,epistemological and ontological premises), as well as b) their pertinence to health phenomena.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Priority will be given to Dental students enrolled in the Ad Hoc Ph.D. program.
Prerequisite(s): Students must have completed at least 1 qualitative research course prior to enrolling in this course AND permission of instructors.
* The number of Complementary credits each student must take is determined with their supervisor, depending on the student's background.
Note: Courses at the 500 level or higher in other departments can be chosen in consultation with their supervisors and the program director.
