Endodontics Residency
This 24 month program is designed to train clinically proficient endodontists who are prepared to enter private practice. This program emphasizes clinical training at the specialist level in surgical and nonsurgical endodontics. The didactic portion of the program is structured to prepare the endodontic resident for examination by the American Board of Endodontics. Three residents are accepted each year. Graduates of the program receive a certificate and a MSD degree.
The program is accredited by The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. View all School of Dentistry accreditation information.
Program Goal
The primary purpose of the program is to produce proficient endodontic clinicians who are also capable of research and teaching.
Program Objectives
- Produce highly qualified clinicians capable of practice, teaching and/or research in the specialty of endodontics.
- Prepare residents to successfully participate in the American Board of Endodontics certification process.
- Provide quality endodontic care for patients.
- Produce graduates that are happy with their education and as alumni take pride in their program.
Endodontic Program Resident Time Commitment
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| Didactic Instruction (includes case review, literature review, textbook review, multidisciplinary conferences, courses outside the department) | 25% |
| Clinical patient care | 55 % |
| Teaching (pre-doctoral and preclinical) | 10 % |
| Research | 10 % |
Clinical Patient Care
Each resident is generally assigned to patient care six half-days per week. Initially first-year residents treat one patient per clinic session. As the resident becomes more familiar with their operatory, becomes more efficient, and develops competency in the different areas of endodontics, they may proceed to having two patients scheduled each clinic session. Additionally, emergency patients are “worked in” or added to the schedule. Each resident has their own operatory with microscope, ASI cart, rotary instruments, Calamus and/or System B, ultrasonics, etc. A separate surgical operatory is also used for the residents’ surgical endodontic procedures.
The post-graduate endodontic program is fortunate to have a long history of a large patient population. A significant number of private practice dentists refer their patients to the program for endodontic treatment and the patient returns to their dentist for the final restoration. This provides the resident with significant experience in interaction with their referring dentist. The program is also a significant provider of endodontic services to Medicaid patients throughout the state of Kentucky and to patients at the School of Dentistry. 400 + completed cases during the residency is not an unusual accomplishment in this program. The School of Dentistry also has specialty programs in periodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, and orthodontics. This provides each resident experience with interaction and referrals from each of these specialty programs.
Each resident participates in teaching in the pre-doctoral clinic approximately ½ day per week. Residents also teach in the two week condensed pre-doctoral preclinical course known as Root Camp. Additionally each resident “teaches” their peers and faculty by giving a Powerpoint lecture on literature/textbook chapters approximately every 6 weeks. This provides significant experience in presenting to seminar/type groups and referring clinicians.
Take a virtual tour of the School of Dentistry by clicking here.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must hold either the DDS or DMD degree. Other course work may be required as individualized programs are developed by the faculty to meet the specific needs of each student.
Those applying for the Graduate Endodontics Program are encouraged to have at least one year of experience in general dentistry, i.e.; private practice, member of the Armed Forces, Public Health Service, or an AGD/GPR experience. However, this is not absolutely necessary. We do not require a GRE exam score for admission.
International Applicants
We require the following:
- Official Course-by-Course Evaluation Report from ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.), P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203-3470-USA - http://www.ece.org
- National Board scores are preferred but not required. If there is an equivalent exam from the country of origin, that may be acceptable.
- Official report of TOEFL examination results
All applicants for whom English is a second language must take the iBT TOEFL examination to provide evidence of proficiency in written and spoken English. Applications for the examination may be obtained from:
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Education Testing Service
Princeton, NJ 08540
Application Process
To apply to the Graduate Endodontics Program, please complete an application via the Postgraduate Service (PASS) through the American Dental Association, which allows you to apply to more than one program at a time.
Once accepted into the Graduate Endodontics Program, a separate graduate school application for a MS degree must be submitted on-line.
Dr. Kent Sabey
Program Director, Postgraduate Endodontics
University of Louisville School of Dentistry
501 South Preston St.
Room 308
Louisville, KY 40292
Vacant
Administrative Assistant, Endodontics Program
University of Louisville School of Dentistry
501 South Preston Street
Room 312
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
(502) 852-4325
Tuition & Fees
There is a fee assessed each semester of enrollment, based on the full-time graduate student tuition at the University of Louisville. This fee is determined each year and therefore subject to change. For 2024-2025, the fee structure (per program year) is:
- In-state tuition/fees (2024-2025): $25,336 per year*
- Out-of-state tuition/fees (2024-2025): $40,754 per year*
*These figures include $3,103 for health insurance premiums, which can be waived with proof of similar coverage.
The above tuition and fees will change every year based on the state budget and the Board of Trustees.
A $500 non-refundable fee, which is deducted from the yearly assessment, is also required upon acceptance into the program.
For more information about total cost of attendance, visit the University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office Cost of Attendance (COA) page.
Financial Aid
Information on financial aid is available from the Graduate School site.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a GPR/AEGD/private practice experience required to apply?
It is not required, but it is strongly encouraged. Clinical experience as a general dentist is valuable for anyone contemplating specialty training. - Do you require the GRE?
No.
TOEFL?
TOEFL is required for those applicants for whom English is a second language. - Does the program lead to an endodontic certificate/master’s degree?
Yes, residents earn both a certificate and a MSD degree. - Do you accept international applicants?
Yes, internationally trained dentists whose credentials are equivalent to a US/Canada DDS or DMD degree are eligible to apply to the program. - How many positions are there?
We accept three residents each year.
How many usually apply?
In the most recent year, the program had 85 applicants. - What does the admissions committee value most when evaluating applicants?
Some of the criteria that are reviewed by the admissions committee include: academic standing and performance during dental education, clinical/practice experience, successful completion of National Board examinations, letters of recommendation, teaching experience, etc. - Does an applicant have to be in the top 10% of their class?
No.
Is there a minimum GPA?
No. There are no set standards for academic performance. However, the program is very competitive. The overall application is evaluated including letters of recommendation, clinical experience, research experience and history of GPR/AEGD/private practice. - I applied last year. Do I need to reapply?
You can transfer information from your application from last year through PASS. If your transcript or National Board scores or letters of recommendation need to be updated, please be sure to submit those through PASS. - Are applicants accepted who have not trained at the University of Louisville?
Yes. In the past 10 years, approximately 50% of graduates of this program were also University of Louisville School of Dentistry graduates. - Do you have any information material about the program you can send me?
Important program information is available on our website. If you peruse the entire The University of Louisville Endodontics and College of Dentistry websites, you will get an idea of the atmosphere here in Louisville and on campus.
Dr. Kent Sabey Named Program Director for Endodontics Residency Program
In January 2022, Dr. Kent Sabey moved into the role of endodontics post-graduate program director. Dr. Sabey has an extensive curriculum vitae, previously serving as a United States Air Force endodontist, and is a former faculty member and endodontic program director at Louisiana State University. He is Board-certified with the American Board of Endodontics, where he currently serves as a Director and Treasurer. The previous program director, Dr. Stephen Clark, remains on the faculty as he begins a phased retirement. More About Dr. Sabey
ULSD Endodontics Resident Featured by American Association of Endodontists
Dr. Ilse Longerich, a first-year endodontic resident at ULSD, spoke with The Paper Point’s Dr. Moein Sadrkhani about her journey to endo, her military service, and her passion for horseback riding and rodeo. Read Article
