The Department of Orofacial Sciences (OFS) focuses on diagnosis and treatment of localized and systemic oral diseases and developmental conditions, and advancing knowledge about them.
OFS Includes the Divisions of Craniofacial Anomalies, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Periodontology
Education
The Department of Orofacial Sciences (OFS) teaches the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, developmental conditions, and craniofacial disorders. Students receive broad exposure to oral medicine, pathology, radiology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, and craniofacial anomalies. Training emphasizes cross-disciplinary approaches and strong integration with the School of Dentistry and the medical campus.
Postgraduate programs are offered in Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, and Oral Medicine. Most residents pursue an MS in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences alongside clinical training, and PhD pathways are also available for students interested in research careers.
The full-time, 35-month Postgraduate Program in Orthodontics provides a balanced education with a strong emphasis in active clinical experience, didactics and research.
UCSF offers a three-year specialty certificate program in Pediatric Dentistry with the option to pursue an MS or PhD in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.
The Postgraduate Program in Periodontology is a full-time, 36-month course of study that balances a didactic portion with clinical training. Students also complete a research project that culminates in a thesis suitable for publication.
UCSF's Postgraduate Program in Oral Medicine is a full-time, 36-month residency, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, leading to a certificate in oral medicine. The program's main goal is to train residents for either a full-time or part-time career in academic settings as an oral medicine specialist
Students in OFS train in specialty clinics focused on oral medicine, oral pathology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, and craniofacial anomalies. These centers provide state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of oral and craniofacial conditions and serve as core teaching sites.
Research in OFS
OFS research spans oral mucosal and salivary gland diseases, HIV-related oral conditions, oral cancer, xerostomia, and Sjögren’s Syndrome. Additional projects explore periodontal diagnostics, craniofacial growth and function, imaging innovations, neuromuscular interactions, and outcomes in interdisciplinary craniofacial care. Studies of enamel and dentin development also support emerging work in tooth-structure tissue engineering and the study of conditions such as fluorosis and amelogenesis imperfecta.
Contact our department chair
Effie Ioannidou, DMD, MDSc Department Chair UCSF School of Dentistry Box 0422 513 Parnassus Ave., 612B San Francisco, CA 94143 effie.ioannidou@ucsf.edu
