University of California San Francisco
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences
The Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences (PRDS) conducts multidisciplinary instruction, research, and patient care programs through its seven divisions: Behavioral Sciences and Community Dental Education, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Clinical General Dentistry, Endodontics, Oral Epidemiology and Dental Public Health, Pre-Clinical Simulation, and Prosthodontics.
PRDS education program
Predoctoral education
The department provides pre-clinical and clinical instruction on campus and in community clinics. A key element of the DDS curriculum is the four-year Successful Dental Practice sequence, which brings together behavioral sciences, ethics, public health, clinical care, and practice management in an integrated format.
Postgraduate and residency programs
Advanced training includes a three-year Prosthodontics residency, and a two-year Endodontics residency. The department also offers postgraduate education in Dental Public Health and Epidemiology through collaboration with UC Berkeley, including pathways that combine specialty training with a PhD.
Prosthodontics
UCSF's 36-month Postgraduate Program in Prosthodontics is accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Upon successful completion of the residency, graduates receive a certificate and meet the requirements for examination by the American Board of Prosthodontics.
Endodontics
UCSF's Postgraduate Program in Endodontics is a full-time, 24-month residency. Upon completion, graduates are awarded a certificate in endodontics and are educationally qualified for board certification by the American Board of Endodontics.
Dental Public Health
UCSF's Postgraduate Program in Dental Public Health prepares residents to become board certified by the American Board of Dental Public Health and for careers in public health. Dentists with a Master in Public Health (MPH) or equivalent degree can enroll in a 12-month full-time, supervised program of field experiences, academic courses, and opportunities for practical experience.
Clinical training and facilities
PRDS pre-clinical and clinical educational programs operate within the laboratories and clinics of the dental facilities on Parnassus campus and through the school's satellite facilities.
The postprofessional specialty clinic in graduate prosthodontics is located on Parnassus campus.
Research opportunities
Scientific and clinical research in PRDS spans basic, translational, and clinical work, including studies in dental materials, pulp biology, laser applications, caries prevention, and the psychology of temporomandibular disorders. Students may participate in projects that explore how oral diseases develop, how care is delivered across populations, and how prevention can be integrated into practice.
In the domains of public health and behavioral science research, our faculty conduct clinical trials and epidemiologic studies on oral disease patterns, provider behaviors, barriers to preventive care, and tobacco-use prevention. Collaborative work with community partners and insurers supports the development of new preventive and nonsurgical approaches to managing dental caries.
Contact our department chair
Kent L. Knoernschild, DMD, MS, FACP
Leland and Gladys Barber Distinguished Professorship in Dentistry
Department Chair
707 Parnassus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94143-0758
kent.knoernschild@ucsf.edu