Program Description
The University of Washington Graduate Prosthodontics program is a CODA accredited 3-year residency training program. The program includes instruction in Fixed Prosthodontics, Removable Prosthodontics, Implant Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics. Students completing the program are awarded a Certificate in Prosthodontics and a Master of Science in Dentistry. The Master of Science in Dentistry degree (MSD) requires planning, executing and defending an acceptable research project in addition to the didactic and clinical prosthodontic training.
The program in prosthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commisson is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60611. Commission’s web address.
Program Goals and Objectives
- To produce prosthodontists who demonstrate proficiency in diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment of Prosthodontic patients. This objective is in accordance with the UW-SOD mission statement and criteria set forth by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
- To produce prosthodontists who demonstrate proficiency in the management of patients requiring interdisciplinary treatment planning and treatment, and long-term supportive therapy.
- To teach the resident how to evaluate the dental literature for evidence-based conclusions and to apply this to the clinical practice of Prosthodontics.
- To thoroughly prepare residents to successfully challenge the American Board of Prosthodontics to achieve board certification.
- To produce prosthodontists who generate, disseminate, and preserve knowledge, and who serve the community and the specialty.
- To produce prosthodontists who have experience in research methodology.
About Interim Director John A. Sorensen DMD, PhD, FACP
Dr. Sorensen’s Research Goal – To develop a completely digital workflow for implant surgical-prosthodontics.
Upon joining the University of Washington, Sorensen’s goal was to convert the analog All-on-4 protocol used by his ClearChoice team to develop a completely digital workflow. He then created the B4T Research Laboratory bringing together world-class academicians, dental technologists and engineers. The B4T team is actively engaged in materials science investigation, developing new diagnostic and analysis tools, R&D of digital workflows for conventional prosthodontics and clinical trials.
Along with B4T clinicians and technicians pursuing the revolutionary aim of a completely digital workflow for implant surgical-prosthodontics, Dr. Sorensen has mentored a number of our UW Grad Prosth residents for their MSD research projects that have contributed to this path of development of a completely digital workflow. The UW Prosthodontic residents have won numerous research grants and research competitions from the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics, Academy of Prosthodontists and the American College of Prosthodontists.
All of the UW Grad Prosthodontics faculty including recently retired Director, Dr. Van Ramos, and Drs. Chen, Chung, Niaki, Schwedhelm, Sorensen, Sutton, and Wee all have extensive experience with digital prosthodontic applications using state of the art intraoral scanners, laboratory scanners, Dental Design software for conventional and implant prosthodontics, Implant Studio and a number of other implant planning software for additive manufacturing of single tooth to full arch implant surgical guides including complex stackable guides for All-on-4 procedures and day of surgery conversion prostheses, 3D printing systems, Zirconia sintering ovens, and many other software systems. Residents are routinely printing study casts.
We are most fortunate to have a super talented Graduate Prosthodontics dental technician, Mr. Kleve Hansen, who is high adept, very knowledgeable and experienced in the operation of all of these systems that we have in our Graduate Prosthodontics Laboratory and Clinic. He works with the residents on a daily basis demonstrating and advising residents in procedures and operation of digital technologies and software.
| Years | Appointment |
|---|---|
| 1984-1994 | Assistant & Associate Professor, Prosthodontics Assistant Director & Director of the Advanced Prosthodontics specialty program, University of California, Los Angeles. |
| 1990-1996 | Consultant for Advanced Prosthodontics, Council On Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association |
| 1997 | PhD Dental Materials, University of Copenhagen, Danmark. |
| 1994-2003 | Oregon Dental Association Centennial Professor of Restorative Dentistry Founder & Director of Dental Clinical Research Center 1994-1996 Interim Chair, Fixed Prosthodontics Dept. Oregon Health & Sciences University |
| 2003-2009 | Founder & Director, Pacific Dental Institute, Portland, OR Practice Limited to prosthodontics with in-house dental technicians. Clinical Research Center & Applied Materials Testing Laboratory |
| 2009-2012 | Prosthodontist and Managing Doctor, ClearChoice Dental Implant Center, Portland, Oregon |
| 2012-Present | Acting Professor and then Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry. Director of Research, Graduate Prosthodontics Program Director, Biomimetics Biomaterials Biophotonics Biomechanics & Technology Laboratory |
Continuing Education Center with hands-on courses & live-patient courses
- Multi-day hands-on Veneers & Adhesive Ceramics, All-ceramic Fixed Prosthodontics, Composite Resin Artistry
- Implant Restorative Continuum & Implant Surgery mini-Residency
Over his career he has conducted 12 clinical trials on ceramic systems, cement systems and implant prosthodontics, published over 98 research articles and chapters, and over 155 research abstracts. He has given over 150 invited lectures in 37 countries and over 300 lecture courses, hands-on programs and patient-treatment classes.
Research Interests
- Applied materials research for fixed, removable and implant prosthodontics.
- Employing biomechanical approach to fixed prosthodontics establishing the new ideal of minimally invasive adhesive ceramic fixed prosthodontic systems.
- Conducted 11 clinical trials on all-ceramic fixed prosthodontic systems and cements, implant systems and implant abutment systems.
- Development of a completely digital workflow for full arch implant surgical-prosthodontics, from diagnosis/treatment planning to definitive prosthesis.
- Mentoring Graduate Prosthodontics residents in their MSD research theses.
- Sorensen JA & Martinoff JT. Intracoronal reinforcement and coronal coverage: a study of endodontically treated teeth. J Prosthet Dent 1984. 1,006 citations
- Sorensen JA & Martinoff JT. Clinically significant factors in dowel design. J Prosthet Dent 1984. 581 citations
- Sorensen JA & Martinoff JT. Endodontically treated teeth as abutments. J Prosthet Dent 1985. 247 citations
- Sorensen and Engelman. Ferrule design & fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth. J Prosthet Dent 1990. 880 citations
- Sorensen & Engelman. Effect of post adaptation on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth. J Prosthet Dent 1990. 404 citations.
- Edelhoff D & Sorensen JA. Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs for anterior teeth. J Prosthet Dent 2002. 951 citations.
- Edelhoff D & Sorensen JA. Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs for posterior teeth. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2002. 411 citations.
- Seghi RR & Sorensen JA. Relative Flexural Strength of Six New Ceramic Materials. Inter J Prosthodontics 1995. 493 Citations.
2017 Distinguished Speaker Award. Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, New York,
2018 Clinician/Researcher Award of Distinction. American College of Prosthodontists.
2023 President, Academy of Prosthodontics
2025 Bestowed Honorary Membership in International Academy of Adhesive Dentistry
2025 Distinguished Researcher, American College of Prosthodontists
A copy of our Program Syllabus, Policies, and Procedures (DOC) is available for download.