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Throughout its history, UFPel’s Graduate Program in Dentistry has shown both qualitative and quantitative growth in in both its evaluation grade by CAPES1 and its growing number of trained professionals, along with massive scientific and technological production.

The Program aims to educate Masters and PhD students in a strong scientific basis and towards increased critical thinking skills, which are meant to promote the skills that can then be used to make a difference in the community.

Considered a leading academic center not only in the state, but also nationwide, the Program has been witnessing a growing internationalization process. As a result, it was given a grade of 6 in the last CAPES triennial evaluation, becoming one of 8 graduate programs in Brazil in the field of dentistry to earn a 6 or 7 grade.

History

UFPel’s Graduate Program in Dentistry (PPGO for its spelling in Portuguese) started its activities in 1976 as a Graduate Program in Endodontics. In the 1990s, the area of concentration in Cosmetic Dentistry was created and in 2001 the one in Endodontics was suspended due to lack of interest. In 2002, the program underwent significant restructuring and became what is now the Graduate Program in Dentistry, with Cosmetic Dentistry as its only area of concentration at the time.

The doctoral degree program was accredited by CAPES in 2003 and started its activities in 2004. In 2006, the PPGO added a new area of concentration in Pediatric Dentistry at the master’s level.

In 2009, the PPGO had its largest expansion to date approved by CAPES with the opening of concentration areas in Prosthodontics and Oral Diagnosis (Master’s-level degree) and Dental Materials (Doctorate degree), in addition to the doctoral program in Pediatric Dentistry, all starting their activities in 2010.

Objectives

The areas of concentration offered in the Master’s degree program aim to train qualified, informed, and skilled professionals to face the challenge of actively participating in the teaching-learning process and in the construction of knowledge supported by evidence-based dentistry. A quality professor-student relationship is also at the heart of this program, and both parties are encouraged to be active participants in educational and research initiatives. At the same time, professionals with newly conferred degrees should be able to participate in this process through the ability to identify relevant problems to be researched, the practice in their field of expertise, and the mastery of essential tools for the development of research activities.

Nevertheless, these new professionals should also be knowledgeable in their specific area of studies and work as opinion makers, becoming able to offer students the best of what is available in terms of techniques, materials and technology. The master’s degree student’s education must also encourage the presentation of his/her research at relevant conferences and, most importantly, through publications in qualified journals.

Recently, the curricular structure of the program was revised in order to establish a flow of courses that could cover all areas and allow dialogue between professors and students from different areas and degree levels.

For the PhD program, the objective is to deepen research activities through courses focusing on the discussion of methodologies that can be used to develop new projects and result in scientific and technological innovation and/or cause impact on the quality of the health services provided in dentistry, as well as the improvement of materials and techniques, promoting advances in dentistry. In the curriculum structure of the PhD program, the courses offered are aimed at researcher training, with an emphasis on the knowledge of different methodologies especially in terms of basic knowledge, in addition to disciplines that provide support in the interpretation of data. Courses such as statistics for data interpretation are also offered to support the PhD students.