Develop specialist expertise in Periodontology through advanced training in periodontal disease management, implant surgery, and research-informed practice.
Why study postgraduate Periodontology?
Periodontology is the specialist area of dentistry focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and peri-implant conditions, and the long-term maintenance of oral health.
At postgraduate level, Periodontology at Otago combines intensive clinical training, academic study, and research to prepare qualified dentists for specialist practice. Over three years of full-time study, you’ll develop expertise in periodontal diagnosis and disease management, bone and soft-tissue grafting and regenerative procedures, implant treatment planning, and the surgical and non-surgical management of periodontal and peri-implant conditions. This discipline requires strong biological understanding, precision, and sound clinical judgement in managing chronic and complex oral health conditions.
Upon completing the programme, candidates can register as a Periodontist in New Zealand and Australia and will have completed a three-year postgraduate degree in Periodontology, demonstrating the experience and education required for international specialist registration.
Career opportunities
Postgraduate study in Periodontology prepares you for specialist clinical and academic pathways, including:
- Specialist periodontology practice – providing advanced periodontal care in specialist clinical settings
- Surgical implant treatment – planning and providing implant-related surgical care
- Multidisciplinary dental care – supporting complex treatment in hospital or specialist care settings
- Clinical academic practice – teaching, researching, and supervising in university dental settings
- Oral health research – contributing to advances in periodontology, implantology, and oral health sciences
What it’s like to study at this level
A postgraduate in Periodontology is clinical, research-focused, and academically rigorous.
You’ll combine supervised clinical practice, case-based learning, seminars, and independent research to develop specialist expertise in periodontal and peri-implant care. Training includes diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical and non-surgical therapy, implant procedures, and long-term maintenance strategies.
Research is an integral part of the programme, culminating in a supervised thesis that strengthens critical evaluation, scientific reasoning, and your ability to contribute to advances in periodontal and implant care.
This is for you if ...
This programme is designed for qualified dentists seeking specialist training in Periodontology, with strong clinical foundations, attention to detail, analytical capability, and an interest in disease prevention, non-surgical periodontal therapy, bone and soft-tissue grafting and regeneration, implant therapy, and long-term oral health management.
Specialist care in periodontal health
Periodontology combines biological science and specialist clinical care to prevent, diagnose and treat periodontal diseases and conditions, protect or restore peri-implant health, and support long-term oral wellbeing.
Specialist practice requires sound clinical judgement, precision, and confidence in managing complex periodontal and implant-related conditions. At Otago, advanced study develops these capabilities through supervised clinical training under experienced specialist practitioners, research engagement, and learning within New Zealand’s leading Faculty of Dentistry. This includes surgical training in mucogingival surgery including gingival recession and peri-implant soft-tissue deficiencies, maxillary sinus surgery, guided tissue and bone regeneration, ridge preservation, and intraosseous defect reconstruction. A distinctive strength is the potential to translate your clinical experiences into research outcomes that advance specialist practice.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (PGDipClinDent)
A one-year programme (two-years with part-time study) employing clinical and academic teaching to emphasise the full nature of dental practice
Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent)
An advanced postgraduate degree that prepares graduates to become registered specialists in their chosen discipline
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
PERI papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERI701 | 2026, 2027 | Principles of Periodontology | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (19 January 2026 - 7 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (25 January 2027 - 12 November 2027) |
| PERI702 | 2026, 2027 | Clinical Periodontology | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (19 January 2026 - 7 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (25 January 2027 - 12 November 2027) |
| PERI711 | 2026, 2027 | Principles of Periodontology | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (19 January 2026 - 7 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (25 January 2027 - 12 November 2027) |
| PERI712 | 2026, 2027 | Clinical Periodontology | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (19 January 2026 - 7 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (25 January 2027 - 12 November 2027) |
| PERI730 | 2026, 2027 | Periodontology PGDipClinDent Special Topics | 60 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
More information
For further information about Periodontology at Otago, visit the Faculty of Dentistry website:
Periodontics at the Faculty of Dentistry
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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