The University of São Paulo (USP) is a prestigious public university in Brazil. The USP hosts more than 58,000 students distributed over 42 units of learning and research, including schools and technological development institutes. The University has a central campus close to which are basic science research facilities. The School of Dentistry has been very well ranked internationally and is one of the most traditional in the country, considered a reference for education and research. The school is currently composed of seven departments with 155 faculty members, 740 undergraduate students, 325 postgraduate students (from different countries and from every region in Brazil).

The ITI Scholarship Center at the School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo is based in the Department of Prosthodontics. There is close collaboration with other departments involved in implant dentistry, including the Division of Periodontics, the Division of Radiology, the Department of Biomaterials, and the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, in teaching undergraduate and graduate students in our school, and ITI Scholars will be part of this interdisciplinary philosophy for comprehensive patient care.

The ITI Scholar will be able to take advantage of all departmental clinical activities including continuing education courses on implant dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontics and esthetic dentistry. The Department of Prosthodontics also runs a Postgraduate Clinic. This area has renovated and attractive clinical facilities in addition to appropriately appointed laboratory spaces. ITI Scholars will be fully integrated with postgraduate students in this clinical activity. They are taught both surgical and restorative phases of care from treatment planning through post-restoration maintenance.

Please note: The ITI Scholarship program in Sao Paolo runs from January 20 to December 20. The Scholar selected will start in January 1.5 years after application, i. e., if a candidate successfully applies in June 2024, he/she will start in January, 2026.  

During the Scholarship year, the ITI Scholar will participate in the following clinical activities:

☒      Treatment planning sessions  
☐      Performing oral hygiene procedures and maintenance   
☒      Observing patient treatment  
☒      Assisting in patient treatment  
☒      Treating patients under faculty supervision 
     ☒      Placing implants  
     ☒      Restoring implants  
☒      Treating patients alone  
     ☒      Placing implants  
     ☒      Restoring implants  
☒      Laboratory and procedures associated with treatment  

Treating patients under faculty supervision in the first 6 months. Treating patients alone if the Scholar has sufficient skills to do so. The Scholarship Center Faculty will determine the extent of patient treatment based on the progression of skills demonstrated by the scholar during their first 6 month in the Center. Patient treatment is only permitted inside the Dental School. 

During the Scholarship year, the ITI Scholar will participate in the following research activities: 

☒      Development and coordinated involvement with existing center research activities 
☒      Involvement in preclinical research  
☒      Involvement in translational research 
☒      Involvement in clinical research   
☒      Mentors will be assigned to the Scholar according to their research preference  
☐      Scholars will be able to start their own research projects  

Research experience supported by scientific publications (original papers) is desired.   

The Scholar’s time will be allocated to the following activities as follows (estimate):

• 40% patient care 
• 40% research 
• 20% didactic (lectures and/or courses the Scholar can attend) 

The lectures, classes and/or courses the Scholar can attend will be held in English and Portuguese. 

In terms of research, ITI Scholars will have access to seminars offered as part of the postgraduate program and lectures in Study Club meetings. They will be expected to work closely together with postgraduate students and will be encouraged to attend theoretical classes on biostatistics, epidemiology, fundamentals of clinical trials and an introduction to systematic reviews. With this theoretical training and Faculty mentoring, Scholars will be expected to become involved in research and develop their own scientific projects.

In the Postgraduate Clinic, ITI Scholars will be involved in comprehensive patient care including treatment planning, surgical placement and restoration of dental implants based on scientific evidence and supported by digital technologies (intra-oral scanner, CAD-CAM, 3D virtual planning, DSD, implant-guided surgery). Patients can receive the full spectrum of treatment within the dental school, inclusive of all specialties. A multidisciplinary approach with the patient as the focus of attention seeking to solve their esthetic and functional problems using digital technologies and conventional techniques is one of the characteristics of the program. Partially or totally edentulous patients requiring dental implants, with indications classified as simple, advanced or complex, from a surgical or restorative point of view, are treated following the ITI philosophy.

The goal of the program is to assist Scholars to develop a critical and multidisciplinary view of implant dentistry and to increase their skills and knowledge in harmony with the ITI philosophy.

Find more about the ITI São Paulo center on our Instagram profile @iticenterusp

The Scholarship year at this Center runs from January 20 – December 20. The Scholar will start in January 1.5 years after application, i.e., the start date for the upcoming scholarship year will be January 2026. 

Language requirements

Language Proficiency: the State of Sao Paulo and the University of Sao Paulo do not require a language proficiency certificate. Communication between Scholars, students and Faculty may be carried out in English, Portuguese or Spanish, but a basic understanding of Portuguese is needed to treat patients and to attend theoretical classes. Skills higher than basic are an advantage.

The lectures, classes and/or courses the Scholar can attend will be held in English and Portuguese.

Special requirements for this Scholarship Center:

Candidates should have minimum 3 years’ clinical experience including implant dentistry. At least 2 years of postgraduate training in Prosthodontics is an advantage.   

Work permits: the right to provide patient care under faculty supervision is regulated by the Regional Dental Council of São Paulo state. Upon acceptance into the Scholarship Program, approved scholars will have to apply for and receive a limited license.

Visa: depends on the country of origin

Scholarship Center Chair: Prof. Dr. Newton Sesma
University of São Paulo, School of Dentistry
Department of Prosthodontics
2227 Professor Lineu Prestes avenue
São Paulo
Brazil 05508-000
Email: [email protected]