Starting with the 2027 Dental Match, GPR and AEGD programs will move from Phase II (Match results released in January) to Phase I (Match results released in November). As a result, AEGD and GPR applicants and programs will submit Rank Order Lists and receive Match results earlier in the recruitment cycle.

This change applies only to AEGD and GPR programs and applicants. It does not apply to programs of other types.

The timeline change responds to feedback from GPR and AEGD programs requesting:

• A longer Post-Match period to fill positions after the Match, and
• Better alignment with non-Match programs that recruit earlier.

The decision follows a two-year review by NMS and the Dental Match Steering Committee, including a national survey of GPR and AEGD programs conducted in Fall 2023. Programs emphasized the importance of receiving at least six months notice to adjust their recruitment activities accordingly.

Final dates will be confirmed in May 2026, but programs and applicants should plan for:

• Phase I Rank Order List Deadline: Expected on or about November 16, 2026
• Phase I Match Results Release: Expected on or about November 23, 2026

Programs will need to shift recruitment activities earlier to align with the November Match schedule. We recommend setting aside time in summer or early fall of 2026 for interviews and reviewing internal calendars to plan accordingly.

Programs that use ADEA PASS should update their application deadline in both the ADEA PASS Program Finder and the Configuration Portal. Stay informed of ADEA PASS updates here. For assistance related to ADEA PASS, contact adeapass@adea.org.

Applicants considering GPR/AEGD and other Phase I specialties (e.g., ORTHO, PERIO, PROS, ANES, and Canadian GPR) can rank all programs on the same Phase I Rank Order List. They can evaluate and rank programs based on their true preferences.

Example: An applicant who prefers ORTHO but is also considering GPR can rank ORTHO programs higher than GPR programs. If they do not match to any ORTHO program, they will still be considered for the GPR programs ranked further down on their list.

Applicants considering GPR/AEGD and Phase II specialties (PEDS, OMS) will need to decide in advance whether to participate in Phase I.

• Applicants who match in Phase I are not eligible to participate in Phase II.
• Applicants who do not match in Phase I may still participate in Phase II, or pursue a position in the Phase I Post-Match Process.

What is the expected impact of this change?

Based on 2025 data, only about 2% of applicants would have needed to make an earlier decision under this structure. In practice, only 0.2% of applicants - 5 out of more than 3000 - matched into a PED or OMS program and would have been materially affected.

This type of early decision is already common when applicants receive offers from non-Match programs, so the structure reflects situations many applicants already navigate.

No changes to Match fees or rules are anticipated. The main change is to the calendar. Updated deadlines, fees, and rules will be published in May 2026.

NMS will provide updated timelines, guidance documents, and other resources to support programs throughout the transition.

If you have questions about how this change affects your program's participatin in the Match, please contact NMS at dentres@natmatch.com. For assistance related to ADEA PASS, contact adeapass@adea.org.