Clinical Education

These continuously running didactic courses take the student from dental morphology and occlusion and through basic to advanced clinical dentistry of operative dentistry, fixed and removable prosthodontics (including principles and applications of CAD/CAM and implant dentistry), rotary endodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, oral medicine, periodontics, orthodontics, and temporomandibular function and dysfunction. The courses are organized into tooth systems. Each system integrates such topics as growth and development, cariology, radiology, oral pathology, and dental material science into its core while continuously utilizing a case-based, evidenced-based approach from a patient perspective.

Credits: DENT 1512 - 2.0 credits; DENT 1522 - 2.5 credits; DENT 1533 - 2.5 credits; DENT 1614 - 8.0 credits; DENT 1625 - 9.5 credits; DENT 1636 - 9.5 credits

This seminar series allows the dental students to participate in treatment planning options for complex dental cases and requires them to work up primary and alternative treatment plans for complex patients likely to be seen in a general practice, and present the plans to their faculty mentors in a case presentation format. The concepts used by the Western Regional Examination Board format for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning are introduced. This course runs for three quarters during the second-year curriculum where cases will become increasingly more challenging.

Credits: 1.5 credits each

This course covers the management of medical emergencies likely to be seen in a dental office.

Credits: 1.0

Recognizing the unique dental and medical needs of patients who are medically compromised or have mental or physical limitations, this course helps students develop the knowledge and skills needed to render comprehensive oral health care to this population. Students gain an understanding of the complexities of compromises and limitations, learn about adaptive devices and management techniques, and study the role of dentistry in total patient care while learning to manage patients with medical and physical disabilities.

Credits: 0.5

This course covers periodontal surgeries commonly performed by general practitioners and periodontists. Topics include evidence-based clinical decision-making; resective, regenerative, and plastic surgical techniques; complications of periodontal surgery; and management and maintenance of the surgical patient.

Credits: 1.0

This course includes lectures and small group discussions, complemented by "hands-on" exercises in the clinic and laboratory using patient simulation cone beam computed tomography scans. Students work with simulated cases and learn to reformat large 3Dimesional (3D) volume data. They get familiar with coronal, sagittal, and axial planes and learn to arrange the data in cross-sections for evaluation of the TMJ, implant treatment planning, orthodontics, etc. This course prepares the dental students to acquire cone beam CT scans on patients, interpret 3D images, and learn to manipulate the images by application of implant planning software. A patient simulation model provides a sound didactic background and specific clinical skills required to interpret 3D images to help establish a diagnosis, develop a treatment plan, and carry out the clinical and laboratory phases in dental treatment.

Credits: 1.0

The course sequence consists of presentation and discussion of complex clinical dental cases. Working in small groups, students will analyze information from a medical history and dental examination findings, and develop an appropriate treatment plan and alternatives, and present and defend their plan to the class and selected faculty members.

Credits: 1 credit each

This course introduces the dental student to the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular (TM) disorders. It covers the muscles of mastication, the TM joint, mouth opening, mandibular movements, signs and symptoms of TM disorders, and the construction and use of partial (niti) and full-mouth removable appliances.

Credits: 1.0

In the Patient Care courses, students learn patient-centered oral health care and develop the clinical competencies required for entry to the general practice of dentistry. By providing patient care under the supervision, guidance, and support of the faculty, students enhance their diagnostic, technical, and interpersonal skills. The course emphasizes the importance of these skills in effective, efficient, and compassionate patient care and guides the students toward independent practice by evaluating competence in the delivering specific services, providing high-quality comprehensive care to all patients, maintaining professionalism in the delivery of care, evaluating accurately one's clinical performance, and practicing efficiently and profitably.

Credits: 11.0 credits each

This course sequence in the DM3 year, meeting every two weeks, consists of informational sessions about clinical operations, clinical policies, competency assessments, mock boards, real boards, and other matters or issues arising in the delivery of patient care in a learning environment.

Credits: 0.5 credit each