These two courses cover important concepts in preventive dental medicine. Through lectures and hands-on exercises in the Simulation Clinic, students learn how to establish their own oral health. They also learn the science and practice of oral health assessment and preventive dental treatment modalities. Course instruction focuses on ways to promote one's own oral health, the health of one's patients, and the health of one's community at large. Methods learned and forms used in the courses are incorporated into subsequent patient care in the Dental Institute.

Credits: Each course 1

This course introduces the new dental student to effective personal financial management. Topics include the economy's effect on credit and debt, personal money management, managing credit, and debt and personal needs.

Credits: 0.5

The Dental Ethics course series introduces dental students to the broad concepts of ethical guidelines, reasoning, and decision-making affecting the delivery of healthcare. The courses use a case-based approach to clinical ethical reasoning and examination of ethical issues and dilemmas in the dental care setting and addresses expectations for professional behavior among dental practitioners.

Credits: 0.5 - 1523, 1633; 1.0 - 1734

Students learn how multiculturalism influences oral health care delivery. Topics include diversity, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, age, health disparities, social determinants of health, health care concerns faced by different populations, and culturally appropriate communication skills. Instruction occurs in didactic lecture, online discussion posts and classroom activities.

Credits: 1.0

In these Dental Community Service courses, second year dental students participate in visits to elementary, junior high and high schools to provide health promotion education to students in oral disease prevention, tobacco cessation, and drug avoidance. Each student participates one half-day per quarter.

Credits: Each course 0.5

This course introduces the fundamentals of effective communication and relationship-building skills. Topics covered include rapport-building skills with patients and colleagues, emotional intelligence, personality types, conflict resolution, and team-building strategies.

Credits: 1.0

This course covers advanced communication and human interaction skills. Topics include leadership skills, advanced NLP learning styles, case presentation skills, interviewing skills, and practice management topics related to the 'people' side of dentistry.

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. Topics include pediatric, adult, and geriatric special needs; sedation and/or indications for sedation; and occupational therapy and pharmacology uses.

Credits: 1