Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

    • Education

      A leader in oral health education dedicated to advancing the profession

    • Academic Programs

      Explore Comprehensive Programs in Dental Education and Research

    • Facts & Figures

      Preparing Tomorrow’s Research Leaders in Oral Health Sciences

    • Student Life

      The University of Michigan School of Dentistry encourages students to participate in student organizations to further their philanthropic, social, and cultural development.

    • Community Engagement

      The University of Michigan School of Dentistry offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive community-based dental service-learning programs.

    • Continuing Education

      The University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Continuing Dental Education Office offers innovative, ADA CERP-recognized courses for all dental professionals to support practice growth and licensure.

    • Board Exams

      The University of Michigan School of Dentistry values all CDCA exam participants and is committed to providing excellent service and instrumentation through its dedicated support teams.

    • Profile For Success

    four graduates posing for a picture

    Academic Programs

    Discover Comprehensive Programs in Dental Education and Research at One of the World’s Leading Schools.

    Learn more about Academic Programs
    • Patient Care

      The school provides cutting-edge care by the top professionals in their field with costs at or below a private practice.

    • Emergency Services

      Find Your Emergency Contact. Select the Best Option for Immediate Assistance.

    • General Dentistry

      Experience diverse dental care options: student clinics for affordable treatment, graduate clinics for advanced care, specialized clinics for special needs, and faculty-led private-practice services

    • Specialty Clinics

      Discover dental care options: student clinics for budget-friendly care, graduate dentistry for restorative services, special care clinics for those with special needs, and faculty-led private-practice quality services.

    • Payments & Insurance

      Manage bill payments, explore insurance options, learn about Insurance Participation, and get your questions answered here.

    • Patient Education

      Learn about dental terms, procedures, and tips for dental health through our Patient Education resources, including informative videos.

    • Directions & Parking

      Find directions, parking information, nearby hotels, and more here.

    • Services for Dental Providers

      Advanced CBCT 3-D imaging, expert analysis of oral pathologies, and easy referral submissions for non-affiliated providers.

    • Patient Forms

    • Refer a Patient

      Refer a patient or explore our specialized dental care services.

    A dental student watches a faculty member perform a dental exam on a patient.

    Our Clinics

    The school provides cutting-edge care by the top professionals in their field with costs at or below a private practice.

    Learn more about Our Clinics
    • Research

      A top-five NIH-funded research institution.

    • Our Labs

      Discover Our Cutting-Edge Dentistry Research and Innovation Lab Here.

    • Oral Health Sciences

      The Oral Health Sciences PhD and MS are programs of the Rackham Graduate School offered at the School of Dentistry.

    • Core Facilities

      Offering essential services to support diverse research and discovery in dental science and beyond.

    • Funding & Grants

      The Contracts and Grants Service Center performs all of the pre- and post-award administration for the School of Dentistry.

    • Investigator Toolkits

    • Research Training

      Training opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, visiting faculty, and volunteers.

    • Lab Volunteers

      The Office of Research can help facilitate the distribution of information to the labs.

    • Contacts

    three people working independently in a lab

    Our Labs

    The school provides cutting-edge care by the top professionals in their field with costs at or below a private practice.

    Learn more about Our Labs
    • Alumni

      Supporting Our Legacy: Alumni Contributions and Giving Opportunities.

    • Giving

      Support dental excellence with ease. Our secure online platform makes it simple to donate and enhance our mission of advancing oral health.

    • Look to Michigan Campaign

      Upholding a 150-year tradition of excellence, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry excels in education, research, patient care, and community service, shaping the future of oral health globally.

    • Alumni Profiles

      Explore Alumni Profiles: Insightful Interviews Highlighting Success Stories from Our School of Dentistry Graduates.

    • Board of Governors

      The Board of Governors fosters engagement and collaboration to support outstanding student recruitment, educational advancement, and alumni activities at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

    • Our Team

    • Alumni and Donor Events

    • Reunion

    SoD U of M Commencement 2025

    Giving

    Support dental excellence with ease. Our secure online platform makes it simple to donate and enhance our mission of advancing oral health.

    Learn more about Giving Options
    • News & Events

      Stay Updated with the Latest Happenings and Announcements.

    • News

      Catch Up on Recent Developments and Highlights.

    • Events

      Discover Upcoming Events and Opportunities to Connect.

    • Magazine

      Explore In-Depth Stories and Insights in Our Latest Edition.

    M|Dentistry Online Magazine Spring 2025

    MDentistry Magazine

    Explore In-Depth Stories and Insights in Our Latest Edition.

    Learn more about MDentistry Magazine
    • About

    • Mission & Vision

    • Leadership

    • Academic Departments

    • Administrative Units

    • Bylaws of the School of Dentistry

    • Multicultural Affairs, Well-being and Belonging Committee

    SoD Building Ann Arbor

    Mission & Vision

    Enhancing health through education, service, advocacy, research, and discovery.

    Learn more about our Mission & Vision
Tools
U-M Dentistry home
Tools
U-M Dentistry home
  • Education
    • Academic Programs
    • Facts & Figures
    • Student Life
    • Community Engagement
    • Continuing Education
    • Board Exams
    • Profile For Success
    four graduates posing for a picture

    Academic Programs

    Discover Comprehensive Programs in Dental Education and Research at One of the World’s Leading Schools.

    Learn more about Academic Programs
  • Patient Care
  • Research
  • Alumni
  • News & Events
  • About
Tools
Image

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Academic Programs
  4. Doctor of Dental Surgery
  5. Curriculum

Curriculum

An overview of the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program structure, including core courses.

In this section

In this section

In this section

  • Academic Programs
    • Doctor of Dental Surgery
      • - Applicants
      • - How to Apply
      • - Admitted Students
      • - Curriculum
      • - Pathways Program
      • - Open House
    • Dental Hygiene Programs
    • Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP)
    • Graduate Programs
    • Oral Health Sciences PhD & Master's
    • Dental Specialty & PhD Program (DSPP)
    • Dual Degree Programs
  • Facts & Figures
  • Student Life
  • Community Engagement
  • Continuing Education
  • Board Exams
  • Profile For Success

Year 1

Summer
501A Introduction to the Dental Profession

This course introduces first-year students to professional ethics and concepts of professionalism. The course consists of lectures, facilitated large and small group discussions, and an encounter with a standardized patient instructor.

502 Scientific Foundation for Evidence-Based Dentistry

Evidence‐based dentistry (EBD) is a major theme for all the courses in the curriculum and for a contemporary dental practice. This course provides a foundation for students (and faculty) along with an introductory working knowledge of all of the tools for EBD. Additional information and a plethora of examples are provided by other course instructors building on this foundation. The course is provided online and can be accessed at any future time by students to review or reference during the 4‐year curriculum. There are 12 modules with exercises and online assessments that can be done in almost any order.

507 Basic Biomaterials

Understand fundamental physical, chemical and biological principles of dental materials. The lectures cover the topics of basic properties of dental materials: mechanical, surface, optical properties of dental materials, structures and properties of metals, and chemistry and properties of polymers.

509 Oralfacial Function I

Introductory course on the functions of the oralfacial region; including its role in communication, feeding, and protection of the oralfacial complex.

510 Basic Histology for the Dentist

This course provides foundational knowledge concerning the microscopic structures of basic tissues and cells in the human body relevant to the practice of dentistry. Specific topics include the cellular structure of cells and organelles in eukaryotic cells and their corresponding functions. Students are expected to apply this knowledge for the interpretation of histological images. Emphasis will be placed on the development of observational skills in analyzing complex images and in interpreting them in a scientific way.

517A Introduction to Clinical Skills

This course provides fundamental skills that a D1 student must have to begin treating patients at the School of Dentistry. These include following patient privacy and security practices, practicing infection control, properly assisting a colleague treating a patient, identifying normal oral anatomy and head and neck structures, and performing head and neck examinations. Students will also receive basic life support (BLS - CPR) training and obtain other credentials in order to begin patient care.

521 Dental Anatomy and Occlusion

This course addresses the morphology and landmarks of teeth, by allowing students to get training on basic hand skills, which will be necessary for future laboratory and clinical procedures. This course provides foundation knowledge in dental anatomy and occlusion, relating both aspects to their application in different areas of Dentistry. Students will have waxing projects on different tooth preparations that will facilitate the restorative procedures in DENT519 and DENT520.

524 Pathways Program

Welcome to DENT520 -B! This course is based on dental laboratory simulations that facilitate adult learning of foundation knowledge and development of basic skills in the fundamentals of dental instrumentation, principles of operative dentistry, and manual skills related to restorative dentistry. Concepts and techniques for placement of direct resin-based adhesive restorations, glass ionomer, and amalgam restorations are introduced. Dental materials are reviewed with an emphasis on clinical considerations. Emphasis is placed on the development of motor skills, self-evaluation, clinical judgment, critical thinking, and professionalism. During preclinical sessions, we may remind you of appropriate ergonomic practices by demonstrating proper positioning that may involve occasional hand-to-hand contact.
 

545 Dental Head & Neck Gross Anatomy

This course comprehensively covers the anatomy of the head and neck and provides a solid foundation of the physical and functional relationships of structures important to the practicing dentist. The course strategically employs multiple learning modalities to support long-term understanding and to encourage a greater facility of recall and life-long learning.

Fall
508 Applied Biomaterials I

In this lecture-based course, lectures parallel concepts discussed in Clinical Foundations, students will learn principles of replacing/restoring oral structures with direct restorative materials. This objective is accomplished by conveying fundamental physical, chemical, and biological principles important for understanding, selecting, manipulating and evaluating specific types of dental materials that students are using in the pre-clinic and clinic. Materials discussed are: dentin adhesives, sealants, amalgams, composites and glass ionomers.

511 Orofacial Complex in Health II-The Oral Environment

This course presents foundational concepts about the oral environment to convey understanding of several tissue systems that include the salivary glands, oral mucosa, and skin, with an introduction to oral microbial ecology. The focus is on the role of these key components of the oralfacial complex in oral health and systemic health, and the course introduces and makes a transition to dysfunctions and pathologies when the oral environment is not healthy.

518 Behavioral Science

This course is the first of three courses in Behavioral Science for pre-doctoral dental students and the only behavioral science course for dental hygiene students. The overall objective is to make students aware of the importance of constructive communication between dental care providers and their patients. This course will provide the basic concepts needed to understand and create positive patient-provider interactions and engage them in two hands-on skills trainings with standardized patient instructors. The foundation knowledge needed to understand human behavior and communication in the dental office will be provided. In addition, the students will engage in skills training and gain experience taking medical and dental history, providing tobacco cessation counseling, and educating a community group. Lectures focus on demonstrating how the knowledge base of the behavioral sciences is relevant to oral health and oral health care. This course is supplemented by reading assignments.

519A Clinical Foundation

In this course, you will learn mainly about foundation knowledge of dental instrumentation, basic principles, dental materials, and techniques of restorative dentistry with an emphasis on anterior adhesive direct restorations. Emphasis is placed on the development of knowledge necessary for clinical judgment, critical thinking, decision-making, and professionalism to provide a high standard of patient care.

519B Clinical Foundations

This course is based on dental laboratory simulations that facilitate adult learning of foundation knowledge and development of basic skills in the fundamentals of dental instrumentation, principles of operative dentistry, and manual skills related to restorative dentistry. Concepts and techniques for placement of direct resin-based adhesive restorations, glass ionomer and amalgam restorations are introduced. Dental materials are reviewed with an emphasis on clinical considerations. Emphasis is placed on the development of motor skills, self-evaluation, clinical judgment, critical thinking and professionalism. During preclinical sessions we may remind you of appropriate ergonomic practices by demonstrating proper positioning that may involve occasional hand-to-hand contact.

522 Comprehensive Care Clinic

This course provides an introductory clinical experience into clinical practice in Cariology, treatment planning, and Restorative Dentistry. It is composed of clinical and laboratory experiences, demonstrations, lectures, and seminars. These activities are shared in the Fall with two other courses: DENT 532 Cariology I and DENT 519 Clinical Foundation I and in the Winter with three other courses: DENT 506 Basic Radiology, DENT 530 Fundamentals of Periodontics and DENT 542 Cariology II. Information on this course can be found on this site and also in the DENT 522 ManualDownload DENT 522 Manual.

524 Pathways Program

This course will give you an understanding of the purpose and requirements of the Pathways Program including path selection, preliminary project development. We will also have the opportunity to get advice from recent dental graduates with the D1 advice project. The goal is to give students a perspective of what dental school is like from a diverse group of recent graduating students. We hope this shows that students all have their share of successes, wins and challenges. Gain insights on how to manage each year of your dental education. During this course, students will learn basic skills to help ensure academic and professional success and get to know their vertical mentors. Students will be assigned to groups midway through the semester after their Pathway Selection to interact with different classmates to build community and share reflections.

525 Cell and Molecular Biology

The goals of this course are to provide basic foundation knowledge concerning biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and the development of the human body relevant to the practice of dentistry and to relate this knowledge to dentally and medically relevant clinical problems. Specific topics include protein structure and function, mineralization of bones and teeth, molecular biology of DNA replication and the cell cycle, gene expression, protein synthesis/targeting, genetic diseases of the craniofacial region, structure, and function of biological membranes, cellular signaling, the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, regulation of metabolism in health and disease and embryonic development. A case study will be linked to each major area to reinforce the relationship between basic knowledge and clinical practice. Emphasis will be placed on the continually evolving nature of modern biomedicine and the need for life-long learning if the clinician is to understand and be able to critically evaluate new treatments and technologies. For this reason, student evaluations will emphasize critical thinking as well as mastery of subject areas.

529 Oral Health Promotion, HC System & Policy

The societal and healthcare environment changes dramatically; for example, changes in the healthcare system that will be related to healthcare reform, increased public attention to healthcare, and demand for access to quality care and high quality of life. These changes call for healthcare professionals to have a higher level of awareness regarding these issues. Today’s dentists can be leaders, rather than bystanders, in surveillance, policy-making, and quality assurance to improve the public’s oral health. The first part of this course (Fall 2nd Half Semester) will provide an overview of the oral healthcare delivery system. The second part of the course (Winter 1st Half Semester) will address health policy related to oral health at the state and national levels. The topics considered will include defining health, oral health and oral health-related quality of life; organization and financing dental care in the U.S.; issues related to access to oral health care, the oral health workforce, health care policy relevant to oral health; and selected environmental health issues associated with the provision of dental care.

532 Cariology I

This is the first course in a series of courses in the DDS curriculum that will be establishing didactic foundational knowledge about dental caries, developing caries detection skills (through hands-on laboratory and clinical exercises), and seminar patient case discussions, as well as clinical experiences to enhance and facilitate active student learning, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and use of evidence-based information for dental caries detection, diagnosis, risk assessment, prevention, and management.

533 Infection and Immunity

This course covers the basic microbiology of bacteria, viruses and fungi, and includes an introduction to immunology. A more detailed discussion of sterilization and disinfection techniques, antibiotics, inflammation in response to infection, host factors that contribute to disease, pathogenic mechanisms of microbes, and vaccine development will be covered. Case studies will be presented throughout the course.

Winter
503 Dental Pharmacology I

The course is designed to provide foundational training in the basic principles of pharmacology as it relates to dental practice and to introduce the mechanisms and uses of drugs used in dental anesthesia. The course covers a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the basic mechanisms by which drugs exert their therapeutic or toxic effects at their site of action (Pharmacodynamics) as well as the processes involved in the administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs (Pharmacokinetics). This is followed by coverage of drug classes used in dentistry as local anesthetics, sedatives, and anesthetics with specific prototype drug examples in a more clinical context. The overall goal of this course is to integrate pharmacological theory with dental therapeutics, providing a foundation for future courses, clinical decision-making, and responsible patient care.

506 Basic Radiology

This course provides the foundation knowledge and skills needed for the appropriate use of diagnostic imaging in dental practice including radiation physics, principles of image formation, radiographic equipment and technique, radiographic quality evaluation, radiation biology and protection, and basic principles of radiographic interpretation. Learning will take place through a variety of mechanisms including lectures, in-class demonstrations of some aspects of image formation, online videos, online quizzes, and hands-on experience in the Radiology Clinic.

520A Clinical Foundations 1

Welcome to DENT520-A! This course will teach you mainly about posterior adhesive and amalgam restorations. Emphasis is placed on developing the knowledge necessary for clinical judgment, critical thinking, decision-making, and professionalism. Information, skills, and the modeling of professionalism presented in this course are essential to general dentistry practice and are NOT elective. You will use what you learn in this course to provide a high standard of patient care. After graduation, individuals who practice general dentistry will use this knowledge throughout their careers. All students must master this course's material to provide treatment in the student clinics and pass a licensing board.This course is based on lectures that facilitate adult learning of foundation knowledge of basic principles of dental materials and techniques of restorative dentistry with emphasis on posterior adhesive and amalgam restorations. Required reading from books, published papers, step-by-step documents, lectures pdf files and content of movies and live demonstrations are also essential to this course.

520B Clinical Foundations 1

 Welcome to DENT520 -B! This course is based on dental laboratory simulations that facilitate adult learning of foundation knowledge and development of basic skills in the fundamentals of dental instrumentation, principles of operative dentistry, and manual skills related to restorative dentistry. Concepts and techniques for placement of direct resin-based adhesive restorations, glass ionomer, and amalgam restorations are introduced. Dental materials are reviewed with an emphasis on clinical considerations. Emphasis is placed on the development of motor skills, self-evaluation, clinical judgment, critical thinking, and professionalism. During preclinical sessions, we may remind you of appropriate ergonomic practices by demonstrating proper positioning that may involve occasional hand-to-hand contact.

522 Comprehensive Care Clinic

Comprehensive Patient Care 522 is designed to provide D1 students with introductory clinical experiences in assisting patient care, caries risk assessment, caries risk management, and treatment planning. This course is composed of clinical and laboratory experiences, demonstrations, lectures, and seminars that are shared with three other courses, DENT 518 Behavioral Sciences, DENT 519 Clinical Foundation I and DENT 532 Cariology I. Students will develop basic skills, which will be expanded upon in the D2 Comprehensive Care clinic. This experience in the clinical environment with patients is meant to develop student/faculty relationships, student-patient communication skills, and develop skills that will lead to the ability to provide patient care in a comfortable atmosphere.

524I Pathways

This course will provide D1 students with the basic information necessary to navigate through the 4-year Pathway Program. By providing fundamental materials pertaining to each pathway the course will (i) provide students with the basic information necessary for declaring their Pathway of choice, and (ii) provide resources for and expectations of each pathway. The course will consist of, on average, 1.5 hours of activities per week.
To thoroughly understand the purpose and requirements of the Pathways Program including path selection, preliminary project development, and elective course opportunitie, students will learn basic skills to help ensure academic and professional success. Students will be assigned to rotating groups each week to interact with different classmates to build community and share reflections.

524S Pathways

This course will provide D1 students with the basic information necessary to navigate through the 4-year Pathway Program. By providing fundamental materials pertaining to each pathway the course will (i) provide students with the basic information necessary for declaring their Pathway of choice, and (ii) provide resources for and expectations of each pathway. The course will consist of, on average, 1.5 hours of activities per week.

526 Diagnostic Sciences I

This course provides the foundation and intermediate knowledge and skills for selected topics in soft tissue oral pathology. It will expand upon the knowledge gained in Oral Environment II. Learning will take place through lectures and case-based discussions of a progression of soft tissue oral pathology topics. To develop the background knowledge required to participate actively in the discussion, the student will need to complete assigned readings in the textbook and review material covered in the Oral Mucosa section of the Oral Environment II ("Orofacial Complex in Health II: The Oral Environment") course and Head and Neck Anatomy and Histology concepts. The course has a lecture and case-based format. It consists of a series of lectures that incorporate clinical cases as a learning tool to assess adequate understanding of the material. It is organized in Modules.

529 Oral Health Promotion, HC System & Policy

The societal and healthcare environment changes dramatically; for example, changes in the healthcare system that will be related to healthcare reform, and increased public attention to healthcare and demand for access to quality care and high quality of life. These changes call for healthcare professionals to have a higher level of awareness regarding these issues. Today’s dentists can be leaders, rather than bystanders, in surveillance, policy-making and assurance to improve the public’s oral health. This course will provide an overview of the oral healthcare delivery system and health policy related to oral health at the state and national levels. The topics considered will include defining health, oral health and oral health-related quality of life; organization and financing dental care in the U.S.; issues related to access to oral health care, the oral health workforce, health care policy relevant to oral health; and selected environmental health issues associated with the provision of dental care.

530 Fundamentals of Periodontics

This course is designed to develop a comprehensive approach to the maintenance of oral health, drawing together the training and experiences of the first year into a culmination of actual patient care. Coordination of several disciplines will lead to the provision of a dental health maintenance appointment, including taking and recording medical and dental histories, blood pressure determination when indicated, examination of soft and hard tissues, possible radiographs, classification, diagnosis, dental prophylaxis, topical fluoride treatments when indicated, personal oral health instruction, behavioral considerations and recommendations for further treatment. Aspects of initial non-surgical periodontal therapy (diagnosis and scaling and root planning) will be introduced in this course as well. The course is also designed to introduce the concept of a dental team in terms of the dentist and dental hygienist.

534 Behavioral Science II

This course is the second of four courses in Behavioral Science for pre-doctoral dental students. It addresses issues related to communication with patients from different backgrounds, and provides the basic knowledge necessary to understand human interaction and communication with these patients. This is a lecture course supplemented by reading assignments. Students will explore how their and their patients' socio-economic, ethnic / racial backgrounds, gender and gender identity, age, abilities / disabilities, or sexual orientation will affect oral health, access to care, and oral health care utilization. In Part 2, students will consider their communication with patients with mental health diagnoses. We will discuss the general classification of mental disorders, and learn more about special oral health related concerns when treating patients with affective disorders / depression, anxiety disorders, and addictive disorders.

536 Introduction to Prosthodontic Treatment Options

Prosthodontics is a branch of dentistry pertaining to the restoration and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of the patient. Prosthodontic treatments involve the restoration of natural teeth and replacement of missing teeth and contiguous oral and maxillofacial structures with artificial substitutes. In this course, students will: 1) learn about prosthodontics and all that’s involved in a clinical scenario; 2) understand prosthodontic treatment planning, as well as its interdisciplinary relationship with other dental branches; 3) know prosthodontics treatment options.

537 Nervous System

All bodily functions require the coordinated activity of the nervous system. An overview of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system is required to adequately manage and treat dental patients. This course provides a foundational understanding of the structure, function, and potential dysfunctions of the nervous system. The emphasis of this course is on providing students with the necessary tools to understand why and how diseases of the nervous system manifest in the way that they do, how they are managed, and the effect these diseases have on oral health and behavioral management of dental patients.

538 Musculoskeletal System

This course is designed to continue the introduction of the basic biology of human health and disease. It seeks to provide students with an intensive learning experience to integrate the acquired basic biomedical knowledge base as the foundation for clinical decision-making and clinical patient care. This course reviews basic biomedical information and provides in-depth information about the normal morphology, development, organization, and functions of the musculoskeletal system, as well as the alterations in structure and function associated with diseases and/or disorders related to this system and their medical (including pharmacologic) and/or surgical treatment and management. Functional interaction between the musculoskeletal system and other systems including endocrine systems will be covered by this course. Functions of muscular systems in conjunction with the neural system will be covered in the Neural System Course

539 Development, Regeneration, and Genetics

This course encompasses two major subject areas: 1. Development of the Dentition (Chiego) 2. Dental Genetics (Simmer & Hu) The course is structured accommodate to deliver basic and applied scientific knowledge. The lectures enforce the fundamental concepts of developmental biology and genetics while emphasizing the most cutting edge scientific evidence concerning the regulation of biological processes for normal and abnormal development of orofacial structures with important clinical applications for framing a correct diagnosis and prognosis. The information delivered in this course will make students knowledgeable about development of the human dentitions and how genetic errors disturb developmental processes. Students receive a dental genetic lecture series that develops the concepts of genetic regulation of tooth development and the genetic etiologies of inherited dental defects. It builds a knowledge base in the students and equips them with a good understanding in the subject area providing the students essential tools in making proper diagnosis, assessing risk of recurrence, determining effective prevention, and projecting a prognosis.

542 Cariology II

This is the second course in a series of courses in the DDS curriculum that will establish didactic foundational knowledge about dental caries, and develop caries detection skills (through clinical exercises). including seminar patient case discussions, and clinical experiences (when possible) to enhance and facilitate active student learning, critical-thinking, problem- solving, and use of evidence-based information for dental caries detection, diagnosis, risk assessment, prevention, and management.

Year 2

Spring/Summer
601 Dental Therapeutics

The course is designed to build upon the foundations covered in DENT 503 and introduce the mechanisms and uses of some of the most frequently used drugs in dentistry or that are commonly part of the therapeutic regimen of dental patients. The course will enable students to integrate the acquired knowledge of pharmacology into their clinical decision-making, safe prescribing practice, and responsible patient care. The course covers the mechanisms and clinical applications of antibiotic, antiviral antifungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive drugs as well as sialagogues, and common oral health products.

603 D2 Treatment Planning Seminar

The D-2 Treatment Planning Seminar provides students with clinically based decision-making experiences to supplement their didactic and clinical/foundational coursework. During the Term, faculty will present background information pertinent to the treatment planning process and associated goals. Students will participate in the analysis of actual patient scenarios and the development of management strategies. Students will specifically consider patients’ medical, dental, emotional, and psychosocial needs. Emphasis will be placed on the identification and management of common oral disease processes and associated risk factors by using a systematic approach to collecting and interpreting diagnostic information and patients’ expressed goals/needs. Students will consider strategies for managing these needs as they develop treatment-planning skills and experience. Students will use the school’s clinic information system, MiDent, to enter clinical findings and create a treatment plan for a simulated patient.

605 Neoplasia

This course provides the foundation and intermediate knowledge and skills for tumor biology and oral cancer. It will expand upon the knowledge gained in Oral Environment II and Diagnostic Sciences I. Learning will take place through lectures on a progression of Neoplasia topics and office hours that incorporate clinical cases. These cases are used as a learning tool and to assess adequate understanding of the material.

609A Periodontology I

This course:

  1. introduces the structures and biology of the periodontium
  2. outlines the microbial features and mechanisms of periodontal health and disease
  3. differentiates the host defenses and pathogenic processes underlying periodontal diseases
  4. describes the many periodontal diseases and their characteristics/behaviors
  5. serves as the scientific foundation for the provision of periodontal therapy
610 Applied Biomaterials II

This course is designed to focus on understanding the structure-property synergy in dental materials for indirect restorations through scientific basis and how these relations impact clinical function of materials and manipulation. Students will learn the rationale for material selection in their clinical applications and treatment plans. The lectures cover the topics of dental materials and current topics in dentistry: impression materials, cements, ceramic, casting, alloys, gypsum, and polymers.

620 Comprehensive Care Clinic

((A) Oral Medicine/Radiology, (B) Periodontics,(C) Restorative This course is designed to support students transition to life-long learners and accelerate the development of “soft-skills” like diagnosis, treatment planning, material selection, and technique exposure.
The course introduces clinical opportunities that students will encounter during their D3/D4 years. All D2 students will expect to have 3-6 hours of course content per week which include general assists in the VICs, grad perio assists, radiology, alginate impressions, oral medicine, digital impressions, and SPI session. You can expect to have about 1-2 sessions per week on average. These are mandatory. This course is a Pass/Fall course and has always been a Pass/Fail course.
Clinical activities include:
Alginate impressions, oral exams, anesthesia, and digital impressions. Accelerate the development of “soft-skills” like diagnosis, treatment planning, material selection, and technique exposure.

621 Comprehensive Care Clinic

This course will emphasize the principles of indirect restorations and promote the development of dexterity in clinical dentistry. The principles taught in this course will serve as a foundation that will be applicable in both single-unit indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics procedures. This is a laboratory course supplemented by reading assignments. Emphasis will be placed on understanding clinical and laboratory step-by-step procedures as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment.

625 Pathways

This course will emphasize the principles of indirect restorations and promote the development of dexterity in clinical dentistry. The principles taught in this course will serve as a foundation that will be applicable in both single-unit indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics procedures. This is a laboratory course supplemented by reading assignments. Emphasis will be placed on understanding clinical and laboratory step-by-step procedures as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment.

625I Pathways–Immersion

This course will emphasize the principles of indirect restorations and promote the development of dexterity in clinical dentistry. The principles taught in this course will serve as a foundation that will be applicable in both single-unit indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics procedures. This is a laboratory course supplemented by reading assignments. Emphasis will be placed on understanding clinical and laboratory step-by-step procedures as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment.

635 Behavioral Science

Continued communication skills training. This course provides: (a) an introduction to your nonverbal and verbal communication with your patient before (and during) the clinical exam, specifically concerning periodontal probing,
(b) an opportunity to practice how to best communicate challenging news to your patient,
(c) an opportunity to continue to develop health education skills related to oral hygiene education.

638 Cardiovascular System

This course is designed to continue the introduction of the basic biology of human health and disease. It seeks to provide students with an intensive learning experience to integrate the acquired basic biomedical knowledge base as the foundation for clinical decision-making and clinical patient care. This course reviews basic biomedical information and provides in-depth information about the normal morphology, development, organization, and functions of the cardiovascular system, as well as the alterations in structure and function associated with diseases and/or disorders related to this system and their medical (including pharmacologic) and/or surgical treatment and management.

639 Respiratory System

This course is designed to continue the introduction of the basic biology of human health and disease, as well as to provide students with an intensive learning experience to integrate the acquired basic biomedical knowledge base as the foundation for clinical decision-making and clinical patient care. The course will cover respiratory anatomy, histology, physiology, and respiratory pathophysiology. Review basic information and provide in-depth information about the normal structure, derivation, organization, and functions of the Respiratory System as well as the alterations in structure and function associated with diseases and/or disorders of this system including their pharmacologic treatment/management.

Fall
608 Oral-facial Complex in Health III

The course covers the sensory and motor functions of the orofacial complex. The course provides a basic foundation of cellular, molecular, physiological and behavioral aspects of orofacial function. On the sensory side, the special senses of taste and smell, as well as acute and chronic pain especially with respect to toothaches, headaches and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain will be covered. Segue into the motor side will begin with position and movement sense, and then cover mastication, swallowing, respiration, and speech. Normal function as well as common disorders encountered by the dentist will be covered.

609B Periodontology II
  1. introduces the structures and biology of the periodontium
  2. outlines the microbial features and mechanisms of periodontal health and disease
  3. differentiates the host defenses and pathogenic processes underlying periodontal diseases
  4. describes the many periodontal diseases and their characteristics/behaviors
  5. serves as the scientific foundation for the provision of periodontal therapy
617 Principles of Endodontics I

This course is the introduction to Endodontics, the specialty of treating the pulp and periapical diseases to save teeth. This course is the introduction to the Preclinical Endodontic course DENT 637 and Principles of Endodontics part II DENT 727. It was designed to integrate the basic concepts for the clinical diagnosis, the histopathology, and treatment of pulpal and periapical pathologies and their sequelae. This course will prepare the students to interact with differential diagnosis, oral facial pain, trauma, and treatment plan based on outcome and treatment options to finally understand the interaction with different specialties when sequencing the treatment plan. This course is a lecture course supplemented by reading assignments and clinical case and discussion exercises.

620 Comprehensive Care Clinic

(A) Oral Medicine/Radiology, (B) Periodontics,(C) Restorative This courses designed to support Students transition
n life-long learning and accelerate the development of “soft-skills” like diagnosis, treatment planning, material selection, and technique exposure. The course introduces clinical opportunities that students will encounter during their D3/D4 years. All D2 students will expect to have 3-6 hours of course content per week which include general assists in the VICs, grad perio assists, radiology, alginate impressions, oral medicine, digital impressions, and SPI session. You can expect to have about 1-2 sessions per week on average.

These are mandatory. This course is a Pass/Fall course and has always been a Pass/Fail course.
clinical activities include: alginate impressions, oral exams, anesthesia, and digital impressions. Accelerate the development of “soft-skills” like diagnosis, treatment planning, material selection, and technique exposure.

Course Goals:

  • Focus on learning concepts - how, why, and what
  • Emphasize proper infection control practices
  • Integrate preclinical, behavioral science, and basic science skills into clinical experiences
  • Develop the skills necessary to perform a complete oral examination and treatment plan for a patient.
  • To learn how to translate an occlusal analysis into a mounted patient cast on the articulator
  • Use self-evaluation of procedures to improve quality
  • Help students evaluate behavioral risk factors for oral disease
  • Develop interpersonal skills for relating to patients
623A Diagnostic Sciences II

This course will expand upon knowledge gained in Basic Radiology 506/ DH209. The format will include lectures and case discussion sessions. Students develop a systematic approach to interpret radiographs, identify anatomical variants and abnormalities including pathophysiology of disease process, describe their radiographic appearance, classify them based on their pathophysiology, and provide a reasonable differential diagnosis based on the clinical and radiographic findings. This course provides information about the basic principles, applications, indications, contraindication, and interpretation of advanced imaging modalities such as Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

625I D2 Pathway Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and the completion of a capstone project. There is an expectation of the dissemination of results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester, students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation form.
Immersion Pathway students are exempt from an elective requirement, as they may choose to dedicate the available time to their Pathways project. Based on mentor guidance, they may however choose to take electives that are relevant to their interests and project needs. Any elective completions for both Selectives and Immersion Pathway students will be noted as registered courses on their transcripts and be noted as Pass or Fail according to their assessment results reported by the course director of each elective.

631 Clinical Foundations II - Fixed Prosthodontics

This course will emphasize the principles of indirect restorations and promote the development of dexterity in clinical dentistry. The principles taught in this course will serve as a foundation that will be applicable in both single-unit indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics procedures. This is a laboratory course supplemented by reading assignments. Emphasis will be placed on understanding clinical and laboratory step-by-step procedures as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment.

632 Clinical Foundations II Removable Prosthodontics – Complete Dentures

The purpose of this course is to provide students with basic clinical and laboratory concepts for fabricating complete dentures. Emphasis will be placed on understanding clinical and laboratory step-by-step procedures as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment. Laboratory skills will be developed in the areas of fabrication of custom impression trays and record bases with wax occlusal rims and arranging artificial denture teeth. An immediate provisional complete denture or “stayplate” and denture repair will be discussed in the later sessions of this course. There will be a brief introduction to the implant-retained overdenture. Students will also be exposed to the importance of laboratory communications necessary for the fabrication of complete dentures

636 Periodontal Therapy I

This course is an introduction to clinical periodontal therapy. It covers all aspects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy, with emphasis on periodontal evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, and initial periodontal therapy. It is a lecture course supplemented by readings and case studies.

640 Gastrointestinal System

This course is designed to continue the introduction of the basic biology of human health and disease. It seeks to provide students with an intensive learning experience to integrate the acquired basic biomedical knowledge base as the foundation for clinical decision-making and clinical patient care. This course reviews basic biomedical information and provides in-depth information about the normal morphology, development, organization, and functions of the gastrointestinal system, as well as the alterations in structure and function associated with diseases and/or disorders related to this system and their medical (including pharmacologic) and/or surgical treatment and management.

641 Orthodontic Diagnosis

Part I: Understanding Dental, Skeletal, and Soft Tissue Development Before you can diagnose your patients’ orthodontic treatment needs, an understanding of the dynamic process of dental occlusal development within the growing and aging face will include:
 

  • Emphasizing the proper sequence and timing and introducing the role of the dentist in managing important events in the transition from the primary to the mixed, and from the mixed through to the early permanent dentition.
  • Long term normal adult and aging changes are also studied.

Part II: Orthodontic Treatment needs list and Diagnosis Introduction to orthodontic diagnosis and list of orthodontic treatment needs , utilizing data from:
• Facial and intraoral photographs;
• Dental study models
• Panoramic, periapical and cephalometric radiographs
These “orthodontic diagnostic records” are analyzed both during recorded lectures and in-class exercises: lists of orthodontics treatment needs will be developed for each real or simulated patient studied.
Part III: Treatment Planning
Treatment options for each orthodontic treatment need are \ presented with expected outcomes. Topics are presented briefly with focused lectures for treatment planning for children, adolescents, and adults. The synchronous class time will be spent in a discussion format, with break-out groups completing problem-solving exercises, using patient diagnostic data.

 

644 Genitourinary System

This course is designed to continue the introduction of the basic biology of human health and disease. It seeks to provide students with an intensive learning experience to integrate the acquired basic biomedical knowledge base as the foundation for clinical decision-making and clinical patient care. This course reviews basic biomedical information and provides in-depth information about the normal morphology, development, organization, and functions of the urogenital and endocrine systems, as well as the alterations in structure and function associated with diseases and/or disorders related to this system and their medical (including pharmacologic) and/or surgical treatment and management.

Winter
612 Occlusion Fundamentals

DENT 612 will help you transition from pre-clinic to clinic in the following areas: (1) static and functional occlusion, (2) sleep bruxism (SB), (3) sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and (4) temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

These topics are covered as understood by clinical scientists, general practitioners, and specialists. Students will get hands-on learning in the ACE clinic, and a standardized patient (SPI) will help you learn how to perform OSA screening and use tele-dentistry. Students learn terminology and concepts related to occlusion, orofacial pain (OFP), and dental sleep medicine (DSM). Hands-on experiences in the ACE will prepare you for performing intra- and extra-oral exams related to function, TMD, SB, and OSA screening.

613 Principles of Oral Surgery

This course introduces the second year students to the didactic knowledge necessary to enter the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) clinic and dental practice to safely and expediently carry out minor procedures such as extraction of erupted teeth, alveoloplasty, simple pre-prosthetic procedures, and managing complications associated with these procedures. It also introduces the learner to the basic and clinical aspects of facial pain, pre-prosthetic surgery, and dental implants. The Learner will be introduced to current advances in the practice of outpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery.

615 Dentistry for the Medically Compromised Patient

This course expands upon biomedical sciences foundation knowledge gained during the Biomedical Sciences, “Systems” courses, Basic and Dental Pharmacology, Diagnostic Sciences, and Clinical Sciences courses. It also serves to reinforce concepts taught concurrently in the Dent 607 Medical Emergencies course and help prepare students to provide comprehensive dental treatment for their patient families in the next two years of dental school and in clinical practice after graduation. This classroom-based lecture course uses case studies to stimulate interactive discussions of key issues in the management of medically complex dental patients. Course activities are designed to help students integrate and apply foundation knowledge with clinical problem- solving strategies to further develop the critical thinking skills needed to provide safe and effective dental management of patients with complex medical problems.

620 Comprehensive Care Clinic

(A) Oral Medicine/Radiology, (B) Periodontics,(C) Restorative This course is designed to support students transition to life-long learners and accelerate the development of “soft-skills” like diagnosis, treatment planning, material selection, and technique exposure.
The course introduces clinical opportunities that students will encounter during their D3/D4 years. All D2 students will expect to have 3-6 hours of course content per week which include general assists in the VICs, grad perio assists, radiology, alginate impressions, oral medicine, digital impressions, and SPI session. You can expect to have about 1-2 sessions per week on average. These are mandatory. This course is a Pass/Fall course and has always been a Pass/Fail course.
clinical activities include:
Alginate impressions, oral exams, anesthesia, and digital impressions. Accelerate the development of “soft-skills” like diagnosis, treatment planning, material selection, and technique exposure.

622 Clinical Foundations II - Partial Denture

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to basic concepts involved in the design and fabrication of a removable partial denture. Emphasis will be placed on diagnosis and treatment planning as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment. Skills will be developed in the areas of surveying, framework design, mouth preparation, framework try-in, and laboratory communications necessary for the fabrication of a removable partial denture.

623B Diagnostic Sciences III

This course is the third in a series of “diagnostic sciences” courses. It will focus on more detailed topics in the broad area of oral and maxillofacial pathology/radiology and clinical oral medicine and will build on the foundation of material covered in Diagnostic Sciences I, Diagnostic Sciences II, and Neoplasia: General Concepts and Oral Cancer. This course will also expand upon knowledge gained in Basic Radiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Infection and Immunity, Orofacial Complex in Health, Nervous System, Musculoskeletal System, Development, Regeneration and Genetics, and Dental Pharmacology I. This course will leverage an evidence-based education format called team-based learning (TBL) addressing the clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of the lesions covered; heavy emphasis will be placed on the development of a focused differential diagnosis and patient management.

625I Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation form.

626 Applied Nutrition

This course is designed to provide an overview of nutrition, diet, and related behaviors as they apply to oral health and oral health care. The lectures will be directed toward the identification of dietary and nutritional considerations in a variety of contexts; they include a discussion of etiologic factors and manifestations of oral diseases as they relate to diet and nutrition; identification and evaluation of strategies for diet and nutritional status assessment; discussion of approaches to managing oral diseases/conditions with particular dietary or nutritional implications; identification and management of diet and nutrition-related behaviors by reviewing and applying motivational interviewing and behavioral change theory-based techniques.

628 Restorative Dentistry (ITDP)

This course combines seminars and laboratory exercises throughout the winter semester to ensure that international dental students understand the fundamental principles of operative dentistry, and grasp basic hand skills Students must know the requirements and competency of operative dentistry in the US. Techniques for direct restorations of adhesive-based composite and amalgam fillings are necessary to be polished. Emphasis is placed on the development of hand skills, self-evaluation and clinical judgment.

629 Fixed Prosthodontics (ITDP) - Clinical Foundation II

This course will emphasize the principles of indirect restorations and promote the development of dexterity in clinical dentistry. The principles taught in this course will serve as a foundation that will be applicable in both single-unit indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics procedures. This is a laboratory course supplemented by reading assignments. Emphasis will be placed on understanding clinical and laboratory step-by-step procedures as well as the development of a logical plan of treatment.

633 Clinical Applications of Direct Restorations

This course addresses decision making related to using direct restorative materials in clinical cases. The course focuses on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills to integrate existing knowledge of treatment planning, cariology and restorative principles into material and procedure selection for the patient with restorative needs. It requires students to apply knowledge and skills acquired in Dent 519, Dent 520, Dent 522, Dent 531, Dent 541, Dent 614, Dent 621 and Dent 631 to answer the question: What should we or can we do with direct restorative materials in this clinical situation and why? Emphasis will be placed on using evidence-based dentistry principles to explain the rationale for decisions.

643 Physiology and Biomechanics of Tooth Movement

This course builds on much of the orthodontic didactic material presented during the preceding terms. A review of the physiology of tooth movement and biomechanics is presented. Clinical cases are provided and discussed, with an emphasis placed on differentiating simple orthodontic problems from complex problems. Material on the similarities and differences between removable and fixed orthodontic appliances is given. A review of the appliances that are used to affect tooth movement is provided. A review of craniofacial anomalies and the orthodontist’s role in their treatment is presented. A contemporary approach to orthodontic treatment of interdisciplinary cases with an emphasis on esthetics is taught. In addition, a series of orthodontic problems usually seen in developing dentition are discussed, using case‐based examples. These clinical cases are used to help students develop their own problem lists and associated treatment options, preparing them for the D3 patient evaluation clinic.

645 Preclinical Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry encompasses a variety of disciplines, techniques, procedures, and skills that share a common basis with other specialties, but are modified and adapted to the unique requirements of infants, children, adolescents, and those with special health care needs. By being an age-specific specialty, pediatric dentistry encompasses disciplines such as behavior guidance, care of the medically and developmentally compromised and disabled patient, supervision of orofacial growth and development, caries prevention, sedation, pharmacological management, and hospital dentistry, as well as other traditional fields of dentistry.

646 Periodontics (ITDP)

This course includes didactic background information and introductory clinical experiences in preventive periodontal care. Evaluation of disease status, periodontal diagnosis, treatment planning and management of patients and treatment of disease is also introduced relative to the dentists’ responsibilities in general dental practice.

650 Periodontal Therapy II

Periodontal Therapy II is an introduction for dental students to advanced periodontal therapy (surgical periodontal treatment). This course will discuss foundational principles of periodontal surgery, including surgical wound healing, preparation, flap designs, and post-operative care. Also, the course will discuss indications, rationale, and techniques for those conditions that warrant surgical intervention. Students will be encouraged to build upon their didactic preparation through clinical reinforcement in the Graduate Periodontics clinic.

653 Advanced Esthetic Dentiatry Using Direct Resotrations

This course addresses decision-making and technical skill development related to using direct composite restorative materials in clinical esthetic cases. The course focuses on developing problem-solving skills to integrate existing knowledge of cariology, treatment planning, and restorative principles into material and procedure selection for the patient with esthetic restorative needs. It requires students to use knowledge and skills acquired in Dent 519, Dent 520, Dent 522, Dent 531, Dent 541 Dent 633 to answer the simple question: What should be done or can be done with direct composite restorative materials to address the patient’s esthetic needs in this clinical situation and why? Emphasis will be placed on the justification, or “why” portion of the question as well as techniques necessary to accomplish the planned treatment.

655 Dental Profession and Practice

This is one of a series of courses on Professionalism, the Dental Profession, and Dental Practice Administration. It will address issues both global and specific to being a dental professional and the operation of a dental practice. The objective of these courses is to make you aware of the pertinent issues facing the practicing dental professional and to provide you with the skills necessary to excel as a dental professional and run a successful dental practice. In today's world, in order for a practice to be successful it must be patient-centered, founded on sound communication and business principles, and guided by leadership skills necessary to create an efficient and pleasant office environment for staff, patients, and the owner dentist (see Outcomes Competencies for the Practice Management Program Links to an external site.).
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to fundamental elements of practice management necessary to prepare you to effectively manage your current and future practice, as well as develop the foundation necessary to maximally benefit from experiences planned in subsequent Practice Management courses.
Emphasis will be placed on:
1- Identifying elements critical to effective management of any successful practice.
2- Applying select elements toward enhanced management of your CompCare Clinic Practice.
3- Assessing the impact of those applications.

Year 3

Spring/Summer
702 Medical Emergencies

This course introduces third year students to the didactic knowledge necessary to function as a competent clinician and to identify and manage the most commonly encountered medical emergencies in the dental practice setting. The lecture course is supplemented by mandatory reading assignments.

703 Special Care Dentistry

This course will be an introduction to oral health issues and care for adults with special healthcare needs (SHCNs) and is one of a series of three modules for Special Care Dentistry. Specific issues will be reviewed to better understand the oral health concerns of this patient population and techniques and strategies of dental care will be discussed. The course also serves to reinforce concepts taught previously in Dent 615 Dentistry for the Medically Compromised Patient, and help to prepare students to provide comprehensive dental treatment for their patient families as well as coincide with Dent 741 Clinical Rotation in OMFS/Hospital Dentistry. By integrating this course with the subsequent clinical rotation, the graduating student will have the opportunity to observe and participate in the delivery of dental care for persons with SHCNs and medical complexity. This course will equip the graduating dental student to discuss the scope of a hospital dentistry practice, review treatment planning and management strategies for complex care, evaluate a patient’s health history, discuss the impact of the patient’s disability on the delivery of dental care, review the importance of interprofessional interaction in planning the patient’s dental treatment, explain the continuum of behavior management techniques for persons with special needs, review procedures involved in scheduling a patient for dental treatment in an operating room setting, and participating on the team providing dental treatment to patients within an operating room setting.

708 Dental Implants Treatment Planning

This course introduces dental implant treatment planning to the predoctoral dental student. In this course, dental students learn the fundamentals of dental implants and clinical protocols for implant crowns and implant-retained overdentures, both on surgical and restorative aspects. Along with didactic classes, the course also provides dental students with laboratory demonstrations to be exposed to: Fabrication of radiographic and surgical guides for the placement of dental implants; hands-on training on implant instrumentation for implant-supported posterior crowns and implant-retained mandibular overdentures; application of digital software and associated equipment to diagnose and treatment plan dental implants (single implant crown and implant-retained overdenture); and the digital workflow in the design and fabrication of implant-supported posterior crowns.

717 Fixed Prosthodontics: Principles & Advances

The purpose of Fixed Prosthodontics: Principles and Advanced course 717 is to provide the student with some of the basic and advanced information required in the successful treatment and maintenance of patients with fixed partial dentures. The initial lecture topics are more clinically focused on special topics. The primary objective of this course is to expand on some of the basic principles and concepts of fixed Prosthodontics that students are exposed to as they progress through the third and fourth years of their dental education. This would include but is not limited to crowns, fixed partial denture repair, and/or removal and occlusal wear. The final two lectures are dedicated to resin-bonded fixed partial dentures and crowns, fixed partial denture repair and/or removal. Students should be familiar with these principles and concepts which facilitate and enhance their clinical performance during patient treatments. The course reinforces and promotes a deeper understanding and respect for material sciences (e.g., alloys, ceramics, bonding agents, acrylics, resins, material selection, and application) and dental technicians.

718 Advanced Topics in Removable Prosthodontics

This is a clinically oriented course which covers topics which were not fully discussed in the basic courses of removable partial denture (RPD) and complete denture (CD). Topics on RPD side of the course will include biomechanical aspects of denture design, design principles, abutment selection and preparation, surveyed restorations, occlusal considerations, rotational path technique, and swing-lock concept. Topics on CD side of the course will cover physiologic and mechanical aspects of CD design, single denture, overdenture, denture repair, reline and rebase, and problem solution.

720 Comprehensive Care Clinic

(A) Periodontics, (B) Operative, (C) Prosthodontics, (D) Endodontics: Clinical Rotation Comprehensive Care is a multidisciplinary program in which students care for the dental needs of a family of patients. They are charged with providing this care using patient- centered approaches to develop an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for each patient, and delivering and managing the patient’s treatment in a timely, professional, and caring way. This program intents to provide quality care with a focus on the patient’s needs, to deliver care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient’s oral health stability. In so doing, students will apply techniques and knowledge gained through their first years of dental education and will demonstrate developing and final competency using a variety of assessments (test cases). Students will also learn patient management skills and apply ethics and professionalism in patient care. Students actively engage in their learning and regularly self-assess using a daily clinical feedback form.

725i Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation.

730 Advanced Clinical Head and Neck Anatomy

This is an advanced and pragmatic course in the applied anatomy of the head and neck emphasizing those relationships particularly relevant to the practice of dentistry. The sessions will cover basic and advanced anatomical topics as well as clinical topics with relevant anatomical components.

737 Preclinical Endodontics Lab

The purpose of this course is to provide practical preclinical experience in performing non-surgical root canal treatment on uncomplicated anterior, premolar, and molar teeth. The course will prepare the student for the management of pulpal and periradicular disease by means of various forms of clinical simulation exercises. Clinical and technical endodontic skills are taught which will complete the endodontic learning lattice developed in the fall D2 semester where the science of pulpal disease is explored. Problem-solving skills, critical thinking, patient simulation, and self-assessment will be emphasized throughout the course. At the end of the course, the student should be competent in performing non-surgical root canal treatment on uncomplicated anterior and premolar, and molar teeth in a clinical situation.

737A Preclinical Endodontics Lecture

The purpose of this course is to provide practical preclinical experience in performing non-surgical root canal treatment on uncomplicated anterior, premolar, and molar teeth. The course will prepare the student for the management of pulpal and periradicular disease by means of various forms of clinical simulation exercises. Clinical and technical endodontic skills are taught which will complete the endodontic learning lattice developed in the fall D2 semester where the science of pulpal disease is explored. Problem-solving skills, critical thinking, patient simulation, and self-assessment will be emphasized throughout the course. At the end of the course, the student should be competent in performing non-surgical root canal treatment on uncomplicated anterior and premolar and molar teeth in a clinical situation.

740 Clinical Rotation - Oral Surgery

This course builds upon the baseline knowledge acquired in past coursework and provides live patient care experience through the clinical application of the principles of exodontia and the surgical management of medically compromised patients in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The experience prepares the student to demonstrate competence in the practice of dentistry, specifically, the performance of basic oral surgery and exodontia.

743 Clinical Rotation - Pediatric Dentistry

This course is a combination of the DENT 743A & DENT 743B courses which will consolidate case-based seminars (743A) with the Pediatric Dentistry clinical rotation (743B). Two-week, 16 half-day sessions rotation which includes
• typodont exercises
• typodont-based clinical skills tests
• supplemental exercise assignments
• in-person, small group case-based seminars
• direct patient care
• resident observation

744 Clinical Rotation - Oral Radiology

This Clinical Rotation will expand upon knowledge and skills gained in Basic Radiology 506, Diagnostic Sciences I 526, and Diagnostic Sciences II 623A. You will have the opportunity to interact with patients of different backgrounds as you take and interpret the various series of radiographs ordered by a Faculty member from the PAES Clinic.

745 Clinical Rotation - Orthodontics

Clinical orthodontics in the predoctoral orthodontic patient evaluation clinics prepare the graduating student to recognize and diagnose developmental or acquired occlusal abnormalities of the dentition and plan treatment options for cases with these problems. Emphasis is placed on recognition of skeletal and dental orthodontic problems of the dentitions using a rigorous, step-by-step clinical examination scheme and diagnostic data analyses learned in courses 641 and 643, as well as integrate treatment modalities learned in 742 in the D3 Fall. The graduating student learns to differentiate simple and complex cases that may require referral to the specialist. In addition, the student must understand treatment options for simple cases, with 3D virtual simulation of tooth movements.

747 Pediatric Dentistry

This course is designed to expand upon concepts presented in DENT 645, and it will further prepare you for clinical pediatric dentistry and serve as a foundation for successful comprehensive pediatric dental care in general practice.

Fall
711 Diagnostic Sciences IV

The final course in the series of “diagnostic sciences” courses, will focus on more detailed topics in the broad area of oral and maxillofacial pathology/radiology and clinical oral pathology/oral medicine and will build on the foundation of material covered in Diagnostic Sciences I (DENT 526; describing and identify the most common clinical and radiographic lesions), Diagnostic Sciences II (DENT 623A; radiographic presentation), “Neoplasia: General Concepts and Oral Cancer” (DENT 605; The Patient with Neoplasia), and Diagnostic Sciences III (DENT 623B, overview of soft tissue and bone pathology with an emphasis on clinical-radiographic- pathologic correlation). This course also builds on the material covered in previous courses in anatomy, histology, diagnosis and treatment planning, general pathology, pharmacology, therapeutics, and oral surgery. Students are expected to have a solid grasp of the pertinent material covered in previous classes in order to be able to participate successfully in this course. This course is designed to assist third-year dental students with integrating their previously attained knowledge and clinical skills to formulate an appropriate diagnosis and management plan for patients with both simple and complex oral and maxillofacial conditions that are likely to be encountered in clinical practice.

720 Comprehensive Care Clinic

Oral Medicine (OMED), (A) Periodontics, (B) Operative, (C) Prosthodontics, (D) Endodontics-Clinical Rotation. Comprehensive Care is a multidisciplinary program in which students care for the dental needs of a family of patients. They are charged with providing this care using patient centered approaches to develop an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for each patient, and delivering and managing the patient’s treatment in a timely, professional, and caring way. The intent of this program is to provide quality care with a focus on the patient’s needs, to deliver care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient’s oral health stability. In so doing, students will apply techniques and knowledge gained through their first years of dental education and will demonstrate developing and final competency using a variety of assessments (test cases). Students will also learn patient management skills and apply ethics and professionalism in patient care. Students actively engage in their learning and regularly self-assess using a daily clinical feedback form.

724 Dental Implants

The purpose of Dental Implants course 724 is to provide the students with knowledge in all aspects of clinical implant dentistry as one of the treatment options for replacing missing tooth or teeth.

725i Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation.

740 Clinical Rotation - OMFS/ Hospital Dentistry

This course builds upon the baseline knowledge acquired in past coursework and provides live patient care experience through the clinical application of the principles of exodontia and the surgical management of medically compromised patients in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The experience prepares the student to demonstrate competence in the practice of dentistry, specifically, the performance of basic oral surgery and exodontia.

741 Clinical Rotation - OMFS/ Hospital Dentistry

This course will be a clinical introduction to oral health issues and care for pediatric and adult patients with special healthcare needs, including those patients with disabilities and/or mental illness, medically compromised status, maxillofacial trauma, head and neck cancer, and orofacial pain/TMD. This will include patient interactions with residents and faculty in OMFS/Hospital Dentistry in a clinic and operating room setting; on an outpatient, inpatient, and emergency basis. It also serves to reinforce concepts taught previously in the Dent 613 Principles of Oral Surgery, Dent 615 Dentistry for the Medically Compromised Patient course and Dent 703 Adult Special Care/Hospital Dentistry courses, and to help prepare students to provide comprehensive dental treatment for their patient families in the remainder of dental school and clinical practice after graduation. This course will equip the graduating dental student to discuss the scope of an oral surgery and hospital dentistry practice, review treatment planning and management of complex patients, evaluate a patient’s health history, discuss the impact of the patient’s condition(s) on the delivery of dental care, review the importance of inter-professional interaction in planning the patient’s dental treatment, explain the continuum of behavior management techniques for persons with special needs, review procedures involved in scheduling a patient for dental treatment in an operating room setting, and participate in the team providing dental treatment to patients in the operating room. Students are encouraged to participate in daily morning rounds with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as weekly resident seminars of the OMFS and GPR programs.
Rotation activities for each assigned day are designed to allow students to integrate and apply foundation knowledge with clinical problem-solving strategies to further develop the critical thinking skills needed to provide safe and effective dental management of complex patients. Students will participate in a variety of unique treatment settings, and as such, may observe, assist or provide direct patient care depending on the situation and the student’s level of experience. There is value in each of these roles; please consider that active learning can take place regardless. Observation can allow for a more complete analysis and understanding of the patient-provider interaction while assisting can allow for a more direct form of learning in complex procedures. Attempts will be made to provide direct patient care experiences when possible and appropriate to expose the student to treatment planning considerations and management strategies for patients with complex needs.

742 Orthodontics

This third year course is intended to expose dental students to the treatment possibilities offered by contemporary orthodontic therapy. This course begins with an overview of comprehensive orthodontic treatment, including the initial orthodontic examination as well as a review of various fixed orthodontic appliances and adjuncts. The management of the adolescent patient is discussed in detail, with particular emphasis placed on the treatment of tooth-size/arch-size discrepancies using extraction, expansion, and interproximal reduction protocols. The selection of extraction pattern is discussed, based in part on the profile of the patient. The use of extraoral traction and functional jaw orthopedic appliances also are considered in the correction of sagittal malocclusion.
The treatment of children in the mixed dentition is considered, with several treatment alternatives presented, including treatment with clear aligners, space maintenance, serial extraction, and orthopedic expansion for the treatment of arch length discrepancies, extraoral force, molar distalization and functional jaw orthopedic therapies for the treatment of Class II malocclusion, and the orthopedic facial mask, bone-anchored intermaxillary traction, and the Carriere Motion Appliance for Class III problems. More complex problems requiring surgery also are discussed. The routine management of typical orthognathic surgical procedures (e.g., sagittal split osteotomy, Le Fort I osteotomy, genioplasty) is presented.

743 Clinical Rotation - Endodontics

This course is a combination of the DENT 743A & DENT 743B courses which will consolidate case-based seminars (743A) with the Pediatric Dentistry clinical rotation (743B).
Two-week, 16 half-day sessions rotation which includes
• typodont exercises
• typodont-based clinical skills tests
• supplemental exercise assignments
• in-person, small group case-based seminars
• direct patient care
• resident observation

744 Clinical Rotation - Oral Radiology

This Clinical Rotation will expand upon knowledge and skills gained in Basic Radiology 506, Diagnostic Sciences I 526, and Diagnostic Sciences II 623A. You will have the opportunity to interact with patients of different backgrounds as you take and interpret the different series of radiographs ordered by a Faculty member from the PAES Clinic.

745 Clinical Rotation - Orthodontics

Clinical orthodontics in the predoctoral orthodontic patient evaluation clinics prepare the graduating student to recognize and diagnose developmental or acquired occlusal abnormalities of the dentition and plan treatment options for cases with these problems. Emphasis is placed on recognition of skeletal and dental orthodontic problems of the dentitions using a rigorous, step-by-step clinical examination scheme and diagnostic data analyses learned in courses 641 and 643, as well as integrate treatment modalities learned in 742 in the D3 Fall. The graduating student learns to differentiate simple and complex cases that may require referral to the specialist. In addition, the student must understand treatment options for simple cases, with 3D virtual simulation of tooth movements.

750 Interdisciplinary Periodontal Therapy

This course is to provide dental students with knowledge about the intimate relationships between Periodontology and other dental disciplines, including Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Endodontics, Oral Implantology, etc. This course will discuss how periodontal therapy can benefit other types of dental procedures and vice versa. Types of periodontal therapy commonly performed to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach will be introduced, including esthetic/functional crown lengthening, gingival augmentation, root coverage procedures, implant site development, implant surgical therapy, implant maintenance, etc. This course is designed to foster critical thinking, by presenting and working on clinical cases with which students and instructors can discuss various treatment options and processes and their clinical outcomes. Detailed procedures and keys that can contribute to efficient communication between different disciplines are introduced so that students can apply the information in daily practice. The effectiveness of learning will be assessed with weekly quizzes, the midterm exam, and the final exam.

755A Dental Profession and Practice

This is one of a series of courses on Professionalism, the Dental Profession, and Dental Practice Administration. It will address issues both global and specific to being a dental professional and the operation of a dental practice. The objective of these courses is to make you aware of the pertinent issues facing the practicing dental professional and to provide you with the skills necessary to excel as a dental professional and run a successful dental practice. In today's world, in order for a practice to be successful it must be patient-centered, founded on sound communication and business principles, and guided by leadership skills necessary to create an efficient and pleasant office environment for staff, patients and the owner dentist.
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to fundamental elements of practice management necessary to prepare you to effectively manage your current and future practice and to develop the foundation necessary to maximally benefit from experiences planned in subsequent Practice Management courses. Emphasis will be placed on:
1. Identifying elements critical to effective management of any successful practice.
2. Developing intra-professional skills and appreciation for effective team function in dental environments for ideal patient care.
3. Applying select elements toward enhanced management of your CompCare Clinic Practice.
4. Assessing the impact of those applications.
The ethical and social issues that are intrinsic to the practice environment will be addressed where indicated.
 

757 Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education

This course will provide D3 students with the basic information necessary to navigate through their Community Based Collaborative Care and Education experiences by providing fundamental information and practice related to the rotation process in a virtual format. This 1 credit pass/fail course consists of a formal virtual orientation session, assignments, evaluations and virtual rotations which will be an assessed experience focusing on the mechanics of documenting patient care and learning. For tracking purposes, students post every patient encounter while on rotation in eMedley, which includes a non‐identifiable patient profile and diagnostic and procedure codes.Students are evaluated by their individual preceptor faculty and are required to provide evaluations of the site and preceptor. Students self‐assess and share personal insights regarding what they have learned by completing a self‐assessment and a reflection assignment following their rotation.

Winter
704 Special Care Dentistry - Geriatrics

A lecture-based introduction to oral health concerns of the geriatric patient. We provide a framework of knowledge about biological, psychological, sociological, behavioral, medical, and oral health issues of aging for the comprehensive management of the geriatric dental patient.

707 Clinical Neuroscience - Orofacial Pain

The practicing dentist represents the frontline of healthcare and must recognize disorders of the nervous system during routine dental examinations. This course presents clinical cases relevant to the practicing dentist. Relevancy means that the dentist will encounter these neurologically based conditions commonly, e.g., toothache, headaches, tinnitus, and sleep disorders, and needs to recognize either how to recognize them and provide appropriate treatment or when to make educated and thoughtful referrals based on patient presentation.

720 Comprehensive Care Clinic

Oral Medicine (OMED), (A) Periodontics, (B) Operative, (C) Prosthodontics, (D) Endodontics-Clinical Rotation. Comprehensive Care is a multidisciplinary program in which students care for the dental needs of a family of patients. They are charged with providing this care using patient centered approaches to develop an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for each patient, and delivering and managing the patient’s treatment in a timely, professional, and caring way. The intent of this program is to provide quality care with a focus on the patient’s needs, to deliver care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient’s oral health stability. In so doing, students will apply techniques and knowledge gained through their first years of dental education and will demonstrate developing and final competency using a variety of assessments (test cases). Students will also learn patient management skills and apply ethics and professionalism in patient care. Students actively engage in their learning and regularly self-assess using a daily clinical feedback form.

725i Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation.

740 Clinical Rotation - Oral Surgery

This course builds upon the baseline knowledge acquired in past coursework and provides live patient care experience through the clinical application of the principles of exodontia and the surgical management of medically compromised patients in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The experience prepares the student to demonstrate competence in the practice of dentistry, specifically, the performance of basic oral surgery and exodontia.

741 Clinical Rotation - OMFS/ Hospital Dentistry

This course will be a clinical introduction to oral health issues and care for pediatric and adult patients with special healthcare needs, including those patients with disabilities and/or mental illness, medically compromised status, maxillofacial trauma, head and neck cancer, and orofacial pain/TMD. This will include patient interactions with residents and faculty in OMFS/Hospital Dentistry in a clinic and operating room setting; on an outpatient, inpatient, and emergency basis. It also serves to reinforce concepts taught previously in the Dent 613 Principles of Oral Surgery, Dent 615 Dentistry for the Medically Compromised Patient course and Dent 703 Adult Special Care/Hospital Dentistry courses, and to help prepare students to provide comprehensive dental treatment for their patient families in the remainder of dental school and clinical practice after graduation. This course will equip the graduating dental student to discuss the scope of an oral surgery and hospital dentistry practice, review treatment planning and management of complex patients, evaluate a patient’s health history, discuss the impact of the patient’s condition(s) on the delivery of dental care, review the importance of interprofessional interaction in planning the patient’s dental treatment, explain the continuum of behavior management techniques for persons with special needs, review procedures involved in scheduling a patient for dental treatment in an operating room setting, and participate in the team providing dental treatment to patients in the operating room. Online resources include selected journal articles from the dental and medical literature and other relevant patient education resources. Students are encouraged to participate in daily morning rounds with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as weekly resident seminars of the OMFS and GPR programs.
Rotation activities for each assigned day are designed to allow students to integrate and apply foundation knowledge with clinical problem-solving strategies to further develop the critical thinking skills needed to provide safe and effective dental management of complex patients. Students will participate in a variety of unique treatment settings, and as such, may observe, assist or provide direct patient care depending on the situation and the student’s level of experience. There is value in each of these roles; please consider that active learning can take place regardless. Observation can allow for a more complete analysis and understanding of the patient-provider interaction while assisting can allow for a more direct form of learning in complex procedures. Attempts will be made to provide direct patient care experiences when possible and appropriate to expose the student to treatment planning considerations and management strategies for patients with complex needs.

743 Clinical Rotation - Pediatric Dentistry

This course is a combination of the DENT 743A & DENT 743B courses which will consolidate case-based seminars (743A) with the Pediatric Dentistry clinical rotation (743B).
Two-week, 16 half-day sessions rotation which includes
• typodont exercises
• typodont-based clinical skills tests
• supplemental exercise assignments
• in-person, small group case-based seminars
• direct patient care
• resident observation

746 Diagnostic Treatment Planning

The D-3 Treatment Planning Seminar provides students with clinically based decision-making exercises to supplement their didactic and clinical experiences. During the Term, faculty will provide patient case scenarios for consideration/discussion. Students will gain experience in analyzing and responding to a wide variety of medical and dental conditions and needs. Emphasis will be placed on planning care to achieve practical treatment goals based on diagnostic findings, risk factors, available resources, and patient preferences. Students will discuss strategies for managing these needs as they expand treatment planning skill and experience.

755B Dental Profession and Practice

This is one of a series of courses on Professionalism, the Dental Profession, and Dental Practice Administration. It will address issues both global and specific to being a dental professional and the operation of a dental practice. The objective of these courses is to make you aware of the pertinent issues facing the practicing dental professional and to provide you with the skills necessary to excel as a dental professional and run a successful dental practice. In today's world, for a practice to be successful, it must be patient-centered, founded on sound communication and business principles, and guided by leadership skills necessary to create an efficient and pleasant office environment for staff, patients and the owner dentist (see Outcomes Competencies for the Practice Management Program).
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to fundamental elements of practice management necessary to prepare you to effectively manage your current and future practice and to develop the foundation necessary to maximally benefit from experiences planned in subsequent Practice Management courses. Emphasis will be placed on:
1. Identifying elements critical to effective management of any successful practice.
2. Developing intra-professional skills and appreciation for effective team function in dental environments for ideal patient care.
3. Applying select elements toward enhanced management of your CompCare Clinic Practice.
4. Assessing the impact of those applications.
The ethical and social issues that are intrinsic to the practice environment will be addressed where indicated.

757 Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education

This course will provide D3 students with the basic information necessary to navigate through their Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education experiences by providing fundamental information and practice related to the rotation process in a virtual format. This 1 credit pass/fail course consists of a formal virtual orientation session, assignments, evaluations, and virtual rotations which will be an assessed experience focusing on the mechanics of documenting patient care and learning. For tracking purposes, students post every patient encounter while on rotation in eMedley, which includes a non‐identifiable patient profile and diagnostic and procedure codes. Students are evaluated by their individual preceptor faculty and are required to provide evaluations of the site and preceptor. Students self assess and share personal insights regarding what they have learned by completing a self‐assessment and a reflection assignment following their rotation.

760 Health Professions IPE:Team-Based Clinical Decision-Making

This interprofessional course is for student learners in the areas of advanced practice providers (medicine and advanced-practice nursing), dentistry, pharmacy, and social work. The course allows health professional students to gain an understanding of how each discipline contributes to the healthcare team, the importance of effective communication, and the role of team collaboration in clinical decision-making.

Year 4

Spring/Summer
813 Advanced Oral Surgery

This course provides fourth-year students with the advanced didactic knowledge necessary for the application of the foundational principles of OMS to clinical practice as a dentist and to foster effective collaboration with specialists in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Most of the Faculty in the department participate in the course in addition to select residents in our advanced training program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

820 Comprehensive Care Clinic

Comprehensive Care is a multidisciplinary program in which students will care for the dental needs of a family of patients. They are charged with providing this care using patient-centered approaches to develop an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for each patient and delivering and managing the patient’s treatment in a timely and caring way. The intent of this program is to provide quality care with a focus on the patient’s needs, to deliver care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient’s oral health stability. The list below must be precisely followed to achieve patient care goals.

Patient Care Goals:

Examine, evaluate, and provide care with the focus on the patient. Identify all the patient’s needs. Develop a treatment plan that is acceptable to all parties. Deliver and prioritized care with efficiency. Educate and maintain the patient during the delivery of care. Deliver care within the skills of the student. Focus on achieving and maintaining the patient’s oral health and stability. Enhance the diagnostic and clinical skills of the student.

822 Special Care Dentistry

It is the charge of the dental profession to provide comprehensive oral health care for all people. Sick or healthy, with means or without—the profession must provide oral health care for all children. Vulnerable children, such as children with special health care needs, children living in poverty, families with tremendous barriers to seeking care, and children growing up in scarcity and toxic stress all need your help. Providing care for at-risk children can be among the most rewarding things a dentist can do—but having a baseline understanding of the conditions that put children at risk is important to provide compassionate care to these children. This course will focus on three areas:

  • Patient-level conditions: How special health care needs affect pediatric dental care
  • Family-level conditions: How social determinants of health including health literacy affect pediatric dental care
  • Community-level conditions: How population health and advocacy can affect pediatric dental care

Children with special health care needs include those with diverse developmental, physical, and Emotional states as well as those whose systemic medical conditions complicate their receiving of dental care. Social determinants of health are the conditions under which children live, grow, and develop. Population health is the health outcomes of a community and includes how social, cultural, and environmental factors impact a group. The focus of all course content will assess what this means for your child patient, and what this means for you as a dentist. This course is designed to (i) Provide the knowledge foundation to provide appropriate care for these children, and (ii) inspire the need for future clinical training and continuing education in caring for these vulnerable populations in great need.

825i Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester, students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation.

840 Clinical Rotation - Oral Surgery

This course relies on knowledge acquired in past coursework and rotations and provides the D4 student additional live patient care experience through the clinical application of the principles of exodontia and the surgical management of medically compromised patients in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The experience allows for the student to further develop skills necessary for practice following graduation. By the conclusion of the course, the student will have had to demonstrate competency in routine exodontia and the ability to safely and effectively manage the medically complex patient. Supervision of D3 students is not a component of this rotation.

855 Dental Profession and Practice

This is one of a series of courses on Professionalism, the Dental Profession, and Dental Practice Administration. It will address the concept of giving back to the profession by contributing to the education of D1 through D3 students as well as provide opportunities to develop team leadership skills necessary to be a successful dental practitioner. D4s will have the opportunity to qualify for and participate in mentoring and team leadership opportunities in a variety of areas including preclinic, clinic, and didactic environments through a combination of assigned and elective experiences.

857 Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education

This course is a capstone clinical immersion that provides students with clinical rotation experiences over three terms in the D4 year in off‐campus community clinics. Activities while on rotation are tracked, attested, and accessed using a cloud‐based data storage system. This is a 4 credit‐hour graded course, the first in a series of three courses, which, when complete provides a summative assessment of clinical competence. A grade will be entered after each cycle/semester is completed. All rotations are at calibrated off-campus sites under the supervision of credentialed preceptor faculty. Due to scheduling, rotations may be split between different semesters. Students provide patient care at community sites while adhering to all School of Dentistry standards of care. For tracking purposes, students post every patient encounter while on rotation, which includes a non‐‐identifiable patient profile and ICD 10 diagnostic and procedure codes. Students are evaluated by their individual preceptor faculty and are required to provide evaluations of the site and preceptors. Students self‐ assess and share personal insights regarding what they have learned by completing a reflection assignment following each rotation.
 

Fall
820 Comprehensive Care Clinic

Comprehensive Care is a multidisciplinary program in which students will care for the dental needs of a family of patients. They are charged with providing this care using patient-centered approaches to develop an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for each patient and delivering and managing the patient’s treatment in a timely and caring way. The intent of this program is to provide quality care with a focus on the patient’s needs, to deliver care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient’s oral health stability. The list below must be precisely followed to achieve patient care goals.

Patient Care Goals:

Examine, evaluate, and provide care with the focus on the patient. Identify all the patient’s needs. Develop a treatment plan that is acceptable to all parties. Deliver and prioritized care with efficiency. Educate and maintain the patient during the delivery of care. Deliver care within the skills of the student. Focus on achieving and maintaining the patient’s oral health and stability. Enhance the diagnostic and clinical skills of the student.

825i Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester, students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation.

840 Clinical Rotation - Oral Surgery

This course relies on knowledge acquired in past coursework and rotations and provides the D4 student additional live patient care experience through the clinical application of the principles of exodontia and the surgical management of medically compromised patients in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The experience allows for the student to further develop skills necessary for practice following graduation. By the conclusion of the course, the student will have had to demonstrate competency in routine exodontia and the ability to safely and effectively manage the medically complex patient. Supervision of D3 students is not a component of this rotation.

855 Dental Profession and Practice

This is one of a series of courses on Professionalism, the Dental Profession, and Dental Practice Administration. It will address the concept of giving back to the profession by contributing to the education of D1 through D3 students as well as provide opportunities to develop team leadership skills necessary to be a successful dental practitioner. D4s will have the opportunity to qualify for and participate in mentoring and team leadership opportunities in a variety of areas including preclinic, clinic, and didactic environments through a combination of assigned and elective experiences.

857 Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education

This course is a capstone clinical immersion that provides students with clinical rotation experiences over three terms in the D4 year in off‐campus community clinics. Activities while on rotation are tracked, attested, and accessed using a cloud‐based data storage system. This is a 4 credit‐hour graded course, the first in a series of three courses, which, when complete provides a summative assessment of clinical competence. A grade will be entered after each cycle/semester is completed. All rotations are at calibrated off-campus sites under the supervision of credentialed preceptor faculty. Due to scheduling, rotations may be split between different semesters. Students provide patient care at community sites while adhering to all School of Dentistry standards of care. For tracking purposes, students post every patient encounter while on rotation, which includes a non‐‐identifiable patient profile and ICD 10 diagnostic and procedure codes. Students are evaluated by their individual preceptor faculty and are required to provide evaluations of the site and preceptors. Students self‐ assess and share personal insights regarding what they have learned by completing a reflection assignment following each rotation.

Winter
820 Comprehensive Care Clinic

Comprehensive Care is a multidisciplinary program in which students will care for the dental needs of a family of patients. They are charged with providing this care using patient-centered approaches to develop an appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for each patient and delivering and managing the patient’s treatment in a timely and caring way. The intent of this program is to provide quality care with a focus on the patient’s needs, to deliver care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient’s oral health stability. The list below must be precisely followed to achieve patient care goals.

Patient Care Goals:

Examine, evaluate, and provide care with the focus on the patient. Identify all the patient’s needs. Develop a treatment plan that is acceptable to all parties. Deliver and prioritized care with efficiency. Educate and maintain the patient during the delivery of care. Deliver care within the skills of the student. Focus on achieving and maintaining the patient’s oral health and stability. Enhance the diagnostic and clinical skills of the student.

825i Pathways - Immersion

The Immersion Pathway provides an in-depth focus on a chosen topic by the student and completion of a capstone project, where there is an expectation of dissemination of the results through scholarship that will inform the profession. During this semester, students will meet with their mentors and work on their project, reviewing their stated project metrics list with their mentor and completing a project update evaluation.

840 Clinical Rotation - Oral Surgery

This course relies on knowledge acquired in past coursework and rotations and provides the D4 student additional live patient care experience through the clinical application of the principles of exodontia and the surgical management of medically compromised patients in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The experience allows for the student to further develop skills necessary for practice following graduation. By the conclusion of the course, the student will have had to demonstrate competency in routine exodontia and the ability to safely and effectively manage the medically complex patient. Supervision of D3 students is not a component of this rotation.

855 Dental Profession and Practice

This is one of a series of courses on Professionalism, the Dental Profession, and Dental Practice Administration. It will address the concept of giving back to the profession by contributing to the education of D1 through D3 students as well as provide opportunities to develop team leadership skills necessary to be a successful dental practitioner. D4s will have the opportunity to qualify for and participate in mentoring and team leadership opportunities in a variety of areas including preclinic, clinic, and didactic environments through a combination of assigned and elective experiences.

857 Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education

This course is a capstone clinical immersion that provides students with clinical rotation experiences over three terms in the D4 year in off‐campus community clinics. Activities while on rotation are tracked, attested, and accessed using a cloud‐based data storage system. This is a 4 credit‐hour graded course, the first in a series of three courses, which, when complete provides a summative assessment of clinical competence. A grade will be entered after each cycle/semester is completed. All rotations are at calibrated off campus sites under the supervision of credentialed preceptor faculty. Due to scheduling, rotations may be split between different semesters. Students provide patient care at community sites while adhering to all School of Dentistry standards of care. For tracking purposes, students post every patient encounter while on rotation, which includes a non‐‐identifiable patient profile and ICD 10 diagnostic and procedure codes. Students are evaluated by their individual preceptor faculty and are required to provide evaluations of the site and preceptors. Students self‐ assess and share personal insights regarding what they have learned by completing a reflection assignment following each rotation.

University of Michigan School of Dentistry

1011 North University Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-763-6933

Sitemap

  • Education
  • Patient Care
  • Research
  • Alumni
  • News & Events
  • About

Links

  • Tools
  • Directions & Parking
  • Directory
  • Room Scheduling
  • Career Opportunities
  • Copyright/License

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Flickr
  • YouTube

© 2025 Regents of the University of Michigan

Produced by Michigan Creative, a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Communications