Restorative Dentistry

This course explains the evolution/development, mechanical and physical properties, biological characteristics, manipulation, and evaluation of materials used in prevention, treatment, and restoration of the oral cavity. It is a multidisciplinary course involving all the basic scientific principles of chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering as they apply to each material. The first-year dental student will be introduced to the fundamental principles of the science of dental materials. These principles will assist the student in electing preventive, restorative, and auxiliary materials as part of comprehensive treatment planning.

This course is designed to be a core didactic learning experience in an evolving behavioral dental curriculum. This initial course is arranged to provide pre-doctoral dental students with an introduction to socio-behavioral aspects of dental practice. The following issues will be discussed throughout this course: effective communication with patients and interprofessionals, core concepts of patient-centered dental care, addressing behavioral aspects of dental care, and management of vulnerable patients. This course supports several ADEA competencies in the areas of Critical Thinking, Professionalism, Patient Care, Health Promotion and Communication and Interpersonal skills.

This course is an introduction to permanent and primary tooth anatomy. Focus is put on the study of the morphology, function and identification of each of the teeth in the human dentitions, as well as the way in which the teeth relate in shape, form, structure, color and function to the other teeth in the same arch and the opposing arch. Emphasis will be on the development of manual dexterity, perception, and evaluative skills.

This course accompanies the Operative Laboratory course and is designed to provide the theory used in the application and execution of Operative Dentistry and supports the Operative Dentistry Laboratory courses. The science of Operative Dentistry and the techniques for procedures used in Laboratory are presented through lecture. The practical application of these skills will prepare students for clinical Operative Dentistry.

This second level course is designed to build upon the content presented in Dental Practice Readiness Curriculum I. The second-year dental student will receive information to assist the development of competence in dental economics and the management of a successful dental practice. The online Dental Practice Readiness Curriculum (DPRC) addresses the challenge of compressed dental school curricula with limited time for non-clinical topics. Students will read and give written summaries on current event articles that highlight current trends and activities in dental practice economics, and business in general.

This course is designed to present the first-year dental student with information on dental career preferences and opportunities available to them as dental professionals. Steps for creating a viable career plan will be presented. The student will develop competence in dental economics and the management of a successful dental practice. The online Dental Practice Readiness Curriculum (DPRC) addresses the challenge of compressed dental school curricula with limited time for nonclinical topics. A blended-learning format which includes online education, simulations, and self-directed learning, as an alternative approach to faculty intensive classroom-based strategies, will be used.

The fall semester curriculum of the Operative Lab is designed to teach students how to select materials and restore the preparations of teeth with different restorative materials. The application of cements, liners, bases, and temporary restorative materials are performed as well as those of permanent materials, such as amalgam and direct composite. This pre-clinical exposure to Operative Dentistry is performed on a dentoform simulating the clinical experience. Ergonomics, proper treatment planning, infection control, and basic sciences relative to dental caries and restoration are all incorporated in the student's overall learning experiences.

Restorative Dentistry Lecture provides a transition for the dental student entering the clinic. This course is designed to reinforce, integrate, and build upon knowledge acquired in the previous two years of the Restorative Dentistry curriculum. A clinical perspective is presented, illustrating the integration of the dental disciplines employed in rendering live patient care. The student will gain an appreciation for oral health problems and how they can be managed, restoratively. Lectures will provide examples of commonly treated dental conditions, dental materials used in treating these conditions, and will assist the student in selecting potential courses of intervention. The student will review and critique case-based literature, in an effort to evaluate current trends and justifications for treatment options.

This DPRC curriculum continues. The level 3 course is designed to assist in the development of competence in dental economics and the management of a successful dental practice for the third-year student. The DPRC Level 3 course will include an introduction to marketing and the development of a marketing campaign specific for the dental practice, the use of social media in marketing, development of a contingency plan, and an overview of dental practice overhead.

This lecture series is designed to continue the practice management curriculum. In this course, the third-year dental student will be provided content intended to assist in the development of competence in dental economics and the management of a successful dental practice. Level 4 will include an introduction to the development of a contingency plan, an overview of dental practice overhead, an understanding of dental insurances, dental coding, and risk management.