Instructors
Instructors
Chair - Professor Clarkson; Professors - D. Dennison, Heys, Holland, Ismail, Peters, Rutherford; Associate Professors - Chiego, Fitzgerald, R. Heys; Assistant Professors - Baumgardner, Nör, Ritchie, Taylor; Clinical Professor - Yaman; Clinical Associate Professors - Bauer, Fasbinder, Veryser; Clinical Assistant Professors - Hamilton, McLean, Stoffers.
Objectives
Cariology is the study of the pathogenesis and prevention of one of the world's most common diseases -- dental caries. In order for this disease to develop it needs a susceptible host, a cariogenic bacterial flora, and the bacteria need a substrate (usually refined carbohydrates) which can be metabolized to produce acid. These acids cause the demineralization of the hard tissue of the teeth -- enamel, dentin, and cementum. Without intervention this demineralization and later bacterial invasion of the hard tissue will cause the pulp of the tooth to become infected, leading to loss of vitality and perhaps extraction. Understanding the etiology, treatment, and prevention of this disease defines the clinical and scientific parameters of cariology.
The new paradigm for operative dentistry is to make the distinction between caries as an infectious disease and caries as a lesion which needs to be treated "surgically". New objective tests -- which include salivary flow rates, salivary buffering capacity, identification of levels of cariogenic bacteria (for example, streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli) -- provide identification of individuals at a high or low risk for oral dental caries. The use of these patient risk profiles allows practitioners to target appropriate preventive and conservative therapies before embarking on the more usual and customary restorative treatment. Operative dentistry will continue to provide the principles of prevention, interception, preservation and restoration as they relate to the hard tissues of the mouth and the effect of restoration contours on the supporting structures. Biological and mechanical principles are emphasized in selecting materials and designing cavity preparations. Self-evaluation is practiced routinely as a teaching method and to introduce peer review. The effects of trauma and developmental disturbances are also evaluated. Restorative techniques are advocated to restore form, function, and esthetics within the masticatory system.
Endodontics is concerned with the morphology, physiology, and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues. Its study and practice encompass the basic clinical sciences, including the biology of the normal pulp; the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp; and associated periradicular conditions. Students will develop skills to enable them to diagnose, provide nonsurgical conventional treatment, and evaluate healing in uncomplicated single and multicanaled teeth. A familiarity with the entire scope of the specialty of endodontics is developed to provide a basis for referral to a specialist for further diagnosis and/or treatment of more complex nonsurgical and surgical cases.
Practice management is taught so patients are comfortable when receiving oral health care. Fundamental business principles are presented to plan and implement a financial structure and a professional marketing approach necessary to establish a successful dental practice. The interaction of these disciplines forms the basis for dental practice and the initiation of primary care.
Emphasis is placed on developing professional clinical judgement and demonstrating psychomotor skills necessary to perform comprehensive dental care. Treatment in the clinical disciplines is augmented with small business management concepts and the delivery of health care services to form a sound foundation to practice general dentistry.
Course Descriptions
519. Clinical Foundations I. The laboratory course provides basic experiences in instrument application (rotary and hand), waxing technique, dental material manipulation, and the "lost wax" casting technique. Emphasis is placed on evaluation and problem solving skills and strategies. Some clinical experience is provided to introduce the student to aseptic techniques, barrier control, as well as limited patient/ operator interaction.
520. Clinical Foundations I (Conservative Restorative Dentistry). This course develops the basic psychomotor skills needed to prepare and restore teeth with dental amalgam, glass ionomers, and composite resin. Students are introduced to the nomenclature, instrumentation, and manipulative techniques related to these restorative materials. The course is delivered in a laboratory environment and supplemented with lectures and audiovisual aids. Special attention is given to developing self-management and self-evaluation skills.
521. Occlusion I. Lecture covers external and internal anatomy of both primary and permanent human teeth, including appropriate terminology and nomenclature. Laboratory includes workbook labeling, drawing exercises, and the identification and study of extracted teeth.
612. Principles of Endodontics I. This course is the foundation for all other endodontic courses. This is a lecture course supplemented by reading assignments and slides. Of utmost importance is recognizing the influence of the pathologic pulp upon the tissue surrounding and supporting the tooth, and this upon the health and welfare of the patient. The goal of this course is to present biological rationale, diagnostic criteria, principles of case selection, endodontic materials and medicaments, and clinical management procedures for irreversible pulpal pathology and its sequelae.
614. Principles of Restorative Dentistry. This is a lecture course presented jointly by the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics and the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences covering the basic principles of cast gold restorations, porcelain fused to metal restorations, and fixed prosthetic restorations.
620. Comprehensive Care Clinic. Prophylaxis: Basic prophylaxis skills are covered, including patient and periodontal evaluation, the provision of preventive health information and preventive periodontal treatment. The clinical experience involves patients who require simple prophylaxis. Radiology: Students practice intraoral radiographic techniques on a manikin and then apply these skills to patients requiring diagnostic radiographs. Basic Restoration: Introductory clinical experiences using direct filling materials are provided for students in the restorative treatment of patients. Students have an opportunity to develop basic proficiency in general operative procedures such as local anesthesia, isolation, caries removal, and the preparation and restoration of simple lesions using amalgam and composite resins. Students also learn patient management as it applies to clinical protocol, procedures, and record keeping.
621. Clinical Foundations II. Operative and crown and bridge preclinical experience is provided in both a laboratory and simulated clinical environment and is guided by readings, lectures, audio-visual tapes, manuals, and faculty demonstration. Special emphasis is placed upon management skills and clinical self-evaluation by the student, as well as an introduction to the dynamics of occlusal function and stability as they relate to restorative procedures. Factors of biological and mechanical design for the preparation of teeth are learned and practiced as they relate to treatment utilizing cast gold, porcelain, and porcelain fused to metal. Typical bridges are constructed on models representative of a patient's mouth. The principles of design and construction of retainers, pontics, and connectors are applied.
631. Clinical Foundations II. See description for Course 621 (above).
637. Preclinical Endodontics I. This is a preclinical experience to prepare the student to treat endodontic patients. In this course, the student is required to clean and shape the canals of uncomplicated anterior, premolar, and molar teeth; obturate the canals; retreat previously filled canals; and create radicular post space. All procedures are discussed in seminars, supplemented by reading assignments, videotapes, and slides. The student carries out the procedures in a clinical setting using clear plastic models with canals, as well as natural teeth mounted in a typodont on the dental chair. At the end of this course, the student should be able to treat similar teeth in clinical patients.
708. Sequence Issues in Comprehensive Care. Taught by an interdisciplinary faculty, this course considers strategies and approaches for integrating isolated dental procedures into an appropriately sequenced treatment plan for comprehensive patient care.
710. Comprehensive Care Seminar. This seminar provides an opportunity for students to present to other students and faculty a comprehensive treatment plan. The plan is reviewed and the rationale for treatment is discussed.
714. Principles of Endodontics II. This course is the continuation of Principles of Endodontics I, (Course 612).
720. Comprehensive Care Clinic. See Course 620.
726. Nutrition (Basic and Applied). Principles of normal nutrition and the relationship of nutrition to health and disease are presented. The influence of diet and nutrition on oral health will be assessed using dietary history analyses. Discussions of geriatric nutrition, physical fitness, and the use of artificial and sucrose-substitute sweeteners are included.
735. Practice Management I. This course presents the basic principles of small business management applied to the practice of dentistry. Classroom exercises and small group discussions address topics including entrepreneurship, goal setting, developing a practice philosophy, office design, marketing, staff recruiting and team building, risk management, financial management and analysis, and factors related to patient satisfaction and retention. Exercises provide experiences with decision making, group dynamics, and application of principles to increase practice efficiency. Each student will develop a practice plan based on personal career goals.
814. Advanced Endodontics. This lecture course introduces the student to some of the more advanced concepts and procedures used in endodontic treatment. The student can interrelate subject content with current clinical experiences. At this level, the student should be able to select or differentiate cases for treatment or referral based on knowledge, experience, and complexity and also determine a reasonable prognosis for those cases.
832. Advanced Operative Dentistry. This lecture series provides a multidisciplinary approach managing advanced restorative problems. The concepts of clinical variation will broaden the scope of treatment and evaluation, and further develop a student's clinical judgment in restorative dentistry. Current research in pulp biology, cariology and biomaterials are emphasized as a basis for clinical treatment.
835. Practice Management Seminar. This course provides opportunities for advanced applications of practice management principles. Students attend a series of seminars conducted by experts on topics such as associateships, considerations in starting a practice, marketing, risk management, office design, equipment selection, insurance coverage, financial management, and banking issues. Students guide the presentations by preparing questions for each topic. Students also participate in a computer generated practice simulation. Working in teams of four, students decide the operational aspects of dental practice and evaluate financial statements and reports to make decisions during a period of 12 quarters. Included are exercises in developing a philosophy or mission, setting operational goals, preparing business tax returns, and reporting on progress to a banker.