Program Overview

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Periodontics Residency Clinical Experience

The Periodontics Residency program at UT Health San Antonio provides comprehensive clinical education and training in periodontics and dental implant therapy.

Clinical Hours and Patient Cases

Residents in the Periodontics program spend a varying number of hours per week in clinic, depending on their program year. Second- and third-year residents typically spend 3.5 to 4.0 days in clinic, while first-year residents spend 2.5 to 3.5 days per week in clinic.

Clinical Education Location

Almost all clinic education takes place at UT Dentistry's Center for Oral Health Care & Research. Residents also participate in a three-day rotation at a community health center in Laredo, which occurs about four times per year during the second and third residency years.

Clinic Facilities

Each resident is assigned an operatory in the clinic, with a total of 14 periodontics resident operatories available. Additionally, there are four surgical suites in regular use by residents, as well as two additional suites that can be used if patient load requires it.

Procedures and Treatment

Residents in the program perform all procedures outlined in the Accreditation Standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation for Advanced Education in Periodontics. The program goes beyond accreditation requirements, teaching all aspects of clinical periodontics, including:

• Surgical and nonsurgical treatment of inflammatory diseases of the periodontal and peri-implant tissues
• Dental implant surgical therapy
• Pre-prosthetic surgery
• Tooth extraction and site preparation for dental implants
• Mucogingival and esthetic surgical therapy

The program also emphasizes interdisciplinary treatment with general dentists and other specialties, as well as conscious sedation.

Teamwork and Supervision

While residents are not assigned to teams, they work closely with one another and with residents in other specialty programs. Faculty members supervise and teach residents throughout the program.

Patient Population

Patients in the program are members of the San Antonio community.

Program Mission and Objectives

The mission of the Graduate Periodontics Program is to produce highly skilled clinical periodontists who provide high-quality care to their patients. The primary objectives of the program include:

• Learning all facets of periodontics and dental implant therapy
• Gaining comprehensive knowledge of the evidence
• Performing research that adds to the evidence base
• Teaching other health professionals in various aspects of the specialty
• Preparing students to successfully challenge the qualifying and oral certification examination of The American Board of Periodontology, becoming Diplomates of the Board.

Program Overview

The Periodontics Residency program at UT Health San Antonio is designed to provide comprehensive education and training in periodontics and dental implant therapy, with a focus on producing highly skilled clinicians who can provide high-quality care to their patients.