Program Overview

Family Dentistry Program

The Department of Family Dentistry reinforces and refines the comprehensive approach to managing patients' oral health care needs.

Program Overview

The senior year of the Doctor of Dental Surgery program integrates basic science knowledge, clinical skills, and dental laboratory experiences acquired during the first three years of dental school into a systematic approach to providing patient care.

Program Objectives

Students who complete their education in family dentistry should:

• conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner;
• understand the principles of comprehensive dental treatment planning;
• know the medical, ethical, and legal issues involved in patient care;
• be able to recognize the need for specialty consultation;
• be competent in coordinating and sequencing patient treatments;
• be effective members of the dental team;
• be prepared to enter general practice;
• be educated and trained for licensure examination; and
• appreciate the importance and value of lifelong learning.

Clinical Experience

Students spend five days a week in a clinical setting, where they gain experience in total patient management and care. Their didactic coursework builds on their previous education. All areas of clinical and didactic instruction, patient awareness, and sensitivity to patients' needs are stressed.

Practice Management Curriculum

The department's practice management curriculum prepares students to evaluate practice locations and manage the business aspects of a dental practice.

Family Dentistry Courses

• FAMD:8482 Dental Auxiliary Utilization 2 s.h. Delivery of comprehensive dental treatment in a simulated group practice clinical setting with chairside dental assistants.
• FAMD:8484 Dental Practice Management I 1 s.h. Principles and philosophies of dental practice management.
• FAMD:8485 Dental Practice Management II 1 s.h. Principles and philosophies of dental practice management.
• FAMD:8488 Comprehensive Dental Patient Care 26 s.h. Refinement of didactic knowledge, clinical skills, judgment, and critical self-evaluation in the delivery of integrated, comprehensive dental care.
• FAMD:8490 Seminar on Comprehensive Dental Care Topics 1 s.h. Exploration of contemporary dental practices, covering various topics in preventive care, advanced restorative techniques, and specialist referrals in the comprehensive care management of patients. Requirements: DDS enrollment.
• FAMD:8495 Advanced Treatment Planning I 1 s.h. Development of critical thinking to implement comprehensive treatment plans involving a multidisciplinary approach in management of patients through case-based learning and didactic seminars.
• FAMD:8497 Advanced Treatment Planning II 1 s.h. Builds on FAMD:8495; continue the development of critical thinking and advanced clinical knowledge to implement complex comprehensive treatment plans involving a multidisciplinary approach in management of patients with complex medical and dental needs through case-based learning, peer discussion, and student case and portfolio presentations.