Program Overview

Introduction to the Paediatric General Practice Residency Program

The Paediatric General Practice Residency program is a one-year training program offered by the IWK Health Centre dental department in conjunction with the Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry's division of paediatric dentistry. This program is fully accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of Canada and is designed to provide dentists with advanced training in paediatric dentistry.

Program Details

Program Locations

The program is located at the IWK Health Centre, a teaching hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The hospital serves as the paediatric tertiary/quaternary care centre for the Maritime provinces and provides ample opportunity for residents to gain valuable experience in the management of paediatric patients.

Range of Treatment Provided

The department cares for a diverse population of patients, many of whom have difficulty tolerating treatment in a typical dental office setting or have special health-care needs. Patients are treated using a variety of methods, including basic behaviour guidance, nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia/anxiolysis, oral sedation, and general anesthesia.

External Rotations

External rotations offer valuable opportunities to observe physicians and other medical staff as they diagnose and treat patients. The goal of these experiences is to not only give residents clinical knowledge and experience but to help them understand the roles different departments play within a collaborative care environment. Rotations are available in the following areas:

• Developmental medicine
• Oncology/haematology
• Cardiology
• Anesthesia
• Oral/maxillofacial surgery

Other Learning Experiences

Residents participate in various learning experiences, including:

• Grand Rounds: weekly paediatric Grand Rounds, during which paediatric subspecialists present up-to-date reviews and research on a wide range of paediatric health-related topics
• Journal club: research articles are assigned to residents, who will present a brief summary and lead a discussion on the topic
• Case presentations: residents meet regularly with residents from the Dalhousie periodontic, adult GPR, and oral/maxillofacial surgery programs to present and discuss interesting cases
• Tumour Board: residents attend weekly Tumour Board meetings, which bring together physicians/staff from various departments to determine and provide updates on the course of treatment for patients with childhood cancers
• Research: residents are expected to complete a research project or presentation on a topic of special interest, which will be presented at IWK Grand Rounds

Learning Objectives

At the end of the program, residents will:

• Be able to diagnose and treat paediatric oral pathological conditions using enhanced skills in paediatric dentistry, including sedation/general anesthesia when indicated
• Treat children and adolescents with and without special health-care needs in an appropriate setting with a multidisciplinary approach using evidence-based protocols
• Be competent to apply for privileges to practise dentistry in a hospital/clinical/operating room setting
• Recognize complex medical conditions, co-operative challenges, and oral pathological needs that require the expertise of a paediatric dental specialist and initiate an appropriate referral
• Gain skills required to work as a dental educator in a faculty of dentistry and participate in research
• Have enhanced eligibility for advanced training as a specialist in paediatric dentistry or other dental specialty

Other Useful Information

• Two resident positions are available each year
• The program is one year in length, from mid-June to June 30 the following year
• Residents are paid a stipend of $65,000
• Three weeks of paid vacation are included (dates subject to faculty approval, taking into account the clinic/external rotation schedule)
• Residents are required to pay Nova Scotia student dental license fees, Nova Scotia Dental Association fees, and CDSPI malpractice insurance
• Paediatric advanced life support certification is required and is paid for/reimbursed by the program

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements include:

• A $70 CAD application fee
• Registration/participation in the National Match Program process
• A completed application form
• A DDS or DMD degree from a CDAC-accredited program or reciprocal degree from an accredited institution
• Eligibility for student licensure in Nova Scotia
• NDEB certificate is preferred, but not required
• Two letters of reference regarding character and suitability for the residency program
• Official academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• A current curriculum vitae
• A letter of intent
• Graduates of institutions accredited by CDAC, the ADA, or with reciprocal accreditation status are encouraged, but not required, to complete the NDEB examination
• US-trained applicants must possess and send proof of successful completion of the Integrated National Board Dental Examination or National Board Dental Examination parts I and II
• Completed Dalhousie University immunization record form (to be sent once matched to a program)
• All applicants must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in accordance with IWK Health Centre policy
• All application materials must be submitted in English