Advanced Education
Advanced Education in General Dentistry
The Advanced Education in General Dentistry program is a
one-year (optional second-year) residency with special emphasis
in clinical general dentistry. The residency is designed to
refine and enhance the resident’s clinical skills and scientific
knowledge base in order to improve the practice of general
dentistry. The program enrolls eighteen first-year residents who
practice and learn in a setting which closely approximates a
modern group practice.
Program Goals and Objectives
The Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency prepares individuals to enter the field of general dentistry with confidence and expertise.
The goals of the program are to:
- Provide advanced training beyond the predoctoral level.
- Expand the scope and depth of knowledge and clinical skills so residents can provide comprehensive care to a variety of patient groups.
- Enhance and develop the resident’s understanding of and competence in the application of recent advances in patient management.
- Enhance the resident’s ability to interact with various health practitioners to coordinate and integrate the patient’s oral health care into a comprehensive, multidisciplinary
plan.
- Expand the scope and depth of knowledge leading to the oral health management of compromised patients.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of the ability to apply modern practice management theory.
- Provide residents with the analytical skills necessary for evaluation of professional literature to insure the capacity for continued, self-directed growth.
- Provide training in community based, primary care setting addressing the needs of underserved populations.
The Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program
offers selected individuals who have completed the PGY1
residency program with opportunities to further their education
and training through additional clinical and didactic
experiences. The PGY2 program adds the following goals:
- Provide training and experience in the delivery of care
in hospital settings.
- Provide training and experience in the development of
scholarly endeavors to enhance the resident’s abilities and
skills to become leaders in the field.
- Provide residents with opportunities to further expand
the scope and depth of areas of interest.
Program Description
The AEGD program includes clinical and didactic experiences designed to prepare residents for a successful and fruitful career. Approximately fifteen percent of the resident’s time
is devoted to a comprehensive didactic program, designed to build upon and enhance prior knowledge. Advanced instruction, in the form of lectures, seminars, and conferences, is offered
in all disciplines of dentistry and dental practice, including restorative dentistry, fixed and removable prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry,
orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, preventive dentistry, practice management, epidemiology, TMJ dysfunction, sedation, pain and anxiety control, geriatric dentistry, medicine,
management of medically compromised and developmentally disabled patients, physical assessment, and infection control. Residents participate in literature reviews, case presentations,
treatment planning seminars, and the management of the group practice.
The AEGD program provides a solid, comprehensive clinical experience which is centered about the general dentistry clinic at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Our goal is
to have the area serve as a model group practice. It is within this setting that the resident learns management skills, maintenance of financial and medico-legal documents and records,
operatory organization, clinic management, appointment control, and overall patient and practice management. Residents receive advanced training in oral diagnosis, treatment planning,
and case management to improve the residents' ability to provide patients with comprehensive care using a multidisciplinary approach. All phases of care are rendered within the clinic,
allowing each resident to manage a wide variety of patients and treatment modalities.
AEGD residents may rotate through the Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and other selected facilities and Health Center
clinics to enhance the educational and clinical experience.
The AEGD program is responsible for the dental emergency service of the Health Center and residents rotate on emergency on-call. Residents learn to manage acute dental problems,
interface with all health disciplines in the John Dempsey Hospital, and provide a broad range of urgent dental treatment to a diverse patient population.
Competency and Proficiency Statements
The AEGD program’s competency and proficiency statements
describe the attributes of a graduate of the program. They are
intended to communicate the expectations of the faculty to the
resident and serve as the basis for evaluation of resident’s
satisfactory completion of the program.
Each statement is designated as either an area of competency
(C) in which graduates are expected to have little experience at
the beginning of their programs or as an area of proficiency (P)
in which graduates are expected to be competent at the beginning
of their program and gain further experience, skill, and
judgment as the program progresses.
Resources
The AEGD program occupies a modern, fully equipped
twenty-four chair facility within the University of Connecticut Health Center and is an integral component of the School of Dental
Medicine. A complete staff of dental auxiliaries, clerks, and a practice administrator is dedicated to the program.
The faculty of the AEGD program includes a full time program director, several part-time attendings, and a large complement of volunteer attendings. Specialty support and
instruction is provided in every discipline by faculty of the School of Dental Medicine.
Additional Opportunities
Opportunities exist for a limited number of of general
dentistry fellowship positions. The general dentistry fellowship is optional for individuals who have completed the AEGD residency
(PGY1 and PGY2) and wish to further their training.
Eligibility and Admissions
The AEGD program is open to graduates of accredited U.S. or foreign dental schools. Candidates must possess a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree (or equivalent) prior to beginning the program. If the
applicant’s native language is other than English, results of the TOEFL examination (with a score in excess of 550 for paper-based exam or 215 for computer-based exam) are required.
The AEGD program participates in the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) offered by the American Association of Dental Schools. Additional application requirements may
be found within the PASS application packet. Information and an application can be obtained by contacting:
PASS
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036-2212
Phone: 1-800-353-2237
Fax: 202-667-4983
Email: pass@adea.org
The AEGD program also participates in the National Matching Service and all positions are offered through the match. Applicants are required to register with the match. For more
information about the match, contact:
National Matching Services
595 Bay Street
Suite 301, Box 29
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5G 2C2
Phone: 416-977-3431
Fax: 416-977-5020
Email: matchinfo@natmatch.com
Stipends and Benefits
Residents in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program are registered as postdoctoral students in the School of Dental Medicine and are appointed as hospital residents at
the Health Center. Residents receive an annual stipend; tuition and clinic fees are waived. All residents receive a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance,
liability coverage, and vacation and sick day allowances. |
