Predoctoral Program: Curriculum

Correlated Dental Sciences

The Correlated Dental Sciences track consists of three courses:

• Growth, Development and Aging
• Oral Physiology and Pain Management
• Oral Diagnosis and Clinical Medicine
   

Growth, Development and Aging:
The goal of the Growth, Development and Aging course is to provide the student with knowledge of the normal structure and development of the oral cavity and craniofacial complex, abnormalities of craniofacial development and psychosocial development in relation to the oral cavity and its impact on dentistry. The treatment and management of the pediatric and geriatric patient, and the diagnosis and treatment of malocclusions and other orthodontic problems are also emphasized.

Oral Physiology and Pain Management:
The Oral Physiology and Pain Management course examines the role of the sensory and motor systems in the oral cavity as they relate to mastication, swallowing, salivation, speech, taste and smell.

A major section of the course is devoted to the physiology and management of pain and anxiety, and focuses on the elements of pre-, intra-, and postoperative dental care, in healthy and medically compromised patients. The course also provides instruction in the various pharmacological and behavioral methods of the management of pain and anxiety in dentistry. Didactic and clinical experience in sedation techniques, and monitoring of the sedated patient are presented. Also included are the diagnosis and management of office medical emergencies.

Oral Diagnosis and Clinical Medicine:
The Oral Diagnosis and Clinical Medicine course provides comprehensive instruction in the areas of oral and physical diagnosis, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral pathology, clinical pharmacology and medical emergencies.

The course enables students to obtain, interpret, and record a comprehensive medical and dental history and to safely manage medically and pharmacologically complex patients. Students are taught to perform thorough head and neck and intraoral examinations, recognize abnormal clinical findings, and obtain appropriate laboratory tests. Students also learn to identify and manage common medical emergencies. Students receive instruction in ionizing radiation and learn to obtain and interpret common radiographic images to recognize normal anatomic landmarks and the appearance of periodontal disease and dental caries. The course also covers the etiology, pathogenesis, and classic radiographic and clinic appearances of a variety of developmental abnormalities and pathological of conditions of the jaws, teeth, the sinuses, and the salivary glands.