Dentistry D.D.S.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Graduates will be able to apply patient values, race, gender, beliefs, attitudes, and economics in the delivery of patient-centered care aimed at promoting, improving and maintaining oral health.

2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the application of ethical and professional dimensions of dental practice. They appreciate and can apply their moral, ethical and legal obligations to their patients, the dental profession and society in decision-making related to the academic environment, patient care, practice management and research.

3. Graduates will be able to apply biomedical, clinical, and behavioral science knowledge in the care of his/her patients.

4. Graduates will be able to search and critically evaluate scientific literature, problem-solve and make evidence-based decisions in the care of his/her patients.

5. Graduates will be able to critically evaluate the evidence on established and new technologies in oral diagnosis, prevention and therapeutic interventions for oral diseases, and determine which technologies should be incorporated into his/her practice.

6. Graduates will be able to obtain appropriate medical, dental, and social histories.

7. Graduates will be able to perform a thorough examination of the teeth, supporting structures, head and neck, and the oral cavity (i.e., clinical, radiographic and related laboratory examinations), and chart or document all normal and abnormal findings.

8. Graduates will be able to select, obtain, and interpret clinical, radiographic, and other diagnostic information and procedures related to the major oral diseases and conditions.

9. Graduates will be able to accurately diagnose the major oral diseases and conditions.

10. Graduates will be able to construct a patient-centered comprehensive and sequenced treatment plan that addresses the patient’s diagnosis, needs and values, and that includes appropriate referral given the complexity of certain cases.

11. Graduates will be able to modify his/her diagnoses and treatment plans based on re-evaluation of the outcomes of on-going therapy.

12. Graduates will be able to diagnose and manage medical emergencies that may occur during dental treatment.

13. Graduates will be able to perform basic cardiac life support.

14. Graduates will be able to pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods to prevent and/or manage pain and/or anxiety.

15. Graduates will be able to prevent and treat dental caries.

16. Graduates will be able to manage patients with pulpal and periradicular diseases.

17. Graduates will be able to manage patients with moderate and severe periodontitis, and perform periodontal therapy for gingivitis and slight periodontitis.

18. Graduates will be able to manage patients requiring oral and maxillofacial surgery, and perform uncomplicated oral surgical procedures.

19. Graduates will be able to manage patients with temporomandibular disorders.

20. Graduates will be able to manage patients requiring orthodontic care.

21. Graduates will be able to manage patients with pathologic conditions of the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity.

22. Graduates will be able to manage the dental treatment of patients with special needs.

23. Graduates will be able to manage patients with systemic diseases that may influence orofacial health and/or may be affected by dental therapy.

24. Graduates will be able to restore single defective teeth to anatomic form, function, and esthetics.

25. Graduates will be able to restore partial or complete edentulism with uncomplicated fixed or removable prosthetic restorations, and manage complex cases including those utilizing implant restorations.

26. Graduates will be able to manage patients requiring restoration of form, function, and esthetics secondary to skeletal and occlusal abnormalities, and other disease processes.

27. Graduates will be able to assess risk, formulate an individualized plan of prevention of disease and maintenance or promotion of health, including recall visits, communicate this plan, and motivate the patient (and parent or caretaker, if appropriate) to participate, and educate the patient regarding disease prevention.

28. Graduates will be able to participate in improving the oral health of the community, and will participate in such activities through research, community outreach programs or patient educational services.

29. Graduates will be able to function in a private dental practice setting applying legal and regulatory concepts and using selected business systems and informatics for marketing, scheduling, patient flow, record-keeping, insurance, financial arrangements, and continuing care. 30. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to engage in self-assessment and lifelong learning to enhance his/her professional knowledge and skills.