Core Course Descriptions
DEN 400. Special Care I – Medical-Dental Inter-relationships
Prerequisite: DDS, DMD, audit is optional for other healthcare professionals
Credit – two hours
Instructor: Dr. Sharon Elad
This course will increase the understanding of diagnosis and dental treatment planning for patients who have medical conditions; to review current concepts of diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems that the dentist may encounter; and, to review specific and clinical cases where medical background influences dental treatment. (Fall)
DEN 401. Dentistry for Geriatric Patients and for People with Intellectual, Learning, and Developmental Disabilities
Credit – one hour
Dr. Ralph Saunders
Older adults who have medical, physical, and mental health problems and people with intellectual, learning, and developmental disabilities may need special care when they have dental treatment. The population of these “special” patients is growing and they, like all of us, are retaining their teeth longer. This course, utilizing a seminar format, includes presentations, discussion, and case presentations about the nature of these problems and disabilities and how they can be addressed in modern dental practices. (Spring)
DEN 406. Instructional Design
Credit – one hour
Mr. Richard Petitte
Students will learn to review the process of designing instruction which include assessing learning needs leading to the design, development, presentation and evaluation of teaching materials. Included will be presentation skills as they relate to classroom teaching, presentations at conferences, patient teaching in the dental office and Web-based teaching. (Fall, even years)
DEN 407. Ethical Guidelines for the Dentist
Credit – one hour
Dr. Michael Yunker
The objective of this course is to establish a relationship between professionalism and ethical conduct in dentistry; understand the importance of effective communication; develop effective problem-solving techniques; evaluate organizational codes of ethics; discuss ethics in the research environment; discuss ethics in the written and social media and discuss ethical principles in education and professional development (Fall)
DEN 408. Scientific Basis for Safe Dental Practice
Credit – one hour
Dr. Hans Malmstrom
This course will address the hazards posed by radiation, mercury, infection, nitrous oxide, fluoride, stress and other potential hazards during the delivery of care. Emphasis will be placed on the scientific basis of the hazards and means to reduce the potential harm. (Spring, even years)
DEN 409. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Credit - one hour
Dr. Ross Tallents
Providing some of the necessary skills needed to understand the disease process and appropriate treatment alternatives for patients presenting with facial pain will be covered in this course. The diagnosis and management of patients with facial pain requires a multidisciplinary approach. The scope of this series will be partially didactic and partially clinical. (Fall, odd years)
DEN 410. Head and Neck Anatomy
Credit – one hour
Dr. Charles Severin
This course will review the gross anatomy of the head and neck. Lecture material will include gross and cross-sectional anatomy, standard and sectional (CT and MRI) radiographic images, common developmental anomalies and patient oriented problems. Demonstrations of gross and radiologic anatomy will supplement the lectures. All lectures, cases, and laboratory demonstrations will cover material pertinent to dental medicine. (Spring, even years)
DEN 411. Oral Diseases and Pathologies
Prerequisite: DDS, DMD, audit is optional for other healthcare professionals
Credit – one hour
Dr. Sharon Elad
The objective of this course is to provide knowledge of oral diseases and pathologies, including principles of differential diagnosis, common diagnostic tests, oral lesions (reactive, benign, dysplastic and malignant), common oral diseases, histopathological characteristics of oral lesions, salivary gland diseases and tumors, cysts of the jaws and neck, odontogenic and non-odontogenic tumors, and common therapies in for oral diseases.(Fall, odd years)
DEN 412. Oral Implantology
(Diagnostics, Treatment Planning & Biomechanics)
Note: Basic Dental Implantology course is suggested.
Credit: one hour (variable, dependent on actual sessions)
Dr. Carlo Ercoli
The objective of this course is to provide an advanced level, in-depth description of the anatomy, physiology and histology of the bone-implant interface, scientific basis for diagnosis and treatment planning, imaging, mechanobiology, surgical treatment execution for implant placement and hard and soft tissue enhancement and to incorporate technology into surgical and prosthetic planning. This course is designed at an advanced level. (Fall, even years)
DEN 413. Oral Implantology
(Therapies, Technology and Complications)
Credit: one hour (variable, dependent on actual sessions)
Dr. Carlo Ercoli
This course will provide an advanced overview and detailed description of prosthetic aspects of dental implant therapies and their applications to clinical treatment as it relates to prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthodontics and to incorporate technology into prostheses fabrication and assess diagnosis and treatment of complications in an evidence-based approach. This course is designed at an advanced level. (Spring, odd years)
DEN 414. Understanding Pain
Credit – one hour
Dr. Ross Tallents & Dr. Gene Watson
This course presents an in-depth knowledge of advanced concepts in orofacial pain related to: 1) taxonomy of pain, 2) peripheral pain mechanisms, 3) dorsal horn mechanisms, 4) spinal mechanisms following nerve injury and inflammation, 5) modulation at a spinal level, 6) ascending spinal tracts, 7) supraspinal structures, 8) effects of the peripheral nervous system on brain activity, 9) clinical significance of inflammation and nerve injury, 10) descending opiod system and 11) motor control. (Spring, even years)
DEN 415. Practice Management
Credit – one hour
Dr. Ira Kamp
This course will provide information and material about all aspects of managing and running a dental practice. Guest lectures will include experts in the field of law, financial planning, and dealing with staff, banking, accounting, computers, equipment and practice. (Spring)
DEN 416. Advanced Oral Medicine and Clinical Pathology
Prerequisite: DDS, DMD, audit is optional for other healthcare professionals
Credit – one hour
Dr. Sharon Elad
This course gives students an overview on oral manifestations of systemic diseases and conditions, covering systematically various organs and body systems. The course reviews the latest updates on these topics and extends on topics of special interest for dentists. (Spring, even years)
DEN 417. Principles of Evidence-Based Dentistry
Credit – one hour
Ms. Lorraine Porcello
This course will focus on the principles of evidence-based dentistry, with emphasis on writing brief critical evaluations of research literature. There are three parts to the course, highlighting the first three aspects of evidence-based practice for dentists:
1) Formulating answerable clinical questions; 2) searching the literature; and 3) critical appraisal of research articles. The critical appraisal section of the course covers hierarchy of evidence, research study types, and how to appraise articles for different clinical question categories. These categories include RCT/therapy, diagnosis, prognosis & etiology, and systematic reviews & meta-analyses.
DEN 418. Oral Microbiology
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Credit – two hours
Dr. Robert Quivey
This course covers the major groups of microorganisms causing oral disease with emphasis on basic biology, genetics, physiology, and pathogenic mechanisms. (Fall, odd years)
DEN 419. Dental Research Seminar
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Credit – one hour each term
Dr. Robert Quivey
This seminar series provided experience to participants in preparing, organizing, and presenting material to a critical audience. The fall semester is devoted to a systematic review of recent significant research developments in one of the basic sciences fundamental to oral biology. In the spring, semester students report on original research.
DEN 420. Biology of the Periodontium
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Credit – one hour
Dr. Jack Caton
Stressing the biological behavior of the periodontium, the course reviews the fundamentals as well as the latest developments in periodontal research. Topics covered are the development, morphology, and physiology of the periodontal tissues; the epidemiology, etiology, and histopathology of periodontal diseases, plus current concepts regarding mechanisms of periodontal tissue destruction and repair. (Spring, odd years)
DEN 421. Craniofacial Growth and Development
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Credit – one hour
Dr. P. Emile Rossouw
This course covers the prenatal embryogenesis and postnatal growth and development of the craniofacial complex. Mechanisms of growth control, the development of occlusion, and methods of study and timing are presented. Clinical implications for normal and abnormal facial development are discussed. (Spring, odd years)
DEN 422. Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Credit – one hour
Dr. Gene Watson
This course presents a review of the principles of pharmacology, including mechanisms, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse reactions, and contraindications of selected drug groups. This course will not present a comprehensive review of all drug classes, but instead, lectures will focus on selected, common classes of drugs used for the management of medical and dental disorders and diseases, with emphasis on those drug groups having relevance to dentistry. New and emerging agents and therapies will also be discussed. (Fall, odd years)
DEN 423. Oral Epidemiology I: Principles and Practice
Credit – one hour
Dr. Dorota Kopycka-Kedzierawski
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of epidemiology. Emphasis is placed on the natural history of common dental diseases. (Fall)
DEN 424. Oral Epidemiology II: Research Design and Analysis
Prerequisite: DEN 423
Credit – one hour
Dr. Dorota Kopycka-Kedzierawski
The objective of this course is to develop the ability to use statistical reasoning in planning studies and interpreting the resulting data; to acquire the statistical knowledge essential to the understanding and evaluation of the methodological aspect of publications in contemporary dental literature; and, to master the necessary statistical language in order to communicate with biostatisticians as research team members.(Spring)
DEN 425. Saliva and Salivary Glands
Credit – one hour
Dr. Catherine Ovitt & Dr. Gene Watson
This course gives students an understanding of the fundamental biology of the salivary glands. The regulation of salivary gland physiology is discussed, as is the structure/function relationship of salivary proteins and lipids. The molecular basis of salivary gland gene expression is explored. The etiology, pathogenesis, and consequences of salivary gland diseases are also discussed. (Spring, even years)
DEN 426. Fundamentals of Dental Caries
Credit – one hour
Dr. Cynthia Wong
This course presents the latest developments in many aspects of dental caries, from the most fundamental basic science to clinical applications. (Fall)
DEN 440. Control of Pain and Anxiety with Anesthesia Techniques
Credit: one hour
Dr. John Vorrasi
This course serves to provide an introductory program on pain and anxiety management from a practical anesthesia/patient care perspective with a focus on analgesia, moderate sedation and other methods of pain and anxiety control used to facilitate patient treatment.
Lectures and seminars emphasize patient evaluation, risk assessment, sedation techniques, monitoring, adjunctive medications and the diagnosis and management of complications.
DEN 441. Physical Diagnosis
Credit: one hour
Dr. John Vorrasi
This course serves to provide an introductory program and hopefully review of physical diagnosis used to facilitate patient treatment.
Lectures and seminars emphasize patient evaluation, risk assessment and the diagnosis and management of common medical problems face in the management of the dental patient.
DEN 442. Basic Concepts in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Credit – one hour
Dr. Antonia Kolokythas
A basic overview of patient evaluation and risk assessment as they pertain to the management of common conditions managed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons will be covered in this course.
Lectures and seminars emphasize patient evaluation, risk assessment, surgical techniques, and the diagnosis and management of complications.
DEN 443. Basic Dental Implantology
Credit – one hour
Dr. Hans Malmstrom
This introductory course in Dental Implantology consists of lecturers and simulation laboratory exercises to prepare students to place dental implants.