Curriculum

This is a full time, 36-month program starting  the 3rd week of June. The program is divided in four sections: didactic, clinical, research, and laboratory.

Didactic

The coursework emphasizes  fixed and removable prosthodontics, occlusion, TMJ dysfunction, maxillofacial prosthetics, cleft palate prostheses, implants, and implantology. After completing all required courses, residents may select, with faculty approval, the courses most appropriate to their needs. Residents have opportunities to present lectures and participate in combined seminars with other disciplines. The program also prepares the residents to become Board-certified prosthodontists. Thus, it has implemented a policy that each resident must challenge at least 2 parts (Section A-written part, and one oral part of Section B) of the ABP exam before graduation.

For a complete list of core courses, prosthodontic courses and master's courses please see the table below.

Clinical

The clinical program encompasses approximately 60% of the total curriculum. The clinic time is approximately 4.5 days per week with 0.5 days dedicated to research. By virtue of both extensive study and treatment of patients requiring various types of prostheses, the resident obtains a well-rounded clinical foundation in fixed, removable and implant prosthodontics. Prosthodontic residents are trained in simple and complex surgical procedures such as extractions, socket preservations, and multiple implant placement on partially or completely edentulous patients. Adequate use of digital technology (i.e. intraoral scanners, CBCT, desktop scanners, 3D printers, etc.) is used for  surgical planning, surgical manufacturing as well as fabrication of the definitive prostheses.

Research

All residents are expected to complete a research project by pursuing a Master's degree.  For further information please see section Research (hyperlink to Research section)

Laboratory

Prosthodontic residents are required to participate in laboratory activities (5%) for their patients’ care. The various digital equipment in our department (milling machines, desktop scanners, 3D printers, etc) have significantly increased the digital workflow and therefore significantly reduced the conventional laboratory procedures. Residents become competent in the CAD-CAM technology including designing and milling of prosthodontic restorations.

Three Year Program of Study (Including Certificate and Masters)

Prosthodontics Program of Study

• DEN 400 – Special Care I:  Medical/Dental Interrelationships
• DEN 401 – Dentistry for Geriatric Patients and for People with Intellectual, Learning, and Developmental Disabilities
• DEN 406 – Instructional Design
• DEN 407 – Ethical Guidelines for the Dentist
• DEN 408 – Scientific Basis for Safe Dental Practice
• DEN 409 – Orofacial Pain and Headaches
• DEN 410 – Head and Neck Anatomy
• DEN 411 – Oral Diseases and Pathologies
• DEN 412 – Oral Implantology I
• DEN 413 – Oral Implantology II
• DEN 416 – Advanced Oral Medicine & Clinical Pathology
• DEN 417 – Principles of Evidence-Based Dentistry
• DEN 418 – Oral Microbiology
• DEN 420 – Biology of the Periodontium
• DEN 421 – Craniofacial Growth and Development
• DEN 422 – Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• DEN 423 – Oral Epidemiology I:  Introduction and Principles
• DEN 424 – Oral Epidemiology II:  Research Design and Analysis
• DEN 425 – Saliva and Salivary Glands
• DEN 426 – Fundamentals of Dental Caries
• DEN 440 – Control of Pain and Anxiety with Anesthesia Techniques
• DEN 441 – Physical Diagnosis
• DEN 442 – Basic Concepts in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• DEN 443 – Basic Dental Implantology        
• Preclinical Fixed Prosthodontics Course
• Preclinical Removable Prosthodontics Course
• Implant Related Surgical Concepts to Prosthodontics
• Fixed Prosthodontics/Occlusion Seminar Series I and II
• Periodontal and Restorative Interrelationships I and II
• Fixed Prosthodontics seminar series I and II
• Removable Partial Dentures Seminar Series
• Complete Dentures Seminar Series
• Maxillofacial Prosthetics Seminar Series
• Biomaterials Seminar Series
• Dental Ceramics seminars
• Adhesion and Composites Seminar Series
• Prosthodontic Treatment Planning
• Prosthodontic Case Presentation
• Interdisciplinary Periodontics-Prosthodontics treatment Seminars
• Implant Prosthodontics Seminar Series
• Periodontics – Prosthodontics Implant Case Presentation
• Periodontics – Prosthodontics Implant Seminars
• Interdisciplinary Periodontics-Prosthodontics treatment Senior Case Presentations
• Current Literature Review in Dental Implantology
• Implant Case Presentations Series
• OMFS-Prostho-Perio Diagnosis, Treatment Planning and Case Presentation Seminar
• Orthodontic-Prosthodontic-Periodontic Seminar
• Introduction to Dental Implantology
• Implant Related Prosthodontic Considerations Course
• Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain
• Sleep Disorders
• Emerging Science and Digital Technology
• Ethics and Professionalism
• Intraoral Photography
• Practice Management Course
• Oral Pathology Course
• Geriatric considerations in prosthodontic care
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging
• Rotations to Private Practices
• Research Project
• Research Seminars
• Scientific writing
• Research methodology
• Public speaking
• Referral, patient treatment and prosthodontic care