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 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)

Core Courses (DEN)

• DEN 400 – Special Care I: Medical-Dental Interrelationships
• DEN 401 – Dentistry for Geriatric Patients and for People with Disabilities
• DEN 407 – Ethical Guidelines for the Dentist
• 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 415 – Practice Management
• DEN 416 – Advanced Oral Medicine & Clinical Pathology
• DEN 417 – Principles of Evidence-Based Dentistry
• DEN 420 – Biology of the Periodontium
• DEN 421 – Craniofacial Growth and Development
• DEN 422 – Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• 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

Prosthodontic Courses

• Preclinical Fixed Prosthodontics Course
• Preclinical Removable Prosthodontics Course
• Implant Related Surgical Concepts to Prosthodontics
• Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
• Fixed Prosthodontics/Occlusion Seminar Series I
• Fixed Prosthodontics/Occlusion Seminar Series II
• Periodontal and Restorative Interrelationships I
• Periodontal and Restorative Interrelationships II
• Fixed Prosthodontics Seminar Series I
• Fixed Prosthodontics Seminar Series II
• Removable Prosthodontics Seminar Series - RPDs
• Removable Prosthodontics Seminar Series - CDs I
• Removable Prosthodontics Seminar Series - CDs II
• Removable Prosthodontics Seminar Series - Maxillofacial
• Biomaterials Seminar Series I
• Biomaterials Seminar Series II
• Biomaterials Seminar Series III
• Biomaterials Seminar Series IV
• Adhesion and Composites Seminar Series
• Prosthodontic Treatment Planning
• Prosthodontic Case Presentation
• Interdisciplinary Periodontics-Prosthodontics Treatment Seminars
• Implant Prosthodontics Seminar Series
• Interdisciplinary Periodontics-Prosthodontics Senior Case Presentations
• Orthodontics-Periodontics and Prosthodontics (OPP) Seminar)
• Emerging Science and Digital Technology
• Intraoral Photography
• Esthetics (Photography, Fixed, CDs)
• Evidence-Based Decision Making (PICO, Seminars, EBD)
• Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain
• Sleep Disorders
• Geriatric Considerations in Prosthodontic Care
• Medical Emergencies (BLS, PRI seminar)
• Sedation (PRI Seminar) - Only Graser Fellow
• Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging
• Endodontics
• Research Seminars (Grand Rounds/Eastman International Alliance Global Rounds)

Master's Courses (DEN)

• DEN 419 – Dental Research Seminar
• DEN 420 – Biology of the Periodontium
• DEN 426 – Fundamentals of Dental Caries
• DEN 430 – Introduction to Biostatistics
• DEN 431 – Designing Clinical Research
• DEN 433 – Biostatistics Software (SPSS)
• DEN 434 – Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis*
• DEN 435 – Meta-Analysis Software*
• DEN 436 – Fundamentals of Research Methods: Academic Formatting
• DEN 446 – Practical Skills for Conducting Clinical and Translational Study in Oral Health Part I
• DEN 447 – Practical Skills for Conducting Clinical and Translational Study in Oral Health Part II
• DEN 495 – Master's Research
• DEN 495 – Master's Research, Systematic Review*
• IND 501 – Ethics and Professional Integrity in Research

*Mandatory ONLY for Master's students working on Systematic Reviews