School of Dentistry - Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics (and Public Health Dentistry)
Instructors
Chair - Professor Bayne;Professors - Clarkson, D. Dennison, Heys, Holland, Ismail, Nör, Peters;
Associate Professors - Chiego, Fitzgerald, R. Heys, Ritchie, Taylor;
Assistant Professors - Sedgley;
Clinical Professor - Fasbinder, Yaman;
Clinical Associate Professors - Bauer, Hasson, McLean, Stoffers;
Clinical Assistant Professors - Botero, Vivas.
Objectives
Cariology is the study of the pathogenesis and prevention of one of the world's most common diseases -- dental caries. In order for this disease to develop it needs a susceptible host, a cariogenic bacterial flora, and the bacteria need a substrate (usually refined carbohydrates) which can be metabolized to produce acid. These acids cause the demineralization of the hard tissue of the teeth -- enamel, dentin, and cementum. Without intervention this demineralization and later bacterial invasion of the hard tissue will cause the pulp of the tooth to become infected, leading to loss of vitality and perhaps extraction. Understanding the etiology, treatment, and prevention of this disease defines the clinical and scientific parameters of cariology.The new paradigm for operative dentistry is to make the distinction between caries as an infectious disease and caries as a lesion which needs to be treated "surgically". New objective tests -- which include salivary flow rates, salivary buffering capacity, identification of levels of cariogenic bacteria (for example, streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli) -- provide identification of individuals at a high or low risk for oral dental caries. The use of these patient risk profiles allows practitioners to target appropriate preventive and conservative therapies before embarking on the more usual and customary restorative treatment. Operative dentistry will continue to provide the principles of prevention, interception, preservation and restoration as they relate to the hard tissues of the mouth and the effect of restoration contours on the supporting structures. Biological and mechanical principles are emphasized in selecting materials and designing cavity preparations. Self-evaluation is practiced routinely as a teaching method and to introduce peer review. The effects of trauma and developmental disturbances are also evaluated. Restorative techniques are advocated to restore form, function, and esthetics within the masticatory system.
Endodontics is concerned with the morphology, physiology, and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues. Its study and practice encompass the basic clinical sciences, including the biology of the normal pulp; the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp; and associated periradicular conditions. Students will develop skills to enable them to diagnose, provide nonsurgical conventional treatment, and evaluate healing in uncomplicated single and multicanaled teeth. A familiarity with the entire scope of the specialty of endodontics is developed to provide a basis for referral to a specialist for further diagnosis and/or treatment of more complex nonsurgical and surgical cases.
Practice management is taught so patients are comfortable when receiving oral health care. Fundamental business principles are presented to plan and implement a financial structure and a professional marketing approach necessary to establish a successful dental practice. The interaction of these disciplines forms the basis for dental practice and the initiation of primary care.
Emphasis is placed on developing professional clinical judgement and demonstrating psychomotor skills necessary to perform comprehensive dental care. Treatment in the clinical disciplines is augmented with small business management concepts and the delivery of health care services to form a sound foundation to practice general dentistry.
Course Descriptions
519. Clinical Foundations I. This course is a lecture, laboratory, and clinical course which teaches foundation knowledge and develops basic skills in the fundamentals of oral examination, diagnosis and treatment planning, infection control, dental instrumentation, patient management, dental caries (etiology, prevention, and management), nomenclature and principles of operative dentistry, restorative isolation techniques, and manual skills related to restorative dentistry. Concepts and techniques for placement of direct resin-based adhesive restorations are introduced. Dental materials are reviewed with an emphasis on clinical considerations. Emphasis is placed on the development of motor skills, self-evaluation, and clinical judgment.
520. Clinical Foundations I. This course is a continuation of Course 519. This lecture, laboratory, and clinical course teaches foundation knowledge and develops basic skills related to the management of non-carious dental pathology (erosion, abrasion, tooth fractures, and restoration failures) and esthetic dentistry needs of patients. The majority of the course teaches concepts and techniques for the preparation and restoration of teeth with dental amalgam, glass ionomer, and composite resin materials. Dental materials are reviewed with an emphasis on clinical considerations. Emphasis is placed on the enhancement of motor skills, self-evaluation, and clinical judgment.
521. Dental Anatomy and Occlusion I: The content of this course addresses the morphology and structure of the teeth and their parts as they relate with their function. Also, it gives theopportunity to acquire hand skills necessary for further laboratory and clinical experience. This course teaches foundation knowledge in dental anatomy and occlusion that will give the students the opportunity to interact with the rest of the dental profession. Specific topics include defining and identifying and nomenclature relating to dental anatomy, drawing and identifying primary and permanent teeth, waxing teeth singly and in relation to adjacent teeth and function, concepts and principles of occlusion and recognizing the relationship between Dental Anatomy and different areas in Dentistry. During the learning experience the students have the opportunity to put this knowledge into hands-on practice by means of functional tooth waxing. The students will acquire basic hand skills to be used in future courses.
612. Principles of Endodontics I. This course is the foundation for all other endodontic courses and is a lecture course supplemented by reading assignments. The importance of the influence of the pathologic pulp upon the tissues surrounding and supporting the tooth and upon the health and welfare of the patient is emphasized. The goal of this course is to present the biological rationale for endodontic therapy, diagnostic criteria and principles of case selection. Endodontic materials and medicaments are studied and clinical management procedures for irreversible pulpal pathology and its sequelae are considered.614. Principles of Restorative Dentistry. This is a lecture course presented jointly by the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics and the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences covering the basic principles of complex restorations of badly damaged teeth, cast gold restorations, porcelain fused to metal restorations, and fixed prosthetic restorations.
620. Comprehensive Care Clinic. Prophylaxis: Basic prophylaxis skills are covered, including patient and periodontal evaluation, the provision of preventive health information and preventive periodontal treatment. The clinical experience involves patients who require simple prophylaxis. Radiology: Students practice intraoral radiographic techniques on a manikin and then apply these skills to patients requiring diagnostic radiographs. Basic Restoration: Introductory clinical experiences using direct filling materials are provided for students in the restorative treatment of patients. Students have an opportunity to develop basic proficiency in general operative procedures such as local anesthesia, isolation, caries removal, and the preparation and restoration of simple lesions using amalgam and composite resins. Students also learn patient management as it applies to clinical protocol, procedures, and record keeping.
621. Clinical Foundations II. Operative and crown and bridge preclinical experience is provided in both a laboratory and simulated clinical environment and is guided by readings, lectures, audio-visual tapes, manuals, and faculty demonstration. Special emphasis is placed upon management skills and clinical self-evaluation by the student, as well as an introduction to the dynamics of occlusal function and stability as they relate to restorative procedures. Factors of biological and mechanical design for the preparation of teeth are learned and practiced as they relate to treatment utilizing large amalgam, castgold, porcelain, and porcelain fused to metal. Typical bridges are constructed on models representative of a patient's mouth. The principles of design and construction of retainers, pontics, and connectors are applied.
631. Clinical Foundations II. See description for Course 621 (above).
637. Preclinical Endodontics I. This is a preclinical experience to prepare the student to treat endodontic patients. In this course, the student is required to clean and shape the canals of uncomplicated anterior and premolar teeth using rotary endodontic techniques and obturate the canals using the lateral condensation technique. This course takes place in the state-of-the-art simulation laboratory using both plastic and natural teeth mounted in the typodont. All procedures are discussed in small groups and an extensive manual is provided. The objective of this course is to prepare the student to treat patients with uncomplicated anterior teeth requiring root canal therapy.
710. Comprehensive Care Seminar. This seminar provides an opportunity for students to present to other students and faculty a comprehensive treatment plan of one of their patients. The plan is reviewed and the rationale for treatment is discussed by faculty and students.
714. Principles of Endodontics II. This lecture course, which is held in the winter term of the third dental year, builds on the knowledge attained in Principles of Endodontics I, (Course 612). The student is introduced to some of the more advanced concepts and procedures used in endodontic treatment. Additional topics, including endodontic retreatment, endodontic management of the traumatized tooth and apical surgery are covered.
720. Comprehensive Care Clinic. See Course 620.
735. Practice Management I. This course presents the basic principles of small business management applied to the practice of dentistry. Classroom exercises and small group discussions address topics including entrepreneurship, goal setting, developing a practice philosophy, office design, marketing, staff recruiting and team building, risk management, financial management and analysis, and factors related to patient satisfaction and retention. Exercises provide experiences with decision making, group dynamics, and application of principles to increase practice efficiency.
835. Practice Management Seminar. This course provides opportunities for advanced applications of practice management principles. Students attend a series of seminars conducted by experts on topics such as associateships, considerations in starting a practice, marketing, risk management, office design, equipment selection, insurance coverage, financial management, and banking issues. Students guide the presentations by preparing questions for each topic. Students also participate in a computer generated practice simulation. Working in teams of four, students decide the operational aspects of dental practice and evaluate financial statements and reports to make decisions during a period of 12 quarters. Included are exercises in developing a philosophy or mission, setting operational goals, preparing business tax returns, and reporting on progress to a banker.
837. Principles of Molar Endodontics. This course, which comprises both a practical and didactic portion, is designed to prepare the student to carry out endodontic therapy on uncomplicated molar teeth. The rotary instrumentation technique introduced in Course 637 is applied to treatment of these teeth and more experienced students learn to deal with the more complex anatomy of the molar teeth. These students are also introduced to more challenging diagnostic and treatment planning scenarios. At this level, the student should be able to select cases for treatment or referral based on knowledge, experience, and complexity and also determine a reasonable prognosis for those cases. This course takes place in the simulation laboratory, allowing the student to perform the required exercises under clinical conditions.