Predoctoral Dentistry
Faculty
Professor McCauley, Chair; Professors: Bagramian, Brooks, Burgett, Franceschi, Giannobile, Johnson, Lantz, Polverini, Stefanac, Taichman, Wang, Woolfolk; Clinical Professor Eber; Adjunct Clinical Professors: Misch, Shay; Associate Professors: D'Silva, Inglehart, Kapila, Kerschbaum, McGowan; Clinical Associate Professors: Edwards, Richards, Oh; Adjunct Clinical Associate Professors: Crum, Soehren; Assistant Professors: Danciu, Pritzel, Ridley; Clinical Assistant Professors: Cordell, Kanjirath, Klausner, Neiva, Tsao; Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professors: Beck, Boutros, Chun, Curcuru, Doyle, Gersch, Hill, Huwais, Johnston, Leib, Mason, Meraw, Ng, Padbury, Ramseier, Sarment, Spagnuolo, Taichman, Velasquez, Zahn; Lecturer Green; Clinical Lecturers: Benavides, Harrel, Temple; Adjunct Clinical Lecturers: Betzig, Cavanaugh, Early-Burk, Esch, Fitzpatrick, Friedman, Gissendanner, Gonta, Gwozdek, Heys, Janusz, Kaigler, Korte, Kraeger, Mackinnon, Seago, Szentmiklosi, Walker.
Return to topCurriculum
Periodontics and Oral Medicine includes the disciplines of periodontics, oral medicine, oral diagnosis, oral radiology, oral pathology, dental hygiene, behavioral sciences and community dentistry. A major objective of the department is to approach the patient and his or her disease with a full complement of diagnostic resources. By using these resources, as well as the diverse expertise and knowledge of faculty and staff in various disciples, we can deliver enhanced awareness of the patient s health, including dental problems. In turn, we can provide support and care from the medical health care system. Faculty and staff of the department, often in a cooperative effort, are able to fulfill the breadth of this in clinical practice.
Periodontics is concerned with establishing and maintaining health for the structures that provide support for the teeth. The educational program is designed to help students develop the ability to instruct patients in preventing periodontal diseases, diagnosing and treating patients with gingivitis and moderate periodontitis, recognizing the interrelationships between periodontal diseases and systemic health, and recognizing and referring patients who require periodontal specialty care.
Oral medicine and diagnosis is a continuum of didactic and clinical experiences throughout the dental curriculum during which the student will achieve proficiency in taking and evaluating a pertinent medical and dental history; performing a thorough head and neck and oral examination; selecting, exposing and interpreting intraoral and extraoral radiographs; synthesizing the collected data into a problem list and differential diagnosis; and developing a logical treatment plan based on the patient's needs. Seminars, case presentations, clinical class conferences, and clinical experience complement the courses.
Oral pathology is the study of the disease of the soft and calcified structures of the oral region. The various disease processes are studied with respect to causation, natural history, clinical behavior, relationship of a disease in one part to other parts and to the entire body. Oral pathology bridges two aspects of the health sciences basic science and clinical practice. Knowledge is applied in clinical aspects and use of various histological, immunological, molecular, serologic, and other parameters to determine diagnoses.
Dental Hygiene is an undergraduate curriculum in the School of Dentistry. Students enter the program at the sophomore level and complete three more years of professional study. The dental hygiene curriculum provides a broad based education in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences, which prepares the graduate for practice in contemporary dental hygiene and for leadership roles in oral health care of the future. The program at the U of M is unique in that it is structured to confer the baccalaureate degree to all students at the completion of the curriculum. Graduates are prepared not only for the traditional dental hygiene responsibilities as clinician and health educator, but also for the roles of researcher, consumer advocate, and health care administrator/manager.
The Behavioral Sciences component of the department focuses on the many ways in which psychosocial factors such as stress and depression affect our patients' oral health, their oral health promotion efforts, and the ways in which they utilize health care services. The educational program consists of three behavioral science courses that all dental students participate in during their first year in dental school. These courses are designed in such a way that they introduce the students to the principles of patient - provider communication (Behavioral Science I), the many ways in which patient characteristics such as age or mental health issues affect patients and their interactions with dentists and dental hygienists (Behavioral Science II), and provide the students with hands on communication skills training (Behavioral Science Practicum).
The goal of Community Dentistry is to develop competent dental professionals who will assume responsible roles in their profession and communities. Societal, regulatory and ethical issues that confront practitioners are explored using real and simulated community situations, student projects and case studies. Principles of scientific methods including reviews of current dental literature are presented. Health education and health programming is presented as part of a simulated community education class on oral health. Within community experiences, selected students provide oral health care to migrant children and families. Research has focused on the etiology and prevention of oral diseases, quality of life related to oral health, electronic information management and the transfer of research knowledge into dental practice. Issues related to the special needs of the geriatric dental patient are addressed in a number of areas in the predoctoral curriculum.
Return to topCourse Descriptions
440. Oral Medicine - Kanjirath
Students learn the dental significance and implications of internal medicine and systemic diseases on the practice of dentistry. They learn to treat medically compromised patients, and to correlate medical and dental aspects of patient care.
501. Introduction to the Profession - Lantz, Snyder
The nature of morality and ethics, principles and theories of ethics, and moral and value orientations are presented. Other topics are the definition, characteristics, image of professionalism, and history; e.g., American Dental Association principles of ethics, code of professional conduct, licensure, and peer review.
506. Basic Radiology - Brooks, Benavides
This didactic course provides a basic understanding of the generation of X-rays and the operation of the X-ray machine, control of factors involved in the production of radiographic images, and the methods of recording radiographic images. Also included are the biological effects of X-ray exposure and the principles and practice of radiation hygiene. The course is taught using a range of active learning activities including demonstrations, class discussions, and laboratory experiences.
518. Behavioral Science I - Inglehart
This course is the first of three courses designed to give a basic understanding of the behavioral science aspects of dentistry and oral care, especially about the communication between a patient and a dentist. This course focuses on (a) the patients' experiences, (b) issues concerning the dentist, and (c) the communication between a patient and a dentist. Examples of issues concerning dental patients are to discuss the ways oral health affects patients' quality of life, the importance of facial attractiveness in patients' lives, the causes, prevention and treatment of dental fear, and the non-pharmacological treatment of pain. The discussion of issues concerning dentists includes such topics as principles of diagnostic decision making, provider stress and impairment. Concerning the interaction between a patient and a dentist, examples of issues covered are basic principles of verbal and nonverbal communication, of oral health promotion and prevention, and interview techniques. Concrete behavioral techniques to manage dental fear and pain, and to promote good oral health are discussed as well.
519/520. Clinical Foundations I, Oral Medicine - Kanjirath
Objectives of the course are to introduce the sequence and techniques of obtaining a medical and dental history, learning the sequence and techniques of an oral examination, observing the function of oral tissues and masticator system and recognizing normal anatomy.
529. Epidemiology of Oral Disease - Bagramian
Students will be familiarized with an elementary understanding of epidemiology as it relates to oral health. The principles and methods of epidemiology are presented with an emphasis on their application in describing the distribution of dental disease. Students are expected to conduct a computer-generated literature search and review papers on related topics in oral health. The outcome from this exercise is a research paper based on an assigned dental topic.
530. Clinical Foundations I - Neiva
This course provides an introduction to periodontal therapy and a comprehensive approach to the maintenance of oral health, drawing together the training and experiences of the first year into a culmination of actual patient care. Students will conduct dental health maintenance appointments for patients, including a medical and dental history, blood pressure determination when indicated, examination of soft and hard tissues, possible radiographs, classification, diagnosis, dental prophylaxis, topical fluoride treatments when indicated, personal oral health instruction, and recommendations for further treatment.
534. Behavioral Science II - Inglehart
This course is the second of three courses providing a basic understanding of the behavioral science aspects of dentistry and oral health care. While the first course provided a general introduction to this topic, this course focuses on the interactions of dental health care providers with patients who belong to specific social groups such as children and geriatric patients, persons with a disability, or patients with a mental health issue. The first part of this course explores how to interact with patients with different demographic and / or social characteristics such as very young or older patients, or patients who come from different socio-economic, or racial / ethnic backgrounds, or have a disability, chronic pain or a chronic disease such as AIDS. In the second part of this course, issues concerning interactions with patients with different mental health issues are discussed (specifically affective disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and addictions).
535. Behavioral Science Practicum - Inglehart
The Behavioral Science Practicum is the third of the three Behavioral Science courses. It complements the Behavioral Science I and II courses by offering actual communication skills training. While the objectives of the two first courses are (a) to make the students aware of the significance of good patient provider communication and the many factors that affect their interaction with their patients, and (b) to provide the students with the basic background knowledge that will support their understanding of patient issues, the purpose of the Behavioral Science Practicum is to add a third component to their education about these issues, namely skills training. This course is an attempt to cross the gap from learning about communication with patients in a lecture room setting to actually concretely experiencing it in the clinical setting. This skills training consists of being introduced to three specific aspects of the students' interaction with their patients, namely (a) establishing rapport, and taking a medical and dental history, (b) nonverbal / verbal communication during the clinical exam and tx, and (c) educating patients about oral health-related issues. For each of these three segments, the students review what they learned before, and will then see a videotape of a master clinician as an example. These presentations will help the students to be prepared for their own first interactions in the clinical setting. Following these three introduction lectures and videos, the students will be videotaped first with a standardized patient taking a medical and dental history, then with a student / peer in the chair during a clinical exam / cleaning, and finally with a regularly scheduled patient while you engage in health education. For each of the three tapes, the students will self evaluate, receive feedback from a peer, and from an instructor, and will discuss tapes in a small group setting with their classmates.
603. Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning - Stefanac, Kanjirath
This is an introductory course to learn the techniques of oral diagnosis, history taking and treatment planning. After successfully completing this course, the student will have the didactic knowledge to provide a health history review and limited physical and oral examination for a patient using standard information gathering techniques. Further, the student will be able to list the pertinent findings, make diagnoses, and develop a treatment plan for a simulated patient of simple to moderate complexity.
604. Radiographic Interpretation - Brooks, Kanjirath, Benavides
Students who are just beginning clinical activity in periodontics and operative dentistry learn to take advantage of the diagnostic information available on the dental radiograph. The course will begin with principles of radiographic interpretation, including information on the quality of images, errors and their causes, proper viewing techniques and conditions, and the value of various radiographic views. Lectures will cover the interpretive areas of developmental and environmental influences on the teeth and supporting structures, dental caries, periodontal disease and pulpal/periapical inflammation.
606. Oral Health Education - Bagramian
In this course, groups of students plan an oral health education presentation on a dental topic intended for a specific community, organization, or population. Within each group, students are assigned tasks for constructing the presentation. The group leader organizes all activities and assembles the final report. Other members design the program plan, research the topic to identify educational content for the presentation, participate in a computer conference to discuss the intended program with peers, and construct an evaluation instrument to be used with the community group. A report describing all portions of the project is submitted for a final grade. Some groups present their project plans to the class. Students gain extra credit by participating in the computer conference. Smoking cessation for dental patients is presented as part of the course with each student responsible for counseling a patient about their tobacco use according to the 5 A's (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist and Arrange) of the National Cancer Institute. A written report is submitted to include a tobacco use assessment of the patient.
619. Comprehensive Care Seminar - Richards
This course consists of weekly seminars designed to supplement a student s learning and experiences in the comprehensive care clinic. During the fall term, faculty members from various disciplines present clinical topics. During the winter term, groups of students review and discuss patient scenarios using actual clinical findings and patient histories accessible on a secure website. These exercises in diagnosis and treatment planning provide an introduction for students to the philosophy of planning and implementing interdisciplinary, comprehensive dental care for all patients.
620. Comprehensive Care Clinic - Periodontics and Oral Pathology/Medicine/Radiology - Brooks, Benevides, Cordell, Edwards, Kanjirath, Richards
Radiology: In the Fall Term, students practice intraoral radiographic techniques on a mannequin and then apply these skills to patients requiring diagnostic radiographs. In the Winter Term, Students continue to refine their skills by taking intraoral and panoramic radiographs on clinic patients. They also participate in a small-group radiographic interpretations seminar in the Winter Term. Oral Medicine: Students apply the oral diagnosis and oral medicine lecture material to the clinical environment through patient contact, that is, history, oral examination, and treatment planning. Basic Periodontal Care: 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. In addition, students learn patient management as it applies to clinical protocol, procedures, and record keeping.
624. D2 Oral Pathology - Cordell, D'Silva, Edwards
This course is a survey course for sophomore dental students of the pathologic processes and respective diseases found in the oral cavity and perioral tissues of the head and neck areas. It is presented as a logical extension of the general and systemic pathology content provided in the Integrated Medical Sciences courses. The objective of this course is to raise awareness of the clinician to the large number of pathologic processes which may present themselves in both hard and soft tissues in clinical practice. Consequently, etiology and pathogenesis; clinical, radiographic, histologic, and serologic findings; development of differential and definite diagnoses, and treatment are emphasized.
626. Etiology of Periodontal Disease - Richards
This course initially surveys the broad spectrum of periodontal diseases and reviews the structural features and normal physiology of the periodontium. The remainder of the course focuses on the characteristics of periodontal diseases and describes specific etiologic influences. Epidemiology of periodontal diseases and measurement of periodontal status is discussed. The pathogenic importance of bacterial plaques is emphasized; plaque-retentive local factors, systemic diseases (and other host-dependent conditions), and occlusal influences are also presented.
636. Periodontal Therapy I - Temple
This course introduces dental students to clinical periodontal therapy. While all aspects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy are discussed, emphasis is placed on periodontal evaluation of patients, diagnosis of periodontal diseases, and periodontal treatment planning. Concepts of comprehensive patient care are stressed including prevention and early recognition of periodontal problems, integration of appropriate periodontal therapies with other dental disciplines, and a sequential approach to periodontal care delivery. Techniques and criteria used to critically evaluate treatment outcome and need for further treatment are discussed.
706. Radiographic Interpretation - Brooks, Kanjirath, Benavides
The radiographic characteristics of normal, anomalous, and pathologic changes of the jaws of local and systemic importance are discussed. The importance of the correlation of radiographic evidence of clinical and historical data in order to attain a valid diagnosis is also emphasized. The criteria for establishing the presence or absence of disease of local and systemic importance are stressed.
708. Dental Implants in Treatment Planning - Oh
In the course, dental students learn fundamentals of dental implants, both surgical and restorative aspects, for implant treatment planning. Along with didactic classes, the course also provides dental students with laboratory sessions to be exposed to: (1) Fabrication of radiographic and surgical guides for placement of dental implants; and (2) Implant instrumentation for the restoration of implant-supported posterior crowns and implant-retained mandibular overdentures.
710. Comprehensive Care Seminar - D. Heys, Richards
This seminar provides an opportunity for students to present to other students and faculty a comprehensive treatment plan they have developed. The treatment plan is reviewed and the rationale of treatment is discussed in an open format by faculty and students.
711. D3 Oral Pathology - Edwards
This course is an expansion of topics covered in Oral Pathology 624. It helps students focus on development of differential diagnoses for pathologic processes. The course is enhanced by the study of the characteristics of each disease as the dental clinician would observe them in practice and how the clinician would treat the patient. It is also intended to broaden the experience of the students in hard and soft tissue pathologic lesions. Students are responsible for reviewing material presented in the previous course prior to class each week, allowing the faculty to delve into greater detail about the most significant lesions the general dentist may encounter.
720. Comprehensive Care Clinic - Periodontics and Oral Pathology/Medicine/Radiology - Brooks, Benevides, Cordell, Edwards, D. Heys, Kanjirath, Richards
Periodontics: Treatment of patients with periodontal disease is introduced. Diagnosis and treatment planning are emphasized. Periodontal therapy and maintenance care is stressed in the context of complete dental care and patient health. Oral Radiology: Students continue to develop competency in dental radiography by performing radiographic examinations on a variety of patients during this rotation. They also complete a series of radiographic interpretation exercises. During the Fall Term they participate in a small-group radiographic interpretations seminar. Oral Medicine: Diagnosis and treatment planning. Allows the
student to develop and incorporate the concepts of patient information gathering in the
clinical setting. A complete head and neck soft and hard tissue examination is
correlated with the historical information. After patient data is accumulated, the
student formulates a preliminary plan of treatment. The information gathering and
database collection is coordinated by an instructor.
746. Periodontal Therapy II - Oh
Dental students are provided with a basic understanding of periodontal surgery including the types and rationale for use of specific surgical treatments. Principles of periodontal surgery are discussed and include: anatomical considerations, wound healing, flap designs, suture techniques and materials, and pre- and post-surgery instructions. Also, periodontal/implant surgical techniques, including resective/regenerative therapy, mucogingival surgery, implant-related surgery, and advanced grafting techniques, are introduced and discussed.
810. Comprehensive Care Seminar - D. Heys, Richards
A program in which students present comprehensive treatment plans, and complete summaries of treated patients to fellow students and faculty. These treatment plans, and completed treatment, are discussed and are evaluated as to the rationale and sequences used. All treatment options are discussed so that the student learns the fundamentals of good treatment planning and patient care.
820. Comprehensive Care Clinic - Periodontics and Oral Pathology/Medicine/Radiology - Brooks, Benavides, Cordell, Edwards, D. Heys, Kanjirath, Richards
A multidisciplined program in which students will care for the needs of a family of patients. They will be charged with developing an appropriate treatment plan for each patient, and will be responsible for delivering and managing the patient's treatment. The goals of this program are to provide care with focus on the patient's needs, to deliver that care with efficiency, and to achieve and maintain the patient's oral stability.
824. Colloquium in Oral Medicine, Pathology, and Surgery - Cordell (Director), Benavides, Brooks, D'Silva, Edwards
The objective of this course is to correlate clinical findings with diagnoses of disease processes. This is a course that depends on the cooperation of faculty of two departments Periodontics and Oral Medicine as well as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The course material is given largely as case presentations, with some of the faculty presenting the clinical data. Students act as respondents or problem solvers and give case presentations to their classmates. Advanced special topics are covered as well including: use of advanced imaging techniques, special screening tools for suspicious oral lesions, clinical diagnostic techniques including cytology and culture, and formulation of referrals to specialists.
857. Community Dentistry - Stefanac, Piskorowski
The purpose of this course is to provide patient centered care that is both comprehensive and compassionate for a culturally diverse population and to enhance the students awareness to the disproportionate oral health concerns that are present in Michigan and elsewhere. Through eight community-based rotations located in Baldwin, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, and Oscoda coupled with two other collaborations including Traverse City Migrant Program and Bay Cliff (Marquette) our students may develop a sense of civic responsibility which will enhance their future practices to include the underserved. Textbooks alone cannot teach these service learning experiences.
Student Awards
Albert G. Richards Award for Excellence in Radiography. An award established in 1980 by several faculty members to honor Professor Richards, who has devoted his life to teaching and research in the field of radiography. It is to be presented to the junior student who has demonstrated excellence in the introductory courses in radiography during the first two years in the School of Dentistry. A monetary award and a certificate of merit are presented each year to a recipient selected by the professorial staff of the department's division of oral diagnosis and radiology.
American Academy of Dental Radiology Award. An award in the form of a certificate is presented to the senior student who has shown exceptional interest and accomplishment in dental radiology. With the certificate, the student will receive a one-year membership in the American Academy of Dental Radiology with waiver of initiation fee and first year's dues, and a subscription to the "Triple O" Journal.
American Academy of Oral Medicine Award. Established by the American Academy of Oral Medicine, this award honors the senior in the School of Dentistry who has shown the greatest proficiency in the field of oral medicine. A certificate of merit and a five-year subscription to the Journal of Oral Medicine is awarded each year.
American Academy of Oral Pathology Award. An award established to recognize and honor the senior dental student who has shown the greatest interest and effort in the field of oral pathology. The award consists of a certificate of merit and a one-year subscription to the Journal of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology.
American Academy of Periodontology Award. A plaque and a one year subscription to the Journal of Periodontology is also given each year by the Academy for a graduating student demonstrating strong interest and outstanding performance in periodontics.
Arthur W. Merritt Award. A grant from Dr. Merritt of New York City has been made to The University of Michigan School of Dentistry for the purpose of awarding $250 annually to the member of the graduating class who has shown the greatest proficiency in the specialty field of periodontics (both didactic and clinical) during Dental School.
Michigan Periodontal Alumni Award. An award of $100 from The University of Michigan Periodontal Alumni Association is made to the beginning D-3 student showing the greatest interest and proficiency in preventive periodontics during the D-1 and D-2 years.
Organization of Teachers of Oral Diagnosis Award. An annual award to a graduating senior typifying excellence and promise in the field of oral diagnosis.
Russell W. Bunting Study Club Award. Guest memberships are provided by the Russell W. Bunting Study Club for up to five graduating students demonstrating outstanding proficiency in clinical periodontics.