Goals & Objectives

By the end of the program, the successful resident will be able to competently:

• Evaluate a patient’s medical history, order and interpret labs/diagnostics, do a suitable head and neck exam, then integrate this data to develop a treatment plan that meets the patient’s comprehensive dental needs.
• Provide “best practices” dental care to a wide variety of people, including the elderly, children, and medically/physically/mentally/ emotionally complex patients.
• Provide general dentistry (restorative, endo, perio, pros, pedo, surgery) with more fluidity, in more complex situations, with improved and repeated quality, and more efficient utilization of time.
• Surgically place and restore implants in uncomplicated situations, while recognizing complex applications better suited to referral.
• Serve the community, especially the underserved/low-socioeconomic status patient populations.
• Select and apply appropriate means of pain and anxiety control, including local anesthesia, analgesics, oral/N₂O/IV sedation, and general anesthesia via anesthesiologists.
• Working with a hospitalist or family medicine physician, admit a patient into the hospital, perform a history and physical examination, order and assess laboratory tests, consult with other medical specialists, administer pre/intra/post-operative care, and perform treatment in an operating room setting.
• Provide consultative/treatment services to our medical colleagues in the hospital clinics, wards, Emergency Department and outpatient settings.
• Diagnose and treat common dental emergencies, and recognize when to refer more complex problems to the appropriate medical or dental specialists.
• Recognize and manage medical emergencies in the dental setting, including advanced airway management.
• Participate actively in a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Participate in organized dentistry.
• Understand and implement basic aspects of practice administration, including financials, insurances, consultants, and supervision of auxiliary personnel.
• Critically review and assess pertinent scientific literature, present it to colleagues, and implement current and innovative technology and theory.
• Self-assess abilities and limitations.

As a program, it is our intent to provide an educational environment that is fun, exciting, and collegial among residents, staff and faculty. By example, we hope to encourage the residents to be inquisitive, continuous students who will become leaders in our field.