PRE-DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
The mission of the University of Iowa Department
of Pediatric Dentistry relevant to pre-doctoral dental education
is to provide:
1.
Contemporary education in pediatric dentistry for
our pre-doctoral students.
2.
Clinical experiences in dental treatment of children
from birth to age 21 regardless of developmental/social/medical/dental
circumstances.
3.
Opportunities for students to be exposed to pediatric
dentistry activities in a community setting.
Goals: Provide pre-doctoral
students with a contemporary education in the didactic and
clinical foundations of the practice of dentistry for children
via:
1.
Education in the knowledge and skills necessary
to practice in a changing environment with didactic foundational
information coupled with current clinical mentoring.
2.
Provide a learning environment that fosters an understanding
and incentive for providing appropriate dental care for
children.
Didactic Training in Pediatric Dentistry
The didactic component of the pre-doctoral program consists
of the course entitled “Pediatric Dentistry Diagnosis and
Treatment” which is taught in the second year and the “Pediatric
Dentistry Clinical Seminar Series” which is taught during
the third year clerkship. The first course provides basic
foundational knowledge in Pediatric Dentistry. Seminars
during the third year clerkship focus on clinical issues
and techniques in Pediatric Dentistry, reinforcement of
important didactic information presented in the second year
course and case-based learning. Dr. Stephen Goepferd serves
as the case director for the Sophomore course and Dr. Cynthia Christensen
directs the clinical seminar series during the Junior
clerkship.
Clinical Training in Pediatric Dentistry
During their third year of dental training, pre-doctoral students spend 5 weeks in each specialty department. There are approximately 9 students in each clerkship. The clerkship consists of both didactic and clinical components. Students provide clinical care to pediatric patients four and a half days each week. Dr. Cynthia Christensen serves as the director of the pre-doctoral clinic program in pediatric dentistry. Under her direction, approximately 4,000 patient treatment visits per year are conducted. Student experiences include emergency, initial and recall examinations, preventive dental services, restorations, space maintainers and extractions.
In addition to treatment provided in the pediatric dentistry clinic, students participate in a preventive dentistry program where students develop and implement a dental health presentation for an age specific group of children in the community. Students also observe or participate in treatment of special needs pediatric patients.
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