Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• SDM EN 982: Research: Endodontics
  Approved research in endodontics. Designed as a partial requirement for the CAGS in endodontics. 1st-4th sem.
• SDM EN 991: Research: Endodontics
  Research in endodontics and related fields designed as a partial requirement for the MSD or DScD in endodontics. 1st-4th sem.
• SDM EN 992: Research: Endodontics
  Research in endodontics and related fields designed as a partial requirement for the MSD or DScD in endodontics. 1st-4th sem.
• SDM EN 993: Research: Endodontics
  Research in endodontics and related fields designed as a partial requirement for the MSD or DScD in endodontics. 1st-4th sem.
• SDM GD 510: Comprehensive Preclinical Dentistry
  This course introduces first year students to basic concepts, skills, and attitudes necessary for the successful practice of dentistry. Didactic instruction includes introductions to the following topics: the language of dentistry, infection prevention, diagnosis & treatment planning, interpretation of the medical history, bacterial plaque formation, etiology and prevention of both dental caries and periodontal disease, critical thinking, oral & maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, fixed and removable prosthodontics, dental implants, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and endodontics. Preclinical instruction is provided in the Simulation Learning Center using state of the art simulators and is focused on infection prevention, basic instrumentation skills, ergonomics, isolation techniques, general tooth preparation principles, simple amalgam restorations, and anterior and posterior composite resin restorations. There is also a Service Learning component where students are engaged in community service activities at grammar schools in the Boston area that are affiliated with BUGSDM.
• SDM GD 520: CAD/CAM Fundamentals and Practice
  This course will review current techniques for incorporating CAD/CAM Technology into your everyday practice based on current literature. This course will be a blend of lecture series and hands on exercises. This format will ensure that the students are getting complete exposure and comprehensive learning to develop their skills, especially during the hands-on sections of this course.
• SDM GD 540: Preclinical Implantology
  This course is designed to introduce to DMD II and DMD AS I students a broad overview of dental implants. The course will consist of a combination of didactic classroom learning and simulated lab exercises, which will teach students to read CBCT scans, treatment plan and place a virtual implant into the scan with merged data from a file of a digital impression of the dentition, and then to fabricate an accurate surgical guide for its use in guided surgery; place and restore dental implant on a model; as well as restore overdentures supported by dental implants. The course will prepare the students to treat patients in a clinical setting using dental implants as a treatment option.
• SDM GD 581: Facial Neuromodulators and Soft Tissue Fillers
  This course presents the concepts and techniques to enhance therapeutic and esthetic outcomes of dental treatment through the use of facial injectables. The course builds upon in-depth instruction in head and neck anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology that has previously been provided in the curriculum. The composition, biocompatibility and mode of action of the various biologic and synthetic injectables will be discussed, as will the indications and contraindications for using these as part of comprehensive dental treatment.
• SDM GD 582: Preclinical Facial Neuromodulators and Soft Tissue Fillers
  The course provides practical, hands-on instruction designed to ensure the safe treatment of patients. Students will practice mock injections on each other, similar to when students learn to give local injections of anesthesia. This experience may be augmented by instruction using cadaver material. Typically, a surrogate neuromodulator (e.g. sterile saline) will be used, rather than active Botox?. Likewise, bacteriostatic saline will be used in the soft tissue filler exercises. The course hands-on training will occur in the GSDM Simulated Learning Center (SLC) and/or patient clinic, which will be reserved, as needed.
• SDM GD 606: Esthetic Dentistry
  This didactic course is designed to teach the DMD4s and AS2s esthetic treatment planning principles as well as to develop analytic skills in the diagnosis and clinical decision-making process on esthetic restorative treatment modalities that are offered to our patients. It is an elective, interdepartmental course, intended to be interactive, with active learning components through clinical case discussions.
• SDM GD 640: Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry in a Group Practice Model
  This course is a major clinical experience in the DMD III year. Students apply the information learned in the curriculum up to this point and begin comprehensive care of assigned patients. This occurs under the auspice of the Group Practice Model, which is a patient-centered clinical education constructed for student-provided, faculty-guided high quality care of patients. Group Practice Leaders interact on a regular basis to document student progress towards competency. The emphasis is on ensuring that students are meeting interim educational goals and preparing to challenge structured summative assessments.
• SDM GD 642: Group Practice Learning and Leadership
  This course is designed to facilitate attainment of the various professional competencies each student must demonstrate prior to graduation. Clinically active students and their respective Group Practice Leaders interact on a regular basis to document student progress towards competency. This occurs under the auspice of the Group Practice Model, which is a patient-centered clinical education construct for student-provided, faculty-guided high quality care of patients. During the final year of the curriculum, the emphasis is on ensuring that students successively challenge structured summative assessments. Group Practice leaders are responsible for monitoring student progress, implementing corrective actions as needed, and authorizing that students have met the competency standards ("signing out") required for the degree. Students will also learn to integrate the knowledge they have acquired in their biomedical science courses in formulation of treatment planning and providing comprehensive patient care.
• SDM GD 660: Critical Thinking
  The purpose of the course is to teach and have students demonstrate a deeper understanding of how critical thinking is an essential part of assessing information and decision making in the practice of dentistry.
• SDM GD 918: Studnt Teaching
  This course will give the graduate students the opportunity to teach dental students in both the pre-clinical and clinical arena. This experience will allow the graduate students to grow in a different dimension by learning not just how to perfect their skills but also to learn how to communicate their thoughts and ideas and transfer that knowledge to other colleagues. The ability to successfully communicate ones knowledge adds a dimension of advanced understanding beyond the level of learning and performing the fundamental tasks needed to be a competent clinician.
• SDM MB 511: Molecular Genetics
  This course introduces the emerging science of molecular genetics. The course is designed to complement courses in microbiology, biochemistry, and immunology and to prepare the students to understand and assimilate knowledge being developed by researchers and the various implications for dental practice.
• SDM MB 652: IREC 2
  Intensive Research Elective Course (IREC) IREC provides intensive and structured research experiences throughout the dental school curriculum for predoctoral dental students interested in careers in oral health research. The objectives are: 1) to carry out well-defined research projects under the guidance of research mentors; 2) to enhance critical thinking skills; 3) to participate in the full range of research-related activities, including scientific meetings and journal clubs; 4) to train in the design and execution of scientific studies, gain better understanding of innovative dental techniques, materials and tools, and develop analytical thinking abilities; and 5) to contribute to the discovery of new knowledge and dissemination through the scientific literature. There are three IREC options: * IREC1 - Intensive Research DMD year 1 (as part of the APEX program) (3 credits); * IREC2 - Intensive Research DMD year 2 (2 credits); * IREC3 - Intensive Research DMD year 3 (2 credits). The long-range goals of IREC are to produce better informed dental clinicians with improved eligibility for academic appointments.
• SDM MB 653: IREC 3
  Intensive Research Elective Course (IREC) IREC provides intensive and structured research experiences throughout the dental school curriculum for predoctoral dental students interested in careers in oral health research. The objectives are: 1) to carry out well-defined research projects under the guidance of research mentors; 2) to enhance critical thinking skills; 3) to participate in the full range of research-related activities, including scientific meetings and journal clubs; 4) to train in the design and execution of scientific studies, gain better understanding of innovative dental techniques, materials and tools, and develop analytical thinking abilities; and 5) to contribute to the discovery of new knowledge and dissemination through the scientific literature. There are three IREC options: * IREC1 - Intensive Research DMD year 1 (as part of the APEX program) (3 credits); * IREC2 - Intensive Research DMD year 2 (2 credits); * IREC3 - Intensive Research DMD year 3 (2 credits). The long-range goals of IREC are to produce better informed dental clinicians with improved eligibility for academic appointments.
• SDM MD 510: Anatomical Sciences I
  Anatomical Sciences I is the first in a series of two courses designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy. Anatomical Sciences I covers the topics of human microscopic anatomy (histology) and neuroanatomy. In the microscopic anatomy portion of Anatomical Sciences I, students will be introduced to various histological methods and the impact these methods have on the appearance of histological preparations. Students will also be exposed to a systematic analytical approach to tissue and organ identification, with an emphasis on structure and function relationship. In the neuroanatomy portion of Anatomical Sciences I, the structure and function of both the peripheral and central nervous systems will be emphasized. Students will engage in a detailed exploration of the various sensory and motor systems, including a comprehensive study of cranial nerves and their clinical relevance to the field of dentistry. Critical thinking and clinical problem solving are emphasized throughout the course using clinical case studies from the literature.
• SDM MD 511: Anatomical Sciences II
  This course covers a wide range of topics in human gross anatomy that are relevant to the practice of dentistry. Specifically, lectures will provide in- depth details of the embryology of major organ systems, anatomy of the thorax, abdomen, upper extremity, neck, head and oral and nasal cavities. In addition, the structure, function and details of bones and joints of the body will be covered. In the lab portion of this course, we have the invaluable opportunity to use cadavers to directly observe the anatomical structures discussed in lecture.
• SDM MD 512: Biochemistry
  This course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic principles of modern biochemistry. The topics to be covered include an introduction to biochemistry and its importance to understanding oral health as well as proteins, enzymes, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, sugar and lipid metabolism, hormones and second messengers and connective tissue biochemistry. In addition to the traditional lecture format, students participate in case-based presentations designed to integrate clinical cases with the material presented in class.