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 Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• SDM PE 862: Fundamentals of Regression Analyses in Periodontal Research
  This course will introduce students to the principles of biostatistics as well as regression analyses as applied to the specific characteristics of periodontal research.
• SDM PE 865: Integrating Digital Dentistry in Treatment Planning and Complex Restorations
  This course will explore the use of digital based scanning tools to enhance the evaluation, diagnosis, planning and production phases of advanced restorative dentistry. Digital oral/facial scans merged with 3D CBCT reformatted images and dental/periodontal surface scans can provide the clinician with an integrated 3D visualization of anatomy and pathology which is not possible with standard clinical observation and radiographic technique.
• SDM PE 911: Clinical Periodontology
  Clinical instruction and supervision of residents. This comprises the elements of case documentation, patient evaluation and examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities, post treatment evaluation and prognosis. 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th sem.
• SDM PE 912: Clinical Periodontology
  Clinical instruction and supervision of residents. This comprises the elements of case documentation, patient evaluation and examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities, post treatment evaluation and prognosis. 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th sem.
• SDM PE 913: Clinical Periodontology
  Clinical periodontal practice emphasizing the elements of case documentation, patient evaluation and examination, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. Complete periodontal therapy performed under staff guidance.
• SDM PE 946: Practice Management
  Practice management course offered by the Department of Periodontology.
• SDM PE 991: Research: Periodontology
  Approved research in periodontology.
• SDM PE 992: Research: Periodontology
  Approved research in periodontology.
• SDM PE 993: Research: Periodontology
  Approved research in periodontology.
• SDM PH 512: Professional Ethics Development
  Professional Ethics Development is designed to explore the personal and professional values of the dental student and the dental health professional. The course provides a historical and conceptual framework of dentistry, and presents the profession's code of ethics as well as explores some current ethical and legal issues affecting professional practice. The purpose of the course is to assist students in the transition from undergraduate school to professional school and ultimately into knowledgeable, skilled, and caring professionals. Students discuss the school's code of conduct and identify common values of the class, participate in case-based discussions and writing assignments to raise awareness about the personal and professional values involved in dental school and dental practice.
• SDM PH 514: Preventive Dentistry
  This course will introduce students to the principles and practice of preventive dentistry, as applied to the care of an individual patient as well as the broader community population. It will also introduce the student to the basic principles and methods of epidemiology and demonstrate their application to dentistry. Completion of this course will enable students to read, critique and meaningfully extract information from scientific literature and be able to interpret it to lay individuals including their patients.
• SDM PH 517: Evidence-Based Dentistry
  The lecture component of this course is an introduction to assessing and evaluating published scientific and dental literature. Students learn to examine the general concepts in experimental design, scientific methodology, and the appropriateness of statistical methods used to evaluate the conclusions of studies. In the seminar component of the course, students meet in small groups led by faculty members who serve as facilitators. Published scientific evidence is used to help develop sound reasoning and critical thinking skills in students. Students analyze scientific literature and learn about general patterns of clinical judgment, critical thinking, decision-making, and application of scientific evidence into everyday practice.
• SDM PH 520: Integrated Problems in Practice Management II
  This case-based-learning course is comprised of faculty led small-group seminar sessions. Topics covered in the course include the profession's code of ethics and principles of conduct, as well as aspirational codes. Issues of diversity and cultural competency in professional practice are discussed. A model of ethical decision-making for the dentist is presented and cases involving ethical issues are discussed in small-group based seminars. Students rely on dialogue with preceptors of their APEX clerkship as a resource for addressing the cases presented in small, interactive faculty- facilitated seminar groups.
• SDM PH 521: Behavioral Science
  This course identifies the behavioral framework for the effective delivery of health care. Discussions include effective behavioral modification models with respect to doctor and patient communication as well as behavioral aspects of managing patient pain, fear, phobia and anxiety. The course provides students with knowledge to also assist them in their personal and professional behavioral management as they transition from student to health care provider by utilizing examples of healthcare professional conduct from the media, as well as drivers of health behavior. Other topics discussed are the behavioral approaches for rendering care to special needs populations such as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and geriatrics.
• SDM PH 524: Preventive Dentistry
  This course will introduce students to the principles and practice of preventive dentistry, as applied to the care of an individual patient as well as the broader community population. It will also introduce the student to the basic principles and methods of epidemiology and demonstrate their application to dentistry. Completion of this course will enable students to read, critique and meaningfully extract information from scientific literature and be able to interpret it to lay individuals including their patients.
• SDM PH 530: Health Care Law
  This course continues to build the student's understanding and consideration of ethical issues in dental practice and introduces related legal principles. Through lecture and case discussion, the student will focus on ethical problem-solving in more complex patient-based cases and introduces legal concepts affecting the practice of dentistry including licensure, contract and tort law, patient abandonment, malpractice, informed consent and refusal, mandatory reporting laws, patient confidentiality and prudent behavior, diversity and discrimination laws.
• SDM PH 541: Gerontology & Geriatric Dentistry
  This course integrates biomedical, clinical, and behavioral science principles into the evaluation and treatment planning of older adults and adults with special needs. PH 541 builds on didactic and clinical information acquired in their prior dental school curriculum. The students' didactic knowledge and understanding of special populations is assessed through a web-based examination platform. Evaluation of the students' clinical competence is based on attendance, participation, and an online assessment of an older adult patient or adult patient with special needs. This course focuses on patient-centered ways to promote, improve, maintain, and modify oral health care. This course also provides opportunities for critical thinking and foundational knowledge regarding interprofessional care and referrals, the social and behavioral implications of aging, polypharmacy, and management of oral health and quality of life for medically compromised older adults and adults living with special needs.
• SDM PH 544: Integrated Problems in Practice Management IV
  This course provides information necessary for a new graduate to obtain a position as an oral health-care provider. Topics discussed include jurisprudence, issues surrounding employment law pertinent to the new graduate, risk management (disability and liability insurance coverage and products), how third party reimbursement works, various provider compensation models, personal finance (retirement and student loan repayment), interview techniques, and employment contract assessment and negotiations
• SDM PH 610: Applied Professional Experience Clerkship (APEX)
  During the summer, at the end of their first year, students participate in an 8 week internship rotation at community health centers or private practices approved and affiliated with GSDM. During this time, students are allowed to participate in the provision of patient care. Students experience the different roles of the dental team, and perform a series of observational and hands-on activities that reinforce their knowledge and application of infection control measures, production and evaluation of intraoral radiographs, diagnostic procedures, patient evaluation, caries risk assessment, patient education and preventive dentistry.
• SDM PH 644: Externship
  Students are assigned to alternative treatment settings such as Community Health Centers and Hospital based dental clinics for 10 week rotations. These rotations provide opportunities for continued growth of students clinical skills, as well as enhancement in skills in the following areas: treatment planning, diagnosis, critical thinking and time management. This course also provides the students with experience in treating diverse patient populations.

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