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  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) Academics Information

Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) Academics Information

The School of Dentistry is the region’s leader in clinical education and patient care.

This is accomplished by very specific strengths:

  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) students provide comprehensive care at the Center for Oral Health Care & Research, a $96.5 million facility with 198,000 square feet and the most advanced technology available to dental clinicians
  • Patient care is coordinated at three levels based on difficulty: dental students, advanced education residents and faculty 
  • Dedicated and diverse faculty that are experts in their field teaching primarily at the level of a general dentist
  • Students have access to the most advanced technology available, including: electronic patient record, digital radiography, CAD/CAM, digital impressions and virtual submission to lab
  • An extensive outreach program offers students experience with various models of oral health care systems
  • The integrated dental hygiene program allows dental and dental hygiene students to collaborate effectively 
  • A selective program permits students to have some customization to their experiences based on interests

Beginning with DS1s entering in 2017, the curriculum for the first two years features:

  • Integrated basic and clinical sciences; foundation science in context; “just-in-time” learning
  • Learning about the craniofacial region, before the systemic health and disease
  • Reinforcement of didactic material through preclinical activities
  • Earlier hand skills development/earlier clinical experiences
  • Earlier transition to clinic with DS 2 didactic and preclinical curriculum ending in mid-March

The curriculum structure divides the courses into three tracks:

  • Human Health and Disease (HHD): Emphasizes the integrated foundation knowledge
  • Foundations of Restorative Dentistry (FRD): Highlights clinical hand skill development
  • Introduction to Patient Care (IPC): Combines tracks for non-surgical patient care experiences in small groups

The contemporary and integrated curriculum provides our students:

  • An easier transition to junior clinic
  • More meaningful clinical experiences due to the knowledge and skills learned in the first and second year curriculum
  • More applications of critical thinking/problem solving skills

A sample plan of study for the Doctor of Dental Surgery program from the catalog shows the normal sequence in which courses are taught. 

  • Academics
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Unique opportunities

Learn more about the electives/selectives available to our D.D.S. students

 

Community outreach

Community-based training provided under the supervision of dental school faculty

Sample plans of study

Freshman year

Sophomore year

Junior year

Senior year

Graduation with recognition

Distinction in research

Distinction in teaching

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210-567-7000

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