Preceptors & Fellowships

This program is primarily for colleagues and graduated dentists from countries outside the U.S. and Canada who wish to learn Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology during a limited time period of time, typically 12-18 months. Preceptors may audit any ongoing courses and seminars, carry out independent research, and fully participate in the graduate clinical activities as described in the graduate program.

Each individual, either the private practitioner or the dental faculty member may choose from a list of topics, experiences, and training offered by the department. The length of the program will vary from one to twelve months depending on the program selected. Academic credit is not awarded for the preceptorship, but after successful completion, students receive a “Certificate of Completion” from the Comprehensive Dentistry Department. If negotiated at the time of acceptance, students may also receive Continuing Education credit on an hour-for-hour basis.

Preceptorships are planned with a primary advisor from the faculty and built from one or more of the following areas:

• Oral & Maxillofacial Imaging (basic and advanced radiology, photography, and image analysis)
• Digital and Advanced 3D Imaging

Tuition for full-time study is a minimum of $2,500 - $3,000 per month. Additional preceptorship expenses depend upon the content and length of the program.

This fellowship consists of a series of seminars and opportunities that provide comprehensive, intensive, and focused background, instruction and observational experience designed to prepare dentists for involvement and careers in Forensic Odontology.

The fellowship offers a full range of instruction and evidence-based exposure in Forensic Odontology. Seminar topics covered include radiographic and photographic imaging principles and interpretation, dental identification of human remains, disaster victim identification and multiple fatality incident management, bitemark interpretation, analysis and comparison, dental age estimation, recognition and case management of victims of abuse (child, adult, elder), overview of forensic anthropology, and the principles and practical aspects of relating to the legal system. This fellowship is designed for dentists who seek comprehensive information related to forensic odontology.

Tuition is $14,500 plus travel, lodging and meal expenses, supplies and incidentals.

Requirements

The fellowship required a minimum of 330 “on campus” hours consisting of multiple seminars, independent research, and evidentiary experiences, plus, at least, an equal number of off campus research hour. The requirements must be completed in a 23 month period (April through February).

Each Forensic Odontology Fellow must initiate and complete an independent research project. The results of that project are to be presented to the Forensic Odontology faculty and invited guests at UT Health San Antonio prior to the completion of the fellowship period. Results of the research project must also be submitted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). The presentation may be in the Odontology section, or another section of the AAFS. If not accepted and presented at the AAFS annual meeting, the results must be presented at another national or international forensic meeting. Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is encouraged but not mandatory.

Credentials

Upon successful attendance at all required seminars and completion of the mandatory research project, a certificate of completion for the fellowship will be issued by the Comprehensive Dentistry Department at UT Health San Antonio, specifying the scope of the program of instruction. Hour-for-hour CE credit will be documented but no academic credit is offered in this fellowship.

Upon successful completion of this fellowship, a dentist will meet the education requirements for membership in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the education requirement for application to the American Board of Forensic Odontology.

Administration

The program is directed by David R. Senn, D.D.S., and includes attendance of regularly scheduled seminars regarding Forensic Dentistry given by the Comprehensive Dentistry Department. The Bexar County Forensic Science Center and the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office also provide support.

Dr. David Senn
senn@uthscsa.edu
Comprehensive Dentistry Department
UT Health San Antonio , MC 7914
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900

The Dental Implantology preceptorship consist of a clinically focused curriculum that incorporates the latest research from the clinical basic sciences. This provides participants with an understanding of the rationale and scientific basis for the clinical practice of implantology. Participants will meet for six weekend sessions, which will include didactic sessions and some hands-on training experiences in an interactive learning environment.

During the preceptorship, participants will:

• Learn the rationale and scientific basis for the successful clinical practice of implantology
• Learn about current concepts, principles, and clinical methodology used effectively in practice
• Learn proper evaluation, diagnosis, and selection of patients for implant placement and restoration
• Develop and understand specific implant surgical and prosthodontics skills and the different modalities available
• Manage the more difficult clinical situations, such as patients with advanced maxillary or mandibular atrophy
• Practice management aspects of dental implantology: records, insurance, informed consent, medical, legal, and marketing considerations

During participation sessions, the preceptorship will feature hands-on exercises that will familiarize preceptors with the surgical and restorative aspects of dental implant systems and prosthetic laboratory techniques. Preceptors will have access to the implant anatomy laboratory so they can familiarize themselves in implant anatomy through dissection and to actually place implants in cadaver models. The co-directors will conduct a two hour diagnostic and treatment planning segment featuring the preceptors’ patient cases at each of the weekend sessions.

Didactic Sessions

• History and future of dental implantology
• Three-day classroom/cadaver laboratory exercises
• Biomechanical and biomaterial aspects of dental implantology
• Physiology of bone with emphasis on cellular, molecular healing, bone maturation of bone in function and selection of implants with different designs and surfaces relating to bone density and planned Implant function
• Anatomy of the maxilla, mandible, and TMJ in terms of available bone and anatomy as related to stress distribution
• Anatomical structures (muscles, nerves, arteries) as they relate to implant placement
• Philosophies of implant retention and stabilization
• Essential treatment planning facets, including patient selection, past dental and medical history, essential diagnostic guides (casts, templates, etc.), documentation, appointment sequencing with laboratory, surgeon, restorative dentist. Essentials of joint treatment planning, recall principles.
• Surgical and prosthodontic considerations including incision design, fixture and abutment selection, occlusal considerations and force transmission
• Peri-implantitis and its effect on the dental implant from the infective and traumatic aspects
• Post-restoration responsibilities of staff personnel, hygienist, surgeon and restorative dentist on a recall basis.
• Includes demonstration of instruments, techniques for post-implant placement, restoration hygiene.
• Principles in troubleshooting, rescue and retrieval procedures
• The prosthodontic aspects of diagnosis and treatment planning as well as the clinical communication of this information to the surgeon
• Procedures for developing optimum esthetics and the biomechanical loading aspects of implant restorations
• Component systems will be categorized with specific indications for their use.
• The importance of optimal laboratory support and clinical communication skills to facilitate positive interaction with the dental technician
• Indications and techniques relating to insertion of implants in single tooth and fresh extraction site situations
• Hard and soft tissue grafting, guided soft, hard tissue regeneration in both pre- and post-implant placement, including sinus lift procedures
• Repair of the ailing, failing implant with new regenerative procedures and materials.
• An overview of informed consent documentation and medical-legal review
• The principles of practice management, marketing, and insurance considerations
• An opportunity for your dental hygienist to complete a certification course in dental implant hygiene

Registration

Pre-registration for all courses is necessary. Each participant should pre-register for a course so that a course packet will be available at the time of check-in.

Please call the Office of Continuing Dental Education at (210) 567-3177 to pre-register for a course, or mail the registration form with a credit card number or check made payable to “UT Health San Antonio” to:

Continuing Dental Education, MSC 7930
UT Health San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900

Register for Preceptor in Dental Implantology