Curriculum Second Year

Neuropharmacology is both a basic science and a clinical science. It builds on the foundation of anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and pathology and bridges the gap into clinical dentistry. This course in basic neuropharmacology will give the students a better understanding of drugs, interpreting complicated drug/medical histories, and understanding drug reactions. This module will focus on pharmacology of the central nervous system with lectures on analgesic agents, antianxiety drugs, general anesthetics, arthritis and gout drugs, prescription writing and a host of other agents used to treat diseases of the CNS including Parkinson’s, seizures, and a variety of psychiatric disorders. Clinically relevant drug- drug interactions will also be covered in this course.

This course combines an introduction to the general principles of anatomy, histology, and physiology of the human cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems, with an extensive study of the pathology and therapeutics of these systems, with an explicit emphasis on their relationship to dental practice.

This course combines an introduction to the general principles of anatomy, histology, and physiology of the human gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and endocrine systems, with an extensive study of the pathology and therapeutics of these systems, with an explicit emphasis on their relationship to dental practice.

Cadaveric Anatomy is designed to facilitate integration of the gross anatomy learned systemically in the Biological Systems curriculum stream through the meticulous regional dissection of a human cadaver. In addition to enabling visualization of both anatomical structures and their clinically significant relationships in a three-dimensional context, the course provides initiation into the tactile manipulation of the human body.

This course combines an introduction to the general principles of anatomy, histology, and physiology of the human hematopoietic and lymphoid system and neurologic systems with an extensive study of the pathology and therapeutics of these systems, and with an explicit emphasis on their relationship to dental practice.

This is a course that will apply what students have already learned in Foundation Sciences and Biologic Systems courses to the study, interpretation and diagnosis of oral disease. It is an essential link between

the basic and clinical sciences concerned with the mechanisms of disease (e.g., inflammation, genetic disease, neoplasia, immunopathology) and the disease processes that students will encounter during their careers in dentistry. The emphasis will be on oral soft and hard tissue pathology, including oral manifestations of systemic diseases that may impact on the health of the patients.

This course will develop a general knowledge of fundamental concepts in orofacial function and occlusion. The course is presented in two modules, with an exam at the end of each module. The orofacial function module will focus on physiology and anatomy and function of the facial structures, including saliva, mastication, speech, swallow, smell and taste. The goal is for the students to have a basic understanding of orofacial function. The occlusion module will discuss the role of occlusion in restorative dentistry with emphasis on the clinical application of fundamental biomechanical principles, techniques and instruments. By focusing on diagnosis, the student will be able to understand and develop the parameters to create successful restorative decisions and well-sequenced treatment plans. This module will provide a mandatory hands-on session for facebow transfer, interocclusal record and articulator set-up.

This course is designed to give the student exposure to all methods of anesthesia and pain control used in dentistry, as well as, various medical emergencies encountered in practice. In addition, the students will learn about the mechanisms and consequences of orofacial pain. All lectures will be presented by faculty members from the departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery & Pharmacology and Oral Medicine.

The curriculum of the Fixed Prosthodontics Lecture Course deals with the building of knowledge, thought processes and understanding the procedures required in the restoration of missing and/or badly broken- down teeth by the fabrication of non-removable prostheses. Students will learn diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth using biocompatible substitutes. These restorations must provide an improved state of oral health, function and esthetics for patients.

The curriculum of Fixed Prosthodontics Laboratory deals with the building of knowledge, thought processes, skills and understanding the procedures required in the restoration of missing and/or badly broken-down teeth by the fabrication of non-removable prostheses. Students will gain hands-on experience in the clinical and technical aspects of fixed prosthodontics.

The goal of this course is to provide students with the foundation knowledge needed to diagnose and treat edentulous patients. Students should be able to:

1. Recognize and define complete denture terminology deemed relevant in the classroom, course syllabus, and assigned readings.
2. Describe medical, emotional, and oral anatomic factors that aid in formulation of diagnostic considerations in complete denture therapy.
3. Describe functional anatomy of the edentulous mouth.
4. Understand the clinical procedures performed during the construction of conventional complete dentures and during the maintenance phase of treatment.
5. List the fundamental clinical procedures performed during the construction of immediate complete dentures.
6. Understand the complete denture occlusion.

Upon completion of this course, the students should have an in-depth understanding of:

1. The need for therapy in and restoration of the edentulous arch with complete prostheses.
2. The significance of avoiding the edentulous condition in a patient wherever possible.
3. The dental materials that are used at the different stages of complete dentures therapy.
4. The concept and techniques of the clinical steps involved in the treatment of the edentulous patient.

The goal of this second-year course is to provide the dental students with the technical knowledge and skills needed to perform all the laboratory procedures used in the construction of complete dentures and apply the foundation knowledge learned in the lectures. Students should be knowledgeable and skilled in the following:

1. Describing and performing selected sequential clinical and laboratory procedures required during the construction of complete dentures.
2. Applying the knowledge related to dental materials learned in the lectures.

Upon completion of this course, the students should be able to:

1. Perform all laboratory procedures used in construction of complete dentures.
2. Demonstrate the function and the usage of Hanau face bow and articulator in the construction of complete dentures.
3. Communicate with the laboratory technicians via properly written work authorizations.

A combination of lectures, seminars and laboratory exercises provide the dental student with a fundamental understanding of the partially edentulous condition. Topics covered include classification, diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment of partially edentulous patients with RPDs. This course is designed to provide students with the terminology, concepts and principles necessary for case selection, design, construction of, and patient therapy with conventional RPDs. Upon completion of this course students will have the necessary didactic knowledge to successfully understand and treat removable partial denture cases in conjunction with the clinical faculty during their third and fourth years.

This course will be focused on non-surgical periodontal therapy. The macroscopic and microscopic effects of this modality of treatment will be discussed. Different forms of periodontal diseases and non- surgical therapeutic tools will also be presented as well as information on the prognosis of the periodontal therapy and the relevance of maintenance.

Lectures, seminars and community experiences provide students with foundation knowledge in general principles of public health and community health, with specific application to the following dental public health concepts: access to care, cost, quality of care and international health. Students complete community experiences that provide foundation experiences in developing and implementing community oral health promotion activities.

PEDM II focuses on preparing students to enter the clinical practice of dentistry; building relationships with patients, colleagues, and faculty; and developing a moral framework for clinical decision making.

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to communicate with and manage appropriately a diverse group of clinical patients. Eight hours of small group activity, including experiences with standardized patients, as well as twelve hours of large group activities provide the foundational knowledge and skills in patient management with diverse and challenging patients.

Motivational interviewing is presented and discussed as a strategy for communication and management of change with patients.

Dental Auxiliary Utilization for the sophomore class builds on the dental assisting skills the student has mastered in DAU 562. In 662, the student moves on from assisting to Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary skills that have been taught in the General Restorative Dentistry course. Goals of the course include the goals of DRAUT 562, as well as the development of skills to restore prepared teeth, cement and fabricate temporary crowns, and obtaining clinical patient records of third- and fourth-year student patients. Emphasis is increased on the student’s independent completion of patient-centered tasks and preparation for becoming primary providers in the third year.

This course is offered by the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental medicine. It is intended to integrate topics from General Restorative Dentistry courses and DAU courses at the PDM with clinical expectations and procedures of PDM clinics

The Department of Endodontics trains pre-doctoral students to become competent in basic endodontic procedures. This includes instruction in the foundational core of Endodontics, including pulp biology, primary non-surgical root canal treatment. Clinical Endodontics: The Department of Endodontics furthermore trains pre-doctoral students to understand advanced endodontic procedures. This includes instruction in trauma, resorption, retreatment, endodontic surgery, bleaching, etc. Our ultimate goal is to implement that treatment/education in a caring, respectful, and responsible manner.

The pre-clinical endodontic laboratory course is designed to introduce endodontic concepts and techniques to a student under simulated conditions using extracted teeth.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge of growth and development, concentrating on child somatic, craniofacial, and dental growth and development. The students build a solid foundation along the lines of diagnosing problems and understanding the etiology of malocclusion and space maintenance.

This course is designed to expose the student to basic orthodontic laboratory and clinical procedures and encourages the development of technical abilities in banding, bonding, wire bending, and removable appliance fabrication.