Pediatric Dentistry Residency Content

Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics:
Postgraduate Program in Pediatric Dentistry

About the Program:

CONTENT

In order to meet our curriculum goal of providing a wide range of clinical and didactic experiences grounded in a process of critical analysis, the program provides the following:

1. An anesthesia rotation with the Anesthesia Service of the Medical University Hospital.
   
2. A pediatric medicine rotation with the Department of Pediatrics plus weekly opportunities to attend Pediatric Grand Rounds throughout the program.
3. Clinical pediatric dental care including the diagnosis and treatment of the primary, mixed, and young permanent dentition to include: preventive care, pulp therapy, management of trauma, advanced restorative techniques, pediatric oral pathology, space-supervision and guidance of eruption, interceptive orthodontics, and oral surgical procedures.  Direct pediatric dental care is scheduled on a seven half-day per week basis supported by a half-day per week seminar schedule.
4. Behavior management methods incorporating non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic techniques for control of apprehension and pain support the treatment activities encountered in pediatric dental care.
5. Comprehensive dental and behavioral management of medically, physically, and mentally compromised patients are experienced in serving our hospital based population.
6. Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic and seminars on a monthly basis throughout the program are experienced in the Department's role as a primary dental component of the MUSC Craniofacial Team.
7. Outpatient and inpatient treatment of children’s dental problems using general anesthesia and proper hospital protocol two days per week on a rotating basis.
8. Growth and development in the context of orthodontic management of occlusion through integrated diagnostic, treatment planning, and biomechanical applications is approached with a clinical involvement of one full day per week for both first and second year residents. These clinical orthodontic experiences are supported by a structured orthodontic-related curriculum of seminar and laboratory exercises over both years of the program.
9. Teaching experience as clinical instructors in the Predoctoral Pediatric Dental Clinic during the second year of the program on a one half-day a week basis.
10. Regularly scheduled interdepartmental seminars on topics in pediatric dentistry and interdepartmental courses in Biomedical and Clinical Core sciences supplement the resident's knowledge base.
11. All residents conduct a data collection research project and/or a comprehensive literature review - case report which is of publishable quality. Besides providing informational service to the profession, the experience of conducting research will enhance the resident's ability for critical analysis.
12. Exposure to practice management and dental care delivery through seminars and visits to varied private and public clinic sites.