Pediatric Dentistry Residency Objectives

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

About the Program:

OBJECTIVES

In meeting the overall goal of producing a proficient specialist in Pediatric Dentistry, the specific objectives of the postgraduate program which encompass the standards of established care for infants, children, and adolescents include:

1. Ability to educate and guide the child and parent to accept and practice oral health care with preventive concepts, a foundation of clinical practice.
2. Mastery of restorative procedures in primary and young permanent teeth required to treat children and adolescents.
3. Understanding of the physical and chemical properties of medications and dental materials used in treatment and physiologic responses of the child and adolescent to these agents.
4. Knowledge of pediatrics, oral pathology, and oral surgical procedures applicable to the child dental patient.
5. Capability to diagnose and treat traumatized and carious primary / young permanent teeth to maintain the teeth, pulp tissues and periodontium in a healthy state.
6. Ability to provide comprehensive oral health care for medically, emotionally, mentally, or physically challenged patients.
7. Understanding the growth and development of the stomatognathic system and the ability to provide treatment aimed at allowing optimal development of this system.
8. Ability to provide control of pain and anxiety through the use of psychological and pharmacological methods including provision of dental care in the hospital.
9. Familiarity with published literature pertinent to pediatric dentistry and the motivation to remain abreast with and critically evaluate the dental literature.
10. Commitment to the implementation of individual and community prevention programs aimed at dental and systemic diseases and traumatic injuries.
11. Preparation for managing a contemporary pediatric dental practice relative to practice administration, efficient auxiliary utilization, and marketing.
12. Coordination of all of the above objectives such that diagnosis, case analysis, treatment planning, and clinical management of oral-facial health problems that occur in infancy, childhood and adolescence are grounded in a sound application of scientific knowledge that remains state-of-the-art through development of an attitude towards lifelong inquiry and study.