Curriculum Overview
Graduate Orthodontics Program
Residents will spend approximately 50% of the first year in didactics and 50% in clinical care with an anticipated minimum of 40 patients. The remainder of the program shifts to 25% of residents’ time in didactics and 75% with clinical activities, teaching and research. Clinical emphasis is placed on the use of contemporary edgewise appliances in conjunction with functional and other orthopedic appliances to treat children, adolescents and adults using both routine orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. Participation with craniofacial anomaly patients and boards is required.
Program Goal 1:
- Provide patient-based clinical care to help residents gain proficiency in orthodontics and deliver high-quality care to patients
Objectives:
- Overall Provide a diverse clinical experience similar to normal clinical practice
- Gather an appropriate and complete data base on each patient to provide a strong foundation for diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment consultation, treatment and retention of the patient
- Utilize a problem-based diagnostic and treatment planning strategy for all patients
- Utilize craniofacial growth and development knowledge in planning and carrying out patient treatment
- Integrate relevant biological, clinical and behavioral science into patient treatment
- Utilize current biomechanical and biomaterial techniques and strategies in patient care
- Utilize interdisciplinary consultation and care when appropriate
- Apply the principles of infection control and environmental safety to patient care and clinical operations
Program Goal 2:
- Provide residents with broad-based didactics and a strong basis for continued learning and clinical practice
Objectives:
- Use and understand basic scientific principles
- Provide sufficient supporting knowledge to allow residents to appropriately evaluate the literature and interact knowledgeably with other dental specialists
- Provide appropriate knowledge on business, legal and ethical issues to aid the student in managing an orthodontic practice
Program Goal 3:
- Provide residents the foundation to critically evaluate and conduct research
Objectives:
- Provide familiarity with research design and statistical analysis
- Formulate a proposal, carry out a research project, analyze results and write the results in a publishable format
- Submit a publishable manuscript to a journal as a contribution to the clinical and scientific literature
- Develop characteristics of a life-long learner
Program Goal 4:
- Encourage service and socially responsible behavior
Objectives:
- Participate in organized dentistry initially by attending local and national meetings
- Participate in craniofacial deformity and underprivileged patient clinics
- Educate non-orthodontists concerning orthodontics