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Dentistry Residency Columbia - Curriculum

The core of our curriculum in the general practice dentistry residency at Prisma Health is direct clinical patient care, both outpatient treatment and inpatient consults.

Clinical curriculum components

Medical services rotation

  • Anesthesiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family Medicine

Dental rotations

  • Prisma Health Richland Hopsital
  • WellPartners Adult and Children’s Clinics

Clinical objectives

Upon completion of this program, residents will be fully prepared for a professional career in any chosen career track. This is accomplished through these strategic curriculum objectives:

  • Understand hospital organization, protocol and administration;
  • Understand the hospital's role in comprehensive health care;
  • Understand the role of dentistry as it relates to the total health care of the patient, especially those who are physically, mentally or medically compromised;
  • Recognize and evaluate systemic diseases and how they affect oral health;
  • Understand the implications of various types of clinical laboratory data and their use in the diagnosis and treatment of oral disease;
  • Understand and appreciate the pharmacological actions of drugs used in treating oral and systemic disease;
  • Be competent in the management of the dental problems of the pediatric, adult and geriatric patient;
  • Recognize the importance of preventive dental care and its role in the total success of dental treatment;
  • Provide the resident with the opportunity to teach and clinically instruct senior dental students and auxiliary personnel;
  • Interact with dental hygienists, dental assistants and secretaries in an office type environment;
  • Interact with a broad range of health providers, such as physicians, pharmacists and residents in training;
  • Understand the rationale, indications and use of inhalation and intravenous drugs for control of pain and apprehension in the conscious patient; and
  • Be capable of providing comprehensive dental care that requires fixed and removable restorative procedures, periodontal treatment, oral surgery, operative dentistry, and endodontics for patients from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Didactic curriculum components

Our challenging curriculum includes:

  • Physical diagnosis course Implant dentistry course
  • Weekly conferences and seminars
  • Weekly grand rounds and case discussions
  • Literature reviews
  • Oral pathology seminars
  • Blood-born pathogen, infection control and OSHA training
  • ACLS course
  • Regional or state dental meeting

Didactic curriculum objectives

As a resident, you will be required to meet the following objectives:

  • Understand the principles and techniques of physical diagnosis and their relevance to pertinent medical conditions and the implications for dental treatment;
  • Develop an understanding of dental literature and be able to critically review articles for accuracy, pertinence and validity;
  • Understand the principles of diagnosis and treatment planning and the variability in treatment modalities as an approach to clinical care;
  • Understand different dental treatment modalities based on scientific principles and criteria;
  • Understand various medical conditions that may alter dental care and the manner in which it is rendered;
  • Learn various principles and techniques in all disciplines of dentistry to improve one's ability to provide comprehensive treatment;
  • Understand various pathological conditions that may occur within and around the oral cavity and their management;
  • Understand the requirements for infection control and OSHA compliance;
  • Develop an understanding for advanced study groups, local, state and national organizations; and
  • Develop an appreciation for quality continuing education.