Preceptorship Program Overview
INTRODUCTION
The Endodontic Preceptorship Program is a 12 month course of study offered by the Department of Endodontics in conjunction with the Department of Continuing Education. A non-academic certificate of completion is awarded to the participant upon successful completion of the program, which is limited to one or two students per year.
THE AREA
FACILITIES AND RESOURCES
The Dental School, established in 1970, has a predoctoral enrollment of about 360 students, a two-year Dental Hygiene program, as well as Advanced Education Programs in each of today's recognized dental specialties as well as a GPR and AEGD program.
The Department of Endodontics was organized in 1973, and currently has a faculty composed of five full-time and nine part-time members that include seven Diplomates of the American Board of Endodontics.
Participants in the Endodontic Preceptorship Program will have extensive training in the Department of Endodontics' newly renovated laboratory and clinical facilities. The laboratory is fully equipped with air-driven and electric handpieces, digital radiographic hardware and software, as well as a digital camera for recording benchtop technique projects. The Endodontic clinic is a state-of-the art facility which has networked digital radiography capability, intra-operative magnification via both surgical operating microscopes and an endoscopy unit, ultrasonic instrumentation, as well as basic endodontic instrumentation.
The Endodontic Department also has an electronic conference room and library where seminars, case presentations and web-based literature reviews are held.
In addition, preceptees will have access to the Health Science Center's Library with its excellent collection of books, scientific publications, audiovisual materials and computer resources.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The Endodontic Preceptorship Program is specifically designed for the active clinician who has a serious interest in endodontics, with a strong desire to learn state of the art techniques, and become competent in managing a broad range of endodontic problems. Over the course of one year, over 100 non-surgical endodontic projects will be performed and evaluated under a dissecting microscope. Although emphasis is placed on clinical endodontics, the student will also examine endodontic theory to provide a biologic basis for clinical practice.
The participant will be able to integrate these skills immediately into a dental practice, or apply for additional training in an Advanced Education in Endodontics Program.
At the completion of the program, participants should:
- Be able to make accurate pulpal and periapical diagnoses based on pertinent historical, clinical and radiographic information, and to arrive at reasonable endodontic treatment plans.
- Be able to use a direct digital radiographic imaging system to procure accurate images of dental hard tissue anatomy.
- Be familiar with a variety of chemomechanical root canal cleaning and shaping techniques, including the use of rotary nickel titanium files.
- Be familiar with various root canal obturation techniques including lateral condensation, injectable thermoplasticized gutta percha, and warm vertical condensation.
- Be able to present endodontic cases using digital radiographic and photographic projection techniques.
- Be able to assess the outcome of non-surgical endodontic treatment over time.
- Have an appreciation for the current and classic endodontic literature, with a developing ability to critically review pertinent articles.
Participants will be evaluated by their Preceptors in areas of laboratory and clinical performance, scope of knowledge, diligence and the ability to meet course objectives.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To be considered, applicants for the program must have earned a dental degree from an accredited dental school.
Applicants from countries where English is not the native language must be proficient in speaking and reading the English language. It is required that such applicants take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 is desirable.