The educational program has been developed to assure that the graduate has the knowledge and beliefs to take on the responsibility for the oral health care of the growing child. The curriculum in Pediatric Dentistry is presented so that the general dentist will be well prepared to meet the needs of infants, children, and young patients.
Pediatric dentistry is general dentistry for infants, children, and adolescents.
Throughout the students education, they have the opportunity to participate in one of the nation s largest outreach programs, where oral health education and screenings are provided for children in the Head Start and public school system. In the first-year course, the student learns about the specialties of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry in an integrated course. The course focuses on the anatomic, physiologic, and psychological differences and changes that occur as children become adults. The course develops basic knowledge in postnatal growth of the face and skull, and applied prevention for children. During the second year, students participate in lectures, seminars and some limited patient care in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic.