General Dentistry, Pract. The course format is lecture only. It is a continuation of the junior course and introduces the student to the information and skills needed for planning, establishing, and managing a dental practice. Students prepare a detailed business plan suitable for submission to a bank in support of a loan application.
Students also learn how to evaluate financial documentation, dental equipment and office designs.
The course format is lecture only. The first week of each rotation consists of five half day seminars where ten dental students each teamed with a dental assistant learn the intricacies of how to complete an office manual, communication and leadership skills, goal setting and budgeting, setting fees and financial arrangements, effective scheduling, presenting cases, marketing, interviewing and hiring staff, training staff, evaluating and terminating staff, and inventory control. The seminars are group discussions with emphasis on role play. Seminars are videotaped for student evaluation. The remainder of the rotation is scheduled in the clinic teamed with dental assistants monitoring time management and productivity.