Curriculum

Program Goal

The primary purpose of the program is to produce proficient endodontic clinicians who are also capable of research and teaching.

Program Objectives

1. Produce highly qualified clinicians capable of practice, teaching and/or research in the specialty of endodontics.
2. Prepare residents to successfully participate in the American Board of Endodontics certification process.
3. Provide quality endodontic care for patients.
4. Produce graduates that are happy with their education and as alumni take pride in their program.

Endodontic Program Resident Time Commitment

Clinical Patient Care

Each resident is generally assigned to patient care six half-days per week. Initially first-year residents treat one patient per clinic session. As the resident becomes more familiar with their operatory, becomes more efficient and develops competency in the different areas of endodontics, they may proceed to having two patients scheduled each clinic session. Additionally, emergency patients are “worked in” or added to the schedule. Each resident has their own operatory with microscope, ASI cart, rotary instruments, Calamus and/or System B, ultrasonics, etc. A separate surgical operatory is also used for the residents’ surgical endodontic procedures.

The post-graduate endodontic program is fortunate to have a long history of a large patient population. A significant number of private practice dentists refer their patients to the program for endodontic treatment and the patient returns to their dentist for the final restoration. This provides the resident with significant experience in interaction with their referring dentist. The program is also a significant provider of endodontic services to Medicaid patients throughout the state of Kentucky and to patients at the School of Dentistry. 400 + completed cases during the residency is not an unusual accomplishment in this program. The School of Dentistry also has specialty programs in periodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery and orthodontics. This provides each resident experience with interaction and referrals from each of these specialty programs.

Each resident participates in teaching in the pre-doctoral clinic approximately ½ day per week. Residents also teach in the two week condensed pre-doctoral preclinical course known as Root Camp. Additionally each resident “teaches” their peers and faculty by giving a PowerPoint lecture on literature/textbook chapters approximately every 6 weeks. This provides significant experience in presenting to seminar/type groups and referring clinicians.