Fundamentals of Dental Therapy

Proposed Schedule

Part I Weeks 1-4 (Second Half of Year II Fall)

 Control of Dental Infections and their Oral Sequellae

An introduction to the control of the oral flora through the use of the major groups of antimicrobial agents available to the dental practitioner. This section would include principles of the antimicrobial properties of mouth rinses, topical agents, local and systemic delivery of fluorides and, local and systemic delivery of antibiotics.

Part II Weeks 1-5 (Year II Winter Quarter)

Principles of Regeneration and Repair in Dental Diseases.

Introduction to the common mechanisms of regeneration and repair of the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, followed by a discussion of specific repair and regeneration for individual oral tissues such as dentin pulp and the periodontium.

An example of how such a section would follow the similar organizational pattern for the previous risk factors course would be in the area of would healing. Specifically, the introductory material would center on the fundamental processes of would repair and regeneration of hard and soft tissues including

1. the role of growth factors,
2. modification of inflammation,
3. mineralization, demineralization, and remodeling of oral hard tissues (enamel, dentin, bone).

This common section would be followed by specific therapeutic approaches to dental disease including strategies of dentin regeneration and repair, strategies for enhancing periodontal regeneration and repair, etc.

 
Part III Weeks 6-10  (Year II Winter Quarter)

Fundamentals of Prevention

This two-course series would close by coming full circle in a presentation of the basic, yet most critical strategies for reducing and /or eliminating the risk factors for the major dental diseases. This section would include a cross discipline presentation and discussion of such fundamental strategies and

1. home care, application of topical and systemic fluorides, justification for the use of sealants,
2. reducing the harmful effects of local factors (smoking, parafuctional habits etc.)
3. Alleviating systemic and psychological factors related to oral diseases and conditions (stress, diabetes, nutrition, etc.)
4. Understanding the role of socioeconomic factors in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases.