Curriculum

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Curriculum Snapshot

The Ostrow School of Dentistry features a learner-centered environment that supports students as they work in collaborative groups to solve challenging, patient-based problems. The expert faculty encourages evidence-based, critical-thinking, and problem-solving strategies that aid students in the acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and values needed to excel in the delivery of comprehensive oral care.

The School remains committed to keeping the curriculum flexible and integrated across the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences, with the cases studied continuously changing. Student input into ongoing curricular changes is encouraged.

Following is a snapshot of what to expect during the four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program.

Year One

Fall

• Fundamentals of Restorative Dentistry Module
• Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Patient Management, Pharmacology
• Dental Morphology, Function and Esthetics Module
• Patient Management, Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Oral Diagnosis
• Introduction to Ethics and Professionalism
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Oral Diagnosis
• Diagnosis Rotation
• Radiology Dexter Rotation
• Patient Management, Periodontics, Microbiology, Pathology
• Extra and Intraoral Soft Tissue Exam, Oral Cancer Screening and Vital Signs Rotation
• Patient Management, Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Endodontics
• Mock Patient Interview and Review

Spring

• Adhesive and CAD/CAM Restorations Module
• Microbiology, Pathology, Patient Management, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences
• Dental Morphology, Function and Esthetics Module
• Microbiology, Pathology, Patient Management, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, Anatomic Sciences
• Behavioral Dentistry Module
• Microbiology, Pathology, Patient Management, Biochemistry, Physiology, Oral Diagnosis, Anatomic Sciences
• Ethics and Professionalism Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Patient Management, Anatomic Sciences
• Radiology Patient Rotation
• Microbiology, Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences
• Diagnosis Rotation

Summer

• Indirect Restoration Module
• Anatomic Sciences, Oral Diagnosis, Patient Management, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, Pathology
• Head and Neck Anatomy Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences, Patient Management, Oral Diagnosis
• Periodontics Module
• Microbiology, Pathology, Oral Diagnosis, Anatomic Sciences, Patient Management , Pharmacology
• Radiology Patient Rotation
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology Patient Management, Pharmacology
• Diagnosis Rotation
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Patient Management, Microbiology, Pathology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry

Year Two

Fall

• Endodontics Module
• Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology
• Orthodontics Module
• Pediatric Dentistry Module
• Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Anatomic Sciences, Biochemistry, Physiology
• Periodontics Module
• Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology
• Posterior Fixed Prosthodontics Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, Pathology, Anatomic Sciences
• Treatment Planning Module
• Evidence-based Dentistry Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Patient Management, Microbiology, Pathology, Anatomic Sciences, Pharmacology
• Radiology Patient Rotation
• Diagnosis Rotation

Spring

• Anterior Fixed Prosthodontics Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences, Patient Management, Microbiology, Pathology
• Removable Prosthodontics Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomic Sciences, Oral Surgery, Pain Control
• Treatment Planning Module
• Patient Management, Biochemistry, Physiology, Dental Anatomy, Occlusion
• Orthodontics Module
• Local Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide Module
• Microbiology, Pathology, Patient Management, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Physiology
• Periodontics Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Patient Management, Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology
• Diagnosis Rotation
• Radiology Patient Rotation

Summer

• Emergency Medicine Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, Pathology, Patient Management, Anatomic Sciences, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry
• Ethics and Professionalism Module
• Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, Oral Surgery, Pain Control, Microbiology, Pathology, Patient Management
• Diagnosis Rotation
• Emergency Rotation
• Patient Management, Anatomic Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry
• Oral Surgery Rotation
• Anatomic Sciences, Biochemistry, Physiology, Dental Anatomy, Occlusion, Oral Surgery, Pain Control, Pharmacology
• Treatment Planning Seminar/Rotation
• Pediatric Dentistry Rotation

Year Three

Fall

• Cultural Sensitivity for the Health Care Provider Module
• Oral Histology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Periodontics, Laboratory Testing
• Communications, Patient Management
• Dental Morphology, Oral Histology, Physiology, Patient Management, Smoking Cessation, Dental Materials, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Esthetic Dentistry
• Treatment Planning Seminar/Rotation
• Periodontics, Patient Management, Treatment Planning
• Rotations that may include: Community Outreach/Service Learning, Diagnosis, Emergency, Oral Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry

Spring

• Anatomy, Histology, Geriatrics, Physiology of Aging
• Orthodontics Module
• Patient Management, Office Management
• Oral Pathology Seminar/Rotation
• Anatomy, Physiology, Laboratory Management, Prosthodontics
• Treatment Planning Seminar/Rotation
• Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Oral Surgery, Medical Emergencies
• Rotations that may include: Community Outreach/Service Learning, Diagnosis, Emergency, Hospital Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Orofacial Pain/Oral Medicine, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Special Patients

Summer

• Periodontics Surgery Laboratory Module
• Practice Management Module
• Treatment Planning Seminar/Rotation
• Oral Pathology Seminar/Rotation
• Rotations that may include: Community Outreach/Service Learning, Diagnosis, Emergency, Geriatrics, Hospital Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Medicine/Orofacial Pain, Periodontics, Special Patients

Year Four

Fall

• Periodontics Surgery Laboratory Module
• Practice Management Module
• Treatment Planning Seminar/Rotation
• Oral Pathology Seminar/Rotation
• Rotations that may include: Community Outreach/Service Learning, Diagnosis, Emergency, Geriatrics, Hospital Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Medicine/Orofacial Pain, Periodontics, Special Patients

Spring

• Treatment Planning Seminar/Rotation
• Rotations that may include: Community Outreach/Service Learning, Diagnosis, Emergency, Hospital Dentistry, Geriatrics/IPE Geriatrics, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine/Orofacial Pain, Periodontics, Special Patients