Academic Curriculum

Pediatric Dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. 

Upon completion of the 24-month program in pediatric dentistry, the dentist should be able to:

• Identify and differentiate between normal timing and patterns of linear, orofacial and psychological growth and development.

• Understand child behavior and anxiety. Through the use of psychological techniques, manage children whose behavior ranges from compliant to disruptive, so that preventive and therapeutic dental procedures can be completed.

• Recognize the indications and contraindications for pharmacological behavior management behavior techniques for use with children.

• Be proficient in providing conscious sedation for children.

• Communicate effectively with the child's parent or caretaker.

• Create an accurate data base of child and parent information from which to formulate an accurate diagnosis.

• Diagnose, plan and present treatment recommendations to parents.

• Implement a scientifically based, effective program of prevention, recognizing the child's level of cognitive and psychomotor development and their home and school environment.

• Diagnose common periodontal problems in children.

• Provide restorative care for primary and young permanent teeth in children.

• Treat pulpally affected primary and young permanent teeth.

• Diagnose and treat, when indicated, the developing occlusion of children.

• Treat children with special medical conditions in consultation with their physician and other health care providers.

• Diagnose and treat developmental anomalies of the young dentition.

• Recognize and manage medical emergencies encountered in children and adolescents undergoing treatment.

• Diagnosis and treat traumatic injuries to the developing dentition and orofacial structures.

• Provide infant oral health care and helpful information to parents of young children.

• Provide dental rehabilitation in the operating room under general anesthesia.