Mission The primary educational objectives of the Department are to insure that dental students acquire the most current knowledge and skills in Periodontics and train to the highest standards of patient-centered care to meet the changing needs of a diverse population.
About the Department
Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that can lead to tooth loss and may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and occurrence of pre term, low birth weight babies. Periodontal diseases also appear to pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis. Periodontists specialize in the treatment of periodontal diseases as well as corrective and reconstructive surgeries. Dental implants, for instance, are often placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason. Periodontal plastic (cosmetic) surgery can be used to correct and enhance the smile and self-image of patients who are increasingly living longer and aging more gracefully. The primary goal of the Department of Periodontics is to improve quality of life- by preserving and enhancing the appearance, oral function, speech- and overall health of the public through contributions and innovations in education, service, and research. The Department plans to build on the strong educational programs pioneered and elevated to national recognition by Drs. John Bergquist and Gerald M. Bowers. Toward this end, a high level of importance has been placed on the integration and application of emerging technologies within the educational programs. Recent changes in the curriculum are intended in the periodontics curriculum are intended to maximize student opportunity for discovery and individualization of learning experience. An important objective is to incorporate technology-based clinical experiences that develop skills and reinforce key elements of the curriculum. The curriculum will be modified to include interactive small group, case-based discussions on evidence-based issues related to the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases. A clear educational challenge will be to develop a dynamic curriculum that is responsive to the increasingly rapid advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, such as regenerative medicine. A key element underlying the success of the postgraduate program in periodontics is the outstanding instructional support provided by the distinguished volunteer alumni and colleagues. The overriding mission of the postgraduate program is to train periodontists to the highest level of knowledge and clinical competency of the specialty. Emphasis is placed on the importance of achievements beyond the mandatory educational requirements of the specialty, including board of certification by the American Board of Periodontology. Alumni, not-for-profit organizations, such as the Gerald M. Bowers Study Club in Periodontology, and corporations have provided invaluable support enabling residents to train using the most current and sophisticated technologies to help meet the changing demographics of the population. A fourth year is planned for the program to permit selected residents to complete both certificate in periodontics as well as clinical training in fixed periodontal prosthesis. Discussions are also underway to develop an implant fellowship program for the periodontists and prosthodontists.
A focused emphasis is being placed on basic, applied, and translational research in bone and periodontal regeneration, consistent with the expertise of the faculty and collaborative partnerships. Research in the areas of regeneration and reconstructive surgery will strengthen clinical care and compliment ongoing clinical studies evaluating innovations in dental implants. A secondary research focus is on molecular biomarkers of immune competence and risk for systemic disease using periodontal disease as a model system. The translation of basic knowledge into new evidence-based clinical therapies is central to advancing oral health in the community. The department currently has collaborative studies funded through the National Institutes of Health with investigators at Rutgers University and the University of Kentucky. An important goal of the department is to serve as a primary resource for the public and dental practitioners in the community. In order to fulfill this objective, faculty members must contribute publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals as well as contribute presentations at national research and educational meetings. Faculty members welcome the opportunity to lecture to dental organizations and special interest groups. Current efforts are underway to develop web-based continuing education programs. |
