The Cariology course presents conceptual and practical aspects of dental caries. Topics include histopathology of enamel and dentin, root surface caries, salivary composition and functions of saliva as they relate to dental caries, history of fluorides in dentistry, fluoride mechanisms against dental decay; systemic effects of fluoride, dietary and nutritional aspects of caries, salivary dysfunction, remineralization of enamel, anti-cariogenic properties of chlorhexidine and xylitol, caries risk assessment and conceptual aspects of caries prevention.

This course is offered for 1 to 3 credits. A student may elect to take a 10-hour lecture portion on advanced oral microbiology for 1 hour credit and/or do special microbiology projects for 1 to 3 hours. The lecture segment covers oral microbial aspects of oral ecology, oral biofilms, dental caries, endodontic disease, periodontal disease, oral malodor, candida infections, viral infections and treatment strategies for oral infections.

This is a web-based, Blackboard format course offered every semester to graduate school students. It presents current evidence-based information about biological aspects of dental caries. Topics include microbial mechanisms of caries, histopathology of caries, saliva composition and functions as they relate to dental caries, fluoride mechanisms against dental caries, systemic effects of excess fluoride, diet and nutrition effects on caries, salivary dysfunction, scientific considerations of enamel remineralization, anti-microbial agents for caries and caries risk assessment and prevention.

This microbiology course is designed for first-year dental hygiene students. The content is directed toward conceptual and practical aspects of basic principles of general microbiology, oral microbiology, general immunology, pathogenesis of microbial diseases affecting humans, special sections on HIV, hepatitis and candida infections, sterilization techniques and clinical asepsis.

The Oral Microbiology course presents an overview of the microbiological aspects of oral diseases or conditions such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, endodontic infections and oral malodor. The biological nature of dental and oral infections will be associated with the practical clinical aspects, and lectures on chemotherapeutic control of oral biofilms will be included.

This course provides provides students with the fundamental principles of microbiology and immunology to understand the mechanisms of the production of disease by microorganisms and the means by which the host protects itself against them. The clinical immunology portion of the course as well as the case-based conferences are intended to prepare students to synthesize information as it related to clinical care.

This course provides provides students with the fundamental principles of microbiology and immunology to understand the mechanisms of the production of disease by microorganisms and the means by which the host protects itself against them. The clinical immunology portion of the course as well as the case-based conferences are intended to prepare students to synthesize information as it related to clinical care.

In order to synthesize clinical experience and basic science, this course was designed to present complicated clinical cases to dental students (year two and three) and senior dental hygiene students and they must come up with a diagnosis. In addition, the students must describe not only the clinical aspects of the case but also the scientific mechanisms of pathology in an interactive exchange with basic science and clinical faculty.

This course provides students with basic understanding of the principles of biochemistry and molecular biology. Nutritional guidelines for optimum human health at all stages of life, including dietary reference intakes (DRI), energy requirements and metabolism, and acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges are discussed. Other topics include the essential chemical structure, biochemistry, and metabolic functions of the macro- and micro-nutrients as well as some important non-nutrient components of foods, regulation of gene expression by specific nutrients, drug-nutrient interactions, nutritional immunology, brief review of impact of nutrition of oral health, and assessment of methods of nutritional status.