Program Details
Our mission is to build upon the foundation of knowledge and skills acquired from the dental school curriculum by providing a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the clinical application of this information. The objectives we have selected to accomplish this mission are:
- To provide post-graduate training in general dentistry. Residents will diagnose, develop treatment plans and execute both routine and complex dental procedures for patients with varying needs.
- To provide practical experience in all phases of dentistry and in the treatment of patients who are medically, physically and psychiatrically compromised.
- To provide exposure to the medical center setting (including the dental clinic, emergency department and operating room); dealing with an interdisciplinary health team; and learning how medical care relates to dentistry.
- To provide the resident with the values of professional ethics and continuing education while administering quality health care to the community being served.
- To help develop the dental resident into a competent general dentist by exposing them to a variety of treatment modalities.
The role of the GPR demands intelligence; sound judgment; honesty; the ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures; and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm, efficient and professional manner. It also requires an attitude of respect for self and others; an adherence to the privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients; and an absolute commitment to the patient’s welfare.
Skills Upon Completion
Upon completion of the JFK University Medical Center GPR program, dental residents will have the proven skills to serve as a primary oral health care provider to:
- Assess, diagnose and plan for the provision of multidisciplinary oral health care for a wide variety of patients including patients with special needs
- Direct health promotion and disease prevention activities
- Function effectively within interdisciplinary health care teams, including consultation and referral
- Obtain informed consent
- Offer emergency and multidisciplinary comprehensive oral health care
- Provide patient-focused care that is coordinated by the general practitioner
- Manage the delivery of patient-focused oral health care
JFK dental residents are fully trained to provide an advanced level of expertise and handle complex cases-beyond the degree achieved in pre-doctoral training-in the following specialties:
- Endodontic therapy
- Evaluation and treatment of dental emergencies
- Operative Dentistry
- Oral surgery
- Pain and anxiety control utilizing behavioral and or pharmacological techniques
- Periodontal therapy
- Restoration of the edentulous space
Under the direction of 25 general dentists and specialists, residents will graduate able to confidently treat patients in the noted subspecialties. They will be able to manage and handle treatment of medical emergencies, implants, oral mucosal diseases, temporomandibular disorder and orofacial pain.
Rotations
While completing their residency at JFK University Medical Center, residents have the opportunity to rotate through other departments throughout the medical center, promoting familiarity with all phases of hospital dentistry. Each resident spends time in Anesthesiology, Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine. There are also community service rotations available at Kiddie Keep Well Camp and nearby nursing homes.
Residents also rotate through the private offices of our faculty, learning practice management.