The program in endodontics is a full-time program that commences July and requires twenty-four consecutive months to complete. Each student is allowed 10 vacation days per year for a total of 20 days. The program has been designed to satisfy the needs of those who wish to acquire greater skill, knowledge, and experience in endodontics, as well as a background in biological sciences. Those who complete the course of study fully meet the educational requirements for certification by the American Board of Endodontics and state licensing bodies for the specialty practice of endodontics. The program includes participation in formal lectures, seminars, and laboratory courses; pursuit of endodontically oriented research; teacher-assisting in undergraduate teaching of endodontics; and treatment of patients in the endodontics clinic. Upon completion of the course, students are awarded a certificate of proficiency by the College of Dentistry. The program is accredited by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association.

In addition to the courses taught by department faculty members, the following courses are required for certification: ANAT544, Advanced Craniofacial Anatomy; OMDS-610, Advanced Oral Microbiology; HSTL-501, Advanced Oral Histology; HSTL-506, Advanced Oral Histology: Lymphoid Tissues; OMDS-522, Advanced Oral Radiology I; OMDS-622, Advanced Oral Radiology II; OMDS-629, Seminar in Electron Microscopy; OMDS-501 and 502, Advanced Oral Pathology; OSCI-451, Research Methodology, and OSUR-612, TM Disorders, and a graduate level biostatistics course.

Arrangements can generally be made for selected students who meet Graduate College requirements to register for an M.S. degree. Applicants who are accepted in the certification program are not guaranteed that admission to the Graduate College will be granted.

The combined program requires two or more academic years of full-time attendance to complete. Students who successfully complete this program will receive a Certificate of Proficiency in Endodontics and a Master of Science degree.

Faculty

Professors Emerita: Nijole A. Remeikis

Associate Professors: Mark C. Baker, Bradford R. Johnson, Christopher S. Wenckus

Assistant Professors: Michael Barrows, Agneiska Chruszczyk, Mohamed Fayad, Robert W. Hawkinson, Jr., Charles Neach, Martin Rogers, Stephen Weeks

Courses

ENDO-600. Endodontic Techniques. A seminar and technique course dealing with endodontic clinical and research methods.

ENDO-610. Advanced Clinical Endodontics. A seminar for certificate students covering a wide range of subjects related to the clinical practice of endodontics. Course participants are assigned outside reading in advance of each seminar. These provide the basis for seminar discussions directed by the Course Director.

ENDO-611. Clinical Application of Endodontic Literature. Various topics within the endodontic field and related subjects such as periodontics, pediatric dentistry, lecture techniques, and evaluation are presented with reference to classic literature.

ENDO-612. Pain. A seminar course dealing with topics about pain.

ENDO-613. Drugs in Dentistry. A seminar dealing with the need, use, and prescription of drugs in dental practice with specific emphasis in endodontics. Drug interactions, modes of action of commonly prescribed and locally used therapeutic agents are stressed.

ENDO-614. Pulpal Biology. This course reviews the normal and diseased pulp and its relationship to periapical tissues. Emphasis is placed on pulpal, neural, and vascular supply; pulpal defense mechanisms; injury, aging, and retrogressive changes and pulp's response; healing and repair potential of periapical tissues; and histopathology of periapical lesions. Clinical signs and symptoms are correlated with histopathology whenever possible.

ENDO-615. Review of Endodontic Literature. This course is designed to review the endodontic scientific and clinical literature. Its purpose is to bridge the gap between the classical and current literature (of the past year).

ENDO-617. American Board Review. A course reviewing topics covered by the American Board of Endodontics' written and oral examinations.

ENDO-618. Principles of Teaching and Learning. Topics for discussion are: theories of learning, preparing a course, behavioral objectives, methods of teaching, testing and evaluation. Literature pertaining to preclinical and clinical teaching is reviewed.

ENDO-619. Endodontic Surgery. All aspects of endodontic surgery are discussed and laboratory exercises are carried out. Academicians from related specialties participate in some sessions.

ENDO-620. Endodontic Clinic. The clinical aspects of diagnosis, case selection, planning and endodontic treatment, both non-surgical and surgical, are covered under the supervision of clinical instructors. Students are responsible for all aspects of their assigned patients' endodontic care, including routine treatment, special cases, and emergencies.

ENDO-621. Introduction to Endodontic Microscopy. The design, optics, magnification, and illumination of the endodontic microscope are discussed. "Hands-on" use of the microscope and related instruments is emphasized.

ENDO-622. Advanced Endodontic Microscopy. Advanced techniques using the operating microscope in surgical and non-surgical endodontics are simulated, treated, and discussed.

ENDO-630. Clinical Conference in Endodontics. Various clinic endodontic cases and related clinical material are presented by the student and discussed. Several sessions are devoted to the discussion of current scientific endodontic literature.

ENDO-698. Endodontics Research. An original research project is an important aspect of each student's program. Each student must plan, complete, write, and defend an original thesis that satisfies departmental requirements. Selection of a research topic and research advisor, analysis of data, and writing of the results are carefully monitored by the staff.