Advanced Education Programs in Periodontics Post-Graduate Program

Program Description:
The residency program in periodontics is designed to provide a strong clinical and scientific background in Periodontics that will enable the post-doctoral student to treat all forms of periodontal disease on a biologically rational basis. The student becomes thoroughly familiar with the periodontal literature and receives broad clinical experiences in examination, prognosis determination, and all accepted modes of periodontal therapy. He/She is encouraged to continue learning experiences after completion of the program by means of the critical review of the literature, experiences in clinical research and with continuing education. Opportunities for exposure to hospital dentistry and a varied patient population are made available through affiliation with the Medical College of Georgia Hospital and Clinics, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center Outpatient Dental Clinic.

The periodontal residency program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of the American Dental Association (2004), and its graduates are qualified to take the examination of the American Board of Periodontology.

Program Goals and Objectives:
The primary goal of the Post-doctoral Program in Periodontics is to provide instruction and clinical experience in Periodontics at an advanced level, enabling the dentist to become a trained specialist who is familiar with all aspects of the theoretical and practical knowledge, and skills pertinent to the specialty. Graduates of this program should be able to a) review information from the biomedical sciences and relate the information to the practice of periodontics; b) diagnose, treat, and maintain patients with advanced periodontal disease utilizing current concepts in the etiology, pathogenesis, patient management, prevention and systemic implications of periodontal disease; c) place dental implants in edentulous and partially edentulous jaws of patients and develop a program of dental reconstruction and maintenance; d) critically evaluate pertinent literature; e) contribute to the available knowledge in the field of dentistry by means of a research project which includes a defended thesis, and a submitted manuscript for publication; f) communicate effectively with dental colleagues and other health professionals; g) supervise treatment procedures by dental hygienists.

Programs Available:
The Medical College of Georgia offers a 36-month course of study leading to the award of both a Certificate of Training in Periodontics and the Master of Science Degree in Oral Biology. This program provides a comprehensive course of study in clinical and didactic periodontics, satisfying the requirements for eligibility for the American Board of Periodontology. It also includes didactic courses in the School of Graduate Studies and an in-depth original research project leading to a defended thesis. Two positions are available each year for this program. A Ph.D. in Oral Biology may also be pursued concurrently with specialty training in Periodontics.

The Facilities:
Periodontal residents treat patients in the Periodontics Surgery Clinic of the School of Dentistry and in the Outpatient Dental Clinic of the Augusta VA Medical Center. In the Periodontics Surgery Clinic each resident is assigned an operatory equipped with handpieces and ultrasonic scaler. The clinic has up-to-date equipment for periodontal and dental implant surgical procedures, periodontal endoscopy, monitoring equipment for IV sedation, digital radiography and a CO₂ laser. Instruments for clinical activities are provided. Residents share office space in the clinic, and each office is equipped with a computer that is connected to the institutional network for e-mail, library services and internet access.

Requirements for Admission:
Dentists graduated from accredited United States and Canadian or other international dental schools that possess equivalent educational background and standing are eligible for admission to the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics. Applicants should have successfully passed Part I of the National Board Examination prior to making application for admission and must pass Part II before they can begin the program. Candidates for admission should possess good academic credentials (GPA not less than 3.0 and class standing in the upper 50%) and should demonstrate a definite interest in periodontics. Additional experience beyond dental school including internships, residencies, private practice, military service or graduate studies will strengthen the applicant’s credentials.

Application forms may be obtained from the MCG Advanced Dental Education web site. Application materials are reviewed and candidates with the highest qualifications are selected for an interview based on the following criteria: dental and pre-professional education transcripts, class standing, National Dental Board Examination results, personal and career goals, experiences beyond pre-doctoral education, evidence of scholarly activity, and letters of recommendation. Applicants born outside the United States and whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English/Professional version (TSE). Required score of the TOEFL is 600 (written test) or 250 (computer test). Required score on the TSE is 55.The Internet-based version of TOEFL (iBT TOEFL) is the only option available for current testers. The four-hour exam will cover all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 100, with 26 in the speaking component. No candidates are admitted to the program without a personal interview. Non-discriminatory policies are followed in selecting the applicants.

Application Deadline and Materials:
Application files must be complete and received no later than September 1st of the year preceding entrance into the program.

Program Fee: There is no program fee associated with the certificate program in periodontics for applying dentists who are US citizens or permanent residents and who have graduated from accredited United States or Canadian dental schools. The Program fee for international candidates with US or international dental degrees is $18,500 per year. In addition, all Periodontic residents are enrolled in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, and must pay tuition and/or fees for courses taken through the School of Graduate Studies. Reference should be made to the current Medical College of Georgia Catalog for specific information regarding Graduate School tuition and fees.

Supplies and Equipment:
Periodontic residents are required to furnish their own camera for digital, intra-oral photography, mirrors and retractors for intra-oral photography and a dental implant surgical kit. Photographic equipment costs are approximately $2,000 and the cost of the endosseous dental implant kit is around $2,500. All other supplies and instruments associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution.

Stipends and Financial Aid:
Stipends are available only for residents who 1) are citizens or permanent residents of the United States, 2) have a DDS/DMD degree from an ADA/CODA accredited dental school and 3) who also hold a valid dental license from a State or Territory of the United States. Periodontic residents share a stipend funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Augusta Medical Center. The amount of stipend support ranges from $6,416./year for the first year residents to $10,375./year for third year residents. The availability of educational loans for graduate students varies from year to year, but further information can be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid at (706) 721-4901.

Professional Liability Insurance:
The School of Dentistry provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care in the Periodontics Residency Program. This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice.

Curriculum:
The curriculum for the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics has five components:

A description of the courses comprising each of these curricular components follows:

Periodontal Literature Review: Normal Periodontium
	Etiology & Pathogenesis of Periodontal Disease (70 hours)

Periodontal Literature Review: Periodontal Therapy (70 hours)
Periodontal Literature Review: Dental Implantology (70 hours)
Weekly, Fall and Spring semester seminars on relevant readings in the periodontal literature. Articles are assigned on specific topics; residents read and abstract the articles, and the articles are reviewed and critically discussed in the seminar session.

Periodontal Journal Club (27 hours/year)
Residents review current articles from the last 12 months of periodontal and dental implant literature. Specific articles are selected and critiqued in seminar sessions. In addition, periodic presentations of resident’s progress on their research projects are made in these seminar sessions.

Periodontal Practice Management (10 hours)
Seminar on the management and administration of a limited practice of periodontics. Topics include business systems, referrals, office space, management and dental assistant utilization.

Therapy Seminar (72 hours)
This is an orientation course, in which residents are instructed in periodontal case documentation procedures, intraoral photography, record keeping and clinical protocol. Common therapeutic techniques used in advanced periodontal therapy are also presented and discussed, including such topics as behavior modification, mucogingival surgery, flaps, pedicle and free gingival grafts, guided tissue regeneration, osseous grafts. The course includes laboratory sessions for intraoral photography, periodontal case presentations, and surgical procedures are practiced on pig jaws.

Undergraduate Teaching (24 hours/year; 2 years)
Residents have responsibility in teaching in the undergraduate periodontal clinical program, and conduct a lecture/seminar course in Periodontics for dental hygiene students.

Periodontal Surgery Seminar (33 hours/year)
Residents present series of slides that were obtained during periodontal surgery for critical evaluation and discussions. Also, series of slides of completed cases are presented to review surgical procedures several years after active periodontal therapy.

Periodontal Pathology (10 hours)
Histopathological alterations in the periodontal tissues associated with the periodontal diseases are studied with the aid of the microscope. These histopathological changes are correlated with clinical signs and symptoms.

Periodontal Specialty Clinic (706 hours/year)
Patients with different types and severity of periodontal disease are treated using current modalities. Post-doctoral students receive experiences with all accepted methods of periodontal treatment, and dental implantology.

Periodontal Specialty Clinic-VAMC Dental Clinic Rotation (225 hours)
Patients with different types and severity of periodontal disease are treated using current modalities in the outpatient dental clinic at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center. Post-doctoral students receive experiences with all accepted methods of periodontal treatment, and dental implantology in a population of medically compromised patients.

Treatment Planning Seminars (44 hours)
Periodontic and Prosthodontic residents present a data base and diagnosis of patients treated in these two specialty clinics. Discussions are held on the etiology, case and individual tooth prognosis, and treatment plans for these patients. Cases are presented in the first year following case assignment and work-up and then presented again in the third year following completion of treatment.

Hospital Anesthesia Rotation (136 hours)
Residents spend four weeks during their first year in a general anesthesia rotation in the Department of Anesthesiology at MCG Hospital & Clinics. Residents observe and practice techniques of general anesthesia including intubation, patient monitoring and IV drug administration.

Periodontal Case Presentations (67 hours/year)
Residents prepare and present a complete data base, diagnosis/prognosis, treatment plan, treatment procedures, and evaluation of treatment results in formal case presentations simulating the oral examination for the American Board of Periodontology. A Mock Board Examination is conducted at the end of the second and third years of the program.

Periodontal Research (416 hours/year)
Residents must be involved in a research project that leads to the defense of a thesis for either the MS or Ph.D. in Oral Biology, and must prepare a manuscript for publication. In addition, periodic presentations of resident’s progress on their research projects are made in these seminar sessions

Periodontal Oral Medicine (10 hours)
Patients with different types and severity of systemic diseases are treated using current oral medicine modalities. Post-doctoral students receive experiences with accepted methods of treatment of systemic diseases manifested in the oral cavity.

3. Clinical Core Curriculum
This is a series of courses in the clinical sciences designed to be applicable to post graduate students of different specialties. Elective and required courses are designated by the director.

Physical Diagnosis (10 hours) This course is designed to bridge the gap between classic basic sciences of human anatomy and physiology and their application to physical examination. Within each region or system of the body, three essential topics are dealt with: (1) the anatomy and physiology basic to understanding patient examination, (2) the techniques of examination and (3) examples of selected abnormalities.

Dental Radiology (6 hours) This course presents radiology related to clinical dentistry. Topics include radiation physics, biology, hygiene, and concepts of advanced imaging systems and their applications in dentistry.

Adjunctive Orthodontics (8 hours) The objective of this course is to introduce graduate students to adjunctive orthodontic procedures which can enhance and improve the esthetic and functional rehabilitation of patients with complex dental needs.

Dental Management of Practice, Time, and Money (12 hours) Discussions will introduce the basic concept of practice and personal financial management.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (8 hours) This course involves the study and practice of the skills used in artificial respiration and artificial circulation when cardiac arrest occurs. Upon completion of the course the student must be able to pass the written examination on the principles and techniques of CPR as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Dental Implantology (32 hours) This course is an introduction to dental implant therapy using a combination of lecture, laboratory and panel discussion sessions. Topics include materials science, histology of osseointegrated and failing dental implants, medical/psychological considerations, treatment planning the edentulous and partially edentulous patient, surgical and prosthetic dental implant treatment techniques, periodontal considerations, long-term maintenance of the dental implant, subperiosteal implants, occlusion and restorative options.

4. Oral Biology Core Curriculum
This is a series of courses tailored specifically for dental residents in graduate degree programs and designed to provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of the basic science that is essential in understanding related clinical problems.

Topics in Oral Biology I: Hard Tissue Biology; TMJ Disorders; Regeneration & Repair (32 hrs)
This course is composed of three blocks:
Hard Tissue Biology covers the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of bone and teeth.
TMJ Disorders covers anatomy of the TMJ, inflammatory and osteoarthritic disorders of the TMJ and physiology-pathophysiology of masticatory muscles and masticatory disorders.
Regeneration & Repair covers growth and differentiation of hard and soft tissues, biochemical aspects of wound healing, inflammatory mediators, and approaches to periodontal regeneration.

Topics in Oral Biology II: Orofacial Infections; Bleeding Disorders
(32 hours)
This course is composed of two blocks:
Orofacial Infections covers clinical manifestations and causative agents of orofacial infections, the roles of lymphatics and other anatomical structures in the spread of infection, host defense mechanisms and anti-microbial therapy.
Bleeding Disorders covers the biochemistry, physiology, and anatomy of bleeding disorders.

Topics in Oral Biology III: Pain & Anxiety; Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient; Salivary Glands (32 hours)
This course is composed of three blocks:
Pain & Anxiety covers anatomy of the cranial nerves, neurophysiology of nerve conduction, pharmacology of local anesthetics, analgesics and anxiolytics, and behavioral responses to pain.
Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient covers the physiology, microbiology and pharmacotherapy of problems affecting high-risk patients.
Salivary Glands covers the anatomy and physiology of salivary glands, microbiology of salivary gland infections, and pharmacology of drugs affecting salivary gland function.

Topics in Oral Biology IV: Molecular Pathology; Orofacial Anomalies (32 hours)
This course is composed of two blocks:
Molecular Pathology Concepts of disease are discussed at the cellular and subcellular level with emphasis on early biochemical and fine structural changes that indicate early cell injury not yet recognizable in the light microscope. Mechanisms of cell injury, inflammatory processes, and neoplasia are considered in detail. Other areas discussed include disorders of metabolism, hemodynamics, genetics, the immune mechanisms, and physical or chemical injury.
Orofacial Anomalies covers genetic and embryological aspects of orofacial anomalies, pathophysiology of acquired and developmental anomalies, and overviews of surgical and prosthodontic management of these anomalies.

Advanced Oral Pathology(44 hours)
This is an advanced lecture-seminar course in oral pathology. It is designed to enhance the advanced student's in-depth knowledge of diseases of the oral and paraoral regions including recent concepts of etiology and pathogenesis of such disturbances. Clinico-pathologic characteristics of oral-paraoral pathosis are presented to demonstrate the role of such information in determining the diagnosis and prognosis of oral disease.

Research Proposal Development (24 hours)
This course introduces the graduate student to selected methods that are used to study the biology of orofacial tissues. In addition, potential research projects are identified and the mechanics of writing research proposals are presented.

Graduate Dental Seminars (32 hours)
These seminars include advanced topics of interest to Dentistry and are presented by both graduate students and faculty.

Statistics (20 hours)
This course is provides the graduate student with the fundamentals for understanding and performing statistical analysis of their research data.

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