Competencies for Pre-Doctoral Curriculum

The University of Louisville - School of Dentistry

Competencies for the Pre-Doctoral Curriculum

Approved by the DMD Curriculum Committee: August 28, 2008.

Revised August 28, 2012 and November 19, 2013

Competencies are the essential knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary for the safe practice of dentistry. Taken together, they provide the building blocks for the dental curriculum.  Competency includes knowledge, experience, critical thinking, problem-solving, professionalism, diagnostic and technical skills, and self-assessment. It is practice that is evidence-based, patient-centered, ethically and compassionately delivered, and respectful of all individuals in a humanistic culture. These components become an integrated whole during the delivery of patient care by the competent practitioner.  It is important to caution against reducing the framework to a checklist of competencies or requirements, each of which is dealt with in isolation from the others.  The practice of dentistry must be viewed as the sum of the holistic interactions and values of all of the above.

  1. Professionalism, Ethics, and the Law

1.1.   Provide compassionate and ethical care to a diverse population of patients.

1.2.   Communicate effectively and in a professional manner with peers, other health care providers, staff, patients or guardians and the public at large.

1.3.   Recognize the role of self-directed lifelong learning and self-assessment in maintaining competency and pursuing proficiency.

1.4.   Obtain informed consent for oral health therapies that meets ethical and legal responsibilities.

1.5.   Apply the principles of ethical reasoning, evidence-based information, community based service learning, and professional responsibility as they pertain to patient care, practice management, and addressing the oral health status of the public.

    2. Information Management and Critical Thinking

      2.1.   Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills in the comprehensive care of patients.

      2.2.   Evaluate and integrate best research outcomes with clinical expertise and patient values for evidence-based practice.

      2.3.   Apply information technology resources with proper security safeguards in contemporary dental practice.

        3. Practice Management

          3.1.   Comply with federal, state, and local regulations related to infection control, radiation and environmental safety measures in all clinical procedures.

          3.2.   Evaluate relevant models of oral health care management and delivery.

          3.3.   Understand the basic principles and philosophies of practice management and have the skills to function successfully as the leader of the oral health care team.

          3.4.   Establish and maintain patient records and assure confidentiality of information.

            4. Patient Assessment

              4.1.   Identify a patient's chief complaint, general needs, past dental history, and treatment expectations.

              4.2.   Obtain patient data adequate to provide dental treatment.

              4.3.   Perform a clinical examination of the head and neck and intraoral structures.

              4.4.   Assess the need for, apply radiographic selection criteria, perform selected intra and extraoral radiographic procedures, and interpret appropriate oral and maxillofacial radiographs required for diagnosis.

              4.5.   Obtain other relevant diagnostic information such as laboratory tests and medical consultations when appropriate.

              4.6.   Recognize the normal range of clinical and radiographic findings and conditions that require monitoring or management.

              4.7.   Recognize predisposing, genetic, environmental, and etiologic factors that require intervention to prevent disease.

              4.8.   Interpret findings from the history, clinical and radiographic examinations, and other diagnostic procedures.

              4.9.   Recognize the manifestations of systemic disease and how the disease and its management may affect the delivery and outcome of dental care.

              4.10.  Integrate subjective and objective clinical findings, including evidence-based and emerging science in the formulation of the diagnosis.

              4.11.  Evaluate the prognoses of various treatment options.

                5. Treatment Planning

                  5.1.   Formulate and discuss with the patient an individual, comprehensive, sequenced treatment plan and alternate plans based on relevant diagnostic findings and patient considerations.

                  5.2.   Discuss etiologies, prognoses, and preventive strategies with the patient; educate the patient so he/she can participate in the management of his/her own oral health care.

                  5.3.   Identify the need for and manage timely referrals and consultations with other health care providers when appropriate.

                    6. Patient Care: Managing the oral health care of the infant, child, adolescent, and adult, as well as the unique needs of female, geriatric, and special needs patients.

                      6.1.   Manage (refer or treat) dental pain and emergencies, including the diagnosis and management of traumatic injuries to the tooth, pulp, and   maxillofacial structures.

                      6.2.   Perform and evaluate therapies that emphasize prevention of oral disease.

                      6.3.   Restore missing or defective tooth structure to proper form, function, and esthetics.

                      6.4.   Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients with uncomplicated partial or complete edentulous areas, including the use of implants.

                      6.5.   Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients with periodontal disease.

                      6.6.   Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients with pulpal disease and related periradicular pathology.

                      6.7.   Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients with temporomandibular disorders.

                      6.8.   Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients with malocclusion in the primary, mixed, and permanent dentition.

                      6.9.   Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients requiring orthodontic treatment or space maintenance.

                      6.10.  Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients with oral mucosal and osseous disorders.

                      6.11.  Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients requiring oral surgical procedures.

                      6.12.  Identify and manage (refer or treat) patients with pain and anxiety associated with dental procedures.

                      6.13.  Select and administer/prescribe appropriate pharmacological agents in the treatment of patients with dental disease.

                      6.14.  Apply principles of behavioral patient management and interpersonal skills sciences as they pertain to patient-centered approaches for promoting,  improving, and maintaining oral health.

                      6.15.  Diagnose and manage (refer or treat) patients whose medical, physical, psychological, or social situations make it necessary to modify normal dental routines in order to provide dental treatment including, but not limited to, people with developmental and/or mental disabilities, complex medical problems, and significant physical limitations.

                      6.16.  Recognize and manage (refer or treat) medical emergencies that may occur in dental practice.

                      6.17.  Recognize and manage (refer or treat) patient abuse and/or neglect.

                      6.18.  Recognize and manage (refer or treat) substance abuse in dental patients.

                      6.19.  Anticipate, prevent, and manage (refer or treat) complications of dental treatment.

                      6.20.  Periodically assess and monitor the outcomes of comprehensive dental care.