Mission Statement

The Department of Comprehensive Dentistry is committed to supporting the mission of the University and the School of Dentistry through teaching, research, service, faculty practice and patient-centered care. Our primary mission in the scholarship of teaching is to provide students with high quality didactic, preclinical, and clinical instruction that is contemporary based on the most current literature available. The primary mission will be met through continuous faculty development and calibration on all assessment standards for evaluating student competence.

Goal

Our primary goal is go produce a competent, beginning general dentist through crucial formative and/or summative assessments in all areas of general dentistry to include pediatric and adult patients.

Objectives

• The graduate will be competent in using critical thinking skills during the comprehensive care of all patients regardless of age.
• The graduate will be competent in providing preventive dentistry services to improve overall oral health of all patients regardless of age.
• The graduate will be competent in providing quality dental care to a diverse population of patients in a multicultural work setting.
• The graduate will be competent in demonstrating professional behaviors consistent with the legal and ethical expectations of the profession and the public.
• The graduate will be competent in formulating treatment plans with emphasis on the collation of all pertinent facts and provision of choices for alternative treatment plans.
• The graduate will be competent in reviewing patient medical information and knowing the proper referral for hospital based care.
• The graduate will be competent in utilizing the principles of operative dentistry to remove defective tooth structure and restore teeth to acceptable form, function and esthetics.
• The graduate will be competent in selecting and using the appropriate dental materials to restore prepared tooth structure through evidence-based literature.
• The graduate will be competent in the basic principles of fixed and removable prosthodontics and understand referring to specialists when indicated.
• The graduate will be competent in applying business and economic concepts to dental practice management decisions.