Curriculum - Dental Residency

The Dental Residency program is one year, and it is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation as part of the American Dental Association.

Prerequisite
Successful graduation from an ADA accredited dental school in the United States or Canada.

Positions
Four positions at the G-1 level. The position is for one year.

Residency Rotations
A five-month rotation through The Dental Center, a three-month rotation on the Medical Center Campus at Fletcher Allen, a three- month rural rotation through a health center in Plainfield, Vermont, a two-week rotation with the Anesthesia Department, and a two-week rotation with the Emergency Department.

The Dental Center Rotation
This rotation is through a federally qualified health center facility that uses digital radiography and an electronic patient charting system. Residents do consultations and clinic cases with specialists in oral surgery, periodontics, orthodontics and prosthodontics. This includes restoring implants. Faculty supervision is always available to the dental residents whenever they are at the Dental Center. Each resident is assigned a trained dental assistant.

Rural Rotation
This rotation is through a recently renovated federally qualified health center facility in rural Plainfield, Vermont. Residents work with an assistant and perform all aspects of general dentistry while on this rotation. The residents also work with an oral surgeon removing teeth under sedation. We hope this rotation allows the resident to possibly consider working in a rural dental clinic setting in their careers.

Hospital
The rotation at Fletcher Allen's Medical Center Campus centers around assisting oral surgeons in the operating room with various oral surgery procedures including: orthognathic surgeries, TMJ replacement surgeries, and TMJ arthroplasties and arthroscopies. Consultations are also performed bedside at the hospital by the resident. One day a week is spent at the Dental Center treating patients. Residents on this rotation also have the opportunity to go to oral surgery offices where they can assist or observe.

Anesthesia
The rotation allows the dental resident to perform the duties of an anesthesia resident under the supervision of the Department of Anesthesiology. The rotation provides direct experience in medicine, pharmacology and physiology as they apply to the anesthetized patient. The resident is directly responsible for the pre-operative care, the administration of general and regional anesthesia in the operating room. The resident is also responsible for the pre-operative and post-operative care of these patients. Upon completion of this rotation, the dental resident is better adept to handle respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies that may develop in a dental office.

Emergency Department 
On this rotation, residents are in the Emergency Department and spend time observing and assisting with non-dental types of emergencies. It is hoped that the residents will gain an increased appreciation and knowledge of medicine.

Residency Goals
Perform all aspects of general dentistry including: restorative dentistry, fixed and removable prosthodontics, restoring implants, periodontal therapy, endodontic therapy, and oral surgery.

Diagnose, provide a treatment plan, and obtain appropriate informed consent to treat dental emergencies.

Use behavioral and pharmacological techniques to adequately control patients' pain and anxiety levels while being treated in a dental setting.

Increase the resident's knowledge base through lectures and case reviews on a wide variety of general dentistry and hospital subjects so as to better diagnose and treat simple to complex dental cases.

Provide comprehensive patient-focused dental care to patients of all ages including patients with special needs.

Work in underserved communities treating and educating patients on the importance of oral health.

Function as part of an interdisciplinary health care team; consulting, working, and referring in a hospital setting.

Manage medical emergencies, oral mucosal diseases, temporomandibular disorders, orofacial pain, and occlusal disorders.