The School of Dental Medicine curriculum develops the critical thinking and intellectual curiosity necessary for its students to maintain a state of continuous self-improvement. The program is divided into four academic years consisting of biomedical sciences, clinical sciences and behavioral sciences as well as elective, study and consultation time.
Year I introduces the student to biomedical information on the healthy human organism and basic clinical science information required for developing the fundamental knowledge and skills for clinical dentistry. Community and Preventive Dentistry offers the students their first experience in direct patient care. During the summer between the first and second year, summer research opportunities are offered to interested students.
Year I
Year II presents the remaining necessary biomedical sciences for students to attain both a comprehensive knowledge of the healthy human organism and necessary information for recognizing diseases. The second year also provides the information and experiences necessary to begin comprehensive patient care. During the summer between the second and third years there is a required eight week academic session that includes patient care, didactic clinical courses and time for National Board preparation.
Year II
Year III continues with didactic clinical sciences instruction, applied courses in biomedical sciences and increasing patient care responsibility. The primary focus of the third year is basic comprehensive patient care and the interrelationships of all areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The summer following year three contains an eight week required patient treatment clinical experience.
Year III
Year IV is spent primarily in comprehensive patient care. Students receive advanced clinical sciences information and review advances in biomedical science which could effect clinical patient care. Externship opportunities are offered to qualified seniors. At the successful completion of all didactic and clinical requirements a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree is awarded.
Year IV
Note: Courses are labeled to indicate the sponsoring department. Course codes that begin with "DA" are presented by the Department of Applied Dental Medicine; "DR"... Department of Restorative Dentistry; "DG"... Department of Growth, Development and Structure; "DI"... Interdisciplinary, indicating that faculty from different areas collaborate to present related materials in an integrated fashion; "DE"... East St. Louis Dental Clinic, indicating a course at the East St. Louis Dental Clinic.