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Pediatric Dentistry

The Department of Pediatric Dentistry instructs D.D.S. and graduate students in the prevention and treatment of dental diseases in children. Instruction combines didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences and gives special consideration to reviewing current literature and managing dental problems of children with special health care needs. It also emphasizes efficient treatment through proper use of dental auxiliary personnel and record management.

D.D.S. Student Training

All second-year D.D.S. students participate in a one-semester lecture course that includes preclinical exercises in the Simulation Clinic. Third-year D.D.S. students participate in a clerkship, which includes a lecture course and a clinical course. During their fourth year, D.D.S. students treat patients in the department's outreach clinics.

Clinical Specialty Program

• Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry

The department's certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Certificate

The Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry is a two-year residency program that prepares students for certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Certificate students are trained in all phases of pediatric dentistry and have career choices in practice, education, or research. Special emphasis is placed on development of leadership skills and strategies for serving vulnerable populations.

Approximately 60 percent of the graduate program is devoted to advanced clinical activity, 30 percent to didactic courses and practice teaching, and 10 percent to original research. The program includes a core of didactic, clinical, and research-oriented courses supplemented by electives determined by students' individual interests. Development of a minor subject area is recommended.

Close associations with the Department of Pediatrics in the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, the Center for Disabilities and Development, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics permit emphasis on oral rehabilitation under general anesthesia, instruction in physical diagnosis, and management of children with developmental disabilities.

Admission

Prospective students apply through the American Dental Education Association PASS program. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College.

Financial Support

Stipends for the two-year program are provided by federal agencies and other sources.

Research Opportunities

Clinical and laboratory research projects have financial support from federal agencies and other sources. Major research areas include cariology, dental materials, dentistry for persons with special health care needs, growth and development, fluoride therapy, child behavior management, prevention, and access to care.

Faculty

Faculty members hold numerous national and state offices, committee memberships, consultantships, and honors in professional organizations. They serve as reviewers for professional journals and federal granting agencies. They also participate regularly in continuing education programs for dentists and other health science personnel. Sixteen of the department's faculty members are diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Courses

For D.D.S. Students 

For Graduate and Certificate Students