Program Competencies
Professionalism: Practice dentistry guided by professional values, ethical principles, self-assessment and as required by legal principles and regulatory concepts to address the oral health needs of individual patients and the community. (CODA 2-10, 2-11, 2-17, 2-21)
Scientific Practice: Apply critical thinking, problem-solving, quantitative knowledge and reasoning (including analysis of data, appraisal of evidence, synthesis and integration of new information) to the practice of dentistry. (CODA 2-10, 2-11,2-18,2-22)
Human Sciences: Apply knowledge of molecular, biochemical, cellular and systems-level mechanisms that maintain homeostasis and of the dysregulation of these mechanisms to the prevention, diagnosis and management of disease in the dental patient. (CODA 2-10, 2-12, 2-13, 2-14)
Behavioral Sciences: Apply behavioral principles to function successfully in a multicultural work environment, to manage and educate a diverse patient population, and to promote, improve and maintain the health of dental patients. (CODA 2-16, 2-17, 2-23, 2-24 e,d)
Treatment Planning: Formulate a provisional, differential and definitive diagnosis and a comprehensive, sequenced treatment plan, alternative plans and limited care plans for dental patients; make referrals to other providers; describe prognosis; obtain informed consent, evaluate outcomes of treatment, and recommend recall. (CODA 2-10,2-24 a,c,o;2-25)
Patient Care: Assess and manage the oral health care needs of patients within the scope of general dentistry in all stages of life (infants, children, adolescents, adults, geriatric patients and patients with special needs). (CODA 2-10, 2-22, 2-23, 2-24 b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n; 2-25,2-26)
Practice Management: Apply principles and philosophies of patient management, models of health care delivery and leadership of an oral health care team. (CODA 2-18, 2-19, 2-20)
Public Health: Work collaboratively to assess, address and/or solve population-based health issues using the public health principles of assessment, policy development and assurance. (CODA 2-10, 2-18, 2-26)
Interprofessional Practice: Function effectively, respectfully and ethically in an interprofessional team to plan and deliver patient-/ population-centered care. (CODA 2-19, 2-20,2-24c)
Public Health certificate
In addition to the DMD curriculum, all MOSDOH students take the following courses to earn a certificate in public health with a dental emphasis:
- Introduction to Dental Public Health
- Behavior Science and Educational Concepts
- Dental Epidemiology
- Dental Healthcare Policy and Management
- Financing Dental Care
The first course in the certificate program is taken at the beginning of the second year. Courses are quarter-based and offered online in 10-week sessions through ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies. Students who wish to complete a master’s degree in public health need 10 additional courses of the 15 in the curriculum. These courses, in addition to the dental school curriculum, will provide students with a broad exposure to service- and community-based learning.
Research Program
There are many research opportunities available to ATSU-MOSDOH students. The ATSU-MOSDOH Research Program emphasizes research in public health dentistry and the basic sciences. It is the home of the Network for Community Oral Health Research, the nation’s only practice-based research network devoted to research in the oral health of underserved populations.
Qualified students are invited to participate in ongoing research of ATSU-MOSDOH faculty. Alternatively, students may elect to conduct independent research by participating in MOSDOH’s Research Elective, which is a seminar that helps students develop research skills in all areas, from project development to dissemination. Students also have the opportunity to conduct research at other institutions over the summer, such as other dental schools or the National Institutes of Health.
Simulation Clinic
The dental simulation clinic at the IPE building, located on the first floor, serves as an advanced learning facility for ATSU-MOSDOH students. Here, they gain proficiency in dental sciences using state-of-the-art technology before transitioning to patient-care settings in St. Louis. The clinic is equipped with various cutting-edge technologies, including CAD-CAM (CEREC) scanning and milling units, a 3D Asiga printer, a 3D E4 lab scanner, a sensor-equipped dental anesthesia training manikin, a dental radiology manikin, and other educational equipment and models.
Spanning over 7,000 square feet, the simulation clinic boasts 68 student workstations. Each workstation is outfitted with a KaVo Mannekin Simulator, LED dental light, dental instruments, and a flat screen display monitor. To facilitate students' practice, each station is equipped with their own Operative dentistry cassette, Composite restoration instrument cassette, Rubber dam cassette, alginate impression, and stone model armamentarium, enabling them to perform various dental procedures during their simulation sessions.
At the front of the clinic, there's an instructor's station that allows faculty members to demonstrate techniques, which can be broadcasted directly to each individual student station. This broadcasting setup involves two computers, a document camera capable of projecting highly magnified images, and a ceiling-mounted camera used for demonstrating faculty-on-manikin procedures. This setup ensures that students can clearly observe faculty/patient positions during the procedures.
Additionally, the simulation clinic has five faculty stations, each equipped with a microscope and a 7-inch screen display with powerful magnification capabilities of up to 1200X. This equipment is utilized to provide feedback and critique to students on their daily projects and work.
Besides student and faculty workstations, the clinic features six dental operatories equipped with digital x-ray units and touch screen computers. The clinic also houses a sterilization center, a dispensary, and a wet lab with eight sinks and stainless steel workspaces to support various dental activities and preparation.
Overall, the dental simulation clinic at the IPE building provides an innovative and comprehensive learning environment for ATSU-MOSDOH students, ensuring they are well-prepared and skilled before they proceed to real patient care in St. Louis.
