Program Competencies
Professionalism: Practice dentistry guided by professional values, ethical principles, self-assessment and as required by law to address the oral health needs of individual patients and the community. (CODA 2-10, 2-17, 2-20)
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 2-9, 2-21)
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 2-11, 2-12, 2-13, 2-14)
Behavioral Sciences: Apply behavioral principles to function successfully in a multicultural work environment, to manage a diverse patient population, and to promote, improve and maintain the health of dental patients. (CODA 2-15, 2-16, 2-23 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 2-23 a, b, c, o, 2-24)
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 2-22, 2-23 a, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n; 2-24, 2-25)
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)
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 2-25)
Interprofessional Practice: Function effectively, respectfully and ethically in an interprofessional team to plan and deliver patient-/ population-centered care. (CODA 2-19)
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 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 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 is located on the first floor of the IPE building and serves as an innovative learning environment where MOSDOH students learn the dental sciences with the best technology available before advancing to the MOSDOH patient-care setting in St. Louis.
The 7,000+ square foot simulation clinic has 48 student workstations, each equipped with a KaVo Mannekin Simulator, LED dental light, dental instruments, and a flat screen display monitor. An instructor’s station at the front of the clinic provides space for faculty members to demonstrate techniques which can be broadcast directly to each individual student station.
In addition to student and faculty work stations, the simulation clinic houses four dental operatories with digital x-ray units, a sterilization center, a dispensary and a wet lab consisting of eight sinks and stainless steel work space.
