Curriculum

 

Note: Postgraduate Orthodontics courses are designated PORT. 400-level courses are Postgrad Orthodontics course without CGHS credit. 800-level courses carry CGHS credit.

PORT 800 – MDS (Orthodontics) Research and Manuscript: This course provides postgraduate students with the experience of engaging in research in dental and related sciences, and to pursue a Masters of Dental Science (MDS) degree in the UTHSC College of Graduate Health Sciences. Involvement in this course is arranged to meet individual student needs. Time commitment will average 4-hours per week during each semester of pursuit. Students work with advisors experienced in research methodology and scientific writing. Research mentorship is provided by faculty members gathered to satisfy the needs of the student and the research project being pursued. Student activities include topic-specific review of literature, research protocol development, hands-on research, data acquisition, statistical analysis and interpretation of experimental results, drawing conclusions, and publication of outcomes. Public defense of the research effort and submission of a manuscript to a professional journal in accordance with regulation established by the College of Graduate Health Sciences are required. Research, public defense, and manuscript submission accomplished during this course are in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Dental Science degree awarded by the UTHSC, College of Graduate Health Sciences. [Course Director: Dr. A. Al Dayeh; MDS Credit Hours: Variable; Offered: Fall and Spring]

PORT 810 – Classic Orthodontic Literature Review: This course is a companion to clinical training in orthodontics and involves faculty and student evaluations of historically significant orthodontic literature. Key historical literature based on reading lists compiled by the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Board of Orthodontics and the faculty is presented in lecture format by the graduate students. The students are also exposed to the historical development of orthodontics, additional treatment philosophies through guest speakers and relevant new developments in treatment. Students in the Advanced Orthodontic Program participate in this seminar each semester of their three-year residency. [Course Director: Dr. Edward Harris; MDS Credit Hours: 2; Offered: Fall and Spring]

PORT 811 – Contemporary Evidence-Based Orthodontic Journal Club: This course is a companion to clinical training in orthodontics and involves faculty and student evaluations of contemporary orthodontic literature. Current research articles in the key journals in orthodontics are reviewed as they are published. The assessment of current literature for its evidence-based value is critical. Journal Club provides a mechanism for surveying major orthodontic periodicals to identify important articles, reviewing those articles and discussing each article in an open seminar format. Students in the Advanced Orthodontic Program participate in this seminar each semester of their three-year residency. [Course Director: Dr. Nathan Hamman; MDS Credit Hours: 2; Offered: Fall and Spring]

PORT 820 – Radiology and Cephalometrics: The course provides a thorough understanding of craniofacial radiographic techniques with emphasis on cephalometric roentgenography. The course is designed to acquaint the student with the use of radiographs, radiation hygiene, radiographic evidence of pathology, and cephalometric techniques to assure proficiency in technical skills and in interpretation as needed for diagnostic procedures. This course consists of lecture and laboratory instruction. [Course Director: Dr. Richard A. Williams; MDS Credit Hours: 2; Offered: Fall]

PORT 840 – Special Topics in Orthodontics: Directed readings or special course in topics of current interest. Student will select a specific topic. Approval must be obtained from student's advisor and course instructor prior to enrollment. [Course Director: Dr. Richard A. Williams; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Fall and Spring]

PORT 850 – Craniofacial Growth: This course provides an overview of the events of human growth and the analytic approaches used to study growth, particularly from birth to adulthood. Discussions center around the nature of growth, mechanisms of growth, general body development, and genetic and environmental influences on growth. Emphasis is given to the head and neck region. Topics in growth malformations and dysplasias are presented. The etiology, presentation, differential diagnosis, and orthodontic treatment of comparatively common pharyngeal arch syndromes and sequences are described, with extended discussion of cleft lip and palate. [Course Director: Dr. A. Al Dayeh; MDS Credit Hours: 2; Offered: Spring]

PORT 855 – TMD and Occlusal Concepts: Orthodontic treatment has many ramifications for the stomatognathic system. The temporomandibular joint depends on proper occlusion for health and function. This course requires the student to read the appropriate literature, understand the intricacies of the interrelationship of the occlusion and the TMJ, and apply these principles to the correction of orthodontic malocclusion. [Course Director: Dr. Joe Wasson; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Fall and Spring]

PORT 860 – Craniofacial Anomalies: The orthodontic graduate student must be trained to deal with and to competently treat patients who present with various skeletal and dental anomalies. This course’s purpose is to cover the literature on the various syndromes and developmental anomalies that affect the teeth and the face. Visiting lecturers from across the spectrum of healthcare delivery address the class and explain the intricacies of dealing with these problems from the perspective of their respective specialty. [Course Director: Dr. William Parris; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Spring]

PORT 865 – Orthodontic History and Ethics: This course is an introduction to the history of the development of the specialty of orthodontics, with an emphasis on the personalities involved in the development and evolution of the specialty. There are also ethical dilemmas in orthodontics that are discussed and studied. [Course Director: Dr. David Crowder; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Fall]

PORT 870 – Biomechanical Principles: This course is a comprehensive survey of biomechanical principles utilizing Newtonian Mechanics to define the interplay between forces applied by fixed and removable orthodontic appliances and the resulting movement of teeth. [Course Director: Dr. David Crowder; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Spring]

PORT 875 – Scientific Writing and MDS Research Protocol: The theory and practice of writing a scientifically based manuscript are presented. The purpose, structure, and style of all the parts of a manuscript are described. The practical application of this series of lectures is the development of the student's MDS manuscript. The theory and practice of preparing a sound protocol preparatory to MDS-level research is discussed in detail. Various research designs are discussed. Additionally, style and content of a grant proposal are reviewed [Course Director: Dr. Ed Harris; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Fall and Spring]

PORT 880 – Speech and Myofunctional Therapy: Current concepts regarding development, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for speech, swallowing, structural, and myofunctional disorders will be provided, with an emphasis primarily in children.  Lectures will provide an overall understanding of the speech-language pathology profession and available services in these areas; thereby, enhancing the process of collaboration between the professions of dentistry, orthodontics and speech-language pathology. [Course Director: Dr. Miriam van Mersbergen; MDS Credit Hours: 1; Offered: Spring]

PORT 885 – Surgical Correction of Dentofacial Deformities: This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of options available to patients who require surgical correction of significant dentofacial deformities. Attention will be directed towards the surgical diagnosis of such patients and review of the common surgical procedures required to treat these patients. [Course Director: Dr. James Pledger; MDS Credit Hours 1; Offered: Spring]