Students / Prospective Students / Postdoctoral / CODA Accredited Programs / Second Year General Practice Residency Program in Special Care Dentistry

SECOND YEAR GENERAL PRACTICE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
IN SPECIAL CARE DENTISTRY

The special care population consists of patients with mental retardation, developmental disabilities, psychiatric and physical disabilities and complex medical conditions, as well as the geriatric population. While many patients can receive dental care on an outpatient basis, a large number require treatment in the operating room setting.

Due to their complex needs, the special care patients face considerable difficulties in obtaining dental care. Unfortunately, few dentists are comfortable providing care to this rapidly growing patient population.

The 2nd year GPR at New Jersey Dental School is an intensive one-year program dedicated to advanced training in the special care population. This educational program is designed to provide a dentist with advanced knowledge and skills that will enable him/her to proficiently provide comprehensive patient care for the patient with special needs.

Intensive didactic and clinical programs are integrated to provide the resident with the theoretical and practical armamentarium necessary for the scholarly practice of dentistry in this special needs group. The resident undergoes training in:

1. All aspects of general dentistry for the special needs patient;
2. Medical Risk Assessment and application of its principles in dental treatment of the special needs patient;
3. Behavior management and the role of pharmacologic interventions in patient care;
4. Dental treatment planning for the special needs patient;
5. Comprehensive dental care in the operating room, under sedation or general anesthesia;
6. Interrelationships with medical and dental professionals in a variety of specialty areas.

Patients are treated in the New Jersey Dental School's - Special Care Treatment Center. The resident will rotate through various medical services, including anesthesia, internal medicine, and specialty clinics such as the Autism Center. Residents participate in a very active hospital dental emergency clinic that provides extensive experience in dento-alveolar surgery as well as a very active operating room program for the special needs patients with extensive treatment plans and/or significant medical/management problems.

The program has a dedicated faculty who are trained in providing comprehensive care to the special needs patients. Dental School faculties are active in clinical and basic research and resident participation is encouraged.

PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To train a dentist to practice in a ambulatory and hospital setting to treat the special needs patients:
   (a) interact effectively with the hospital medical team and use hospital resources;
   (b) evaluate and treat a various special needs;
   (c) manage patients in ambulatory, same-day surgery and in-patient settings;
2. To advance knowledge and skills in oral health care through a strong academic program that trains a dentist to deliver comprehensive quality patient care.
3. To recognize, evaluate and manage medical emergencies that can occur during dental treatment of the special needs patient.
4. To create an ongoing interest and awareness of new developments in clinical practice in oral health care for the special needs patient.
5. To encourage residents to participate in community service.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE GPR-2:

1. Graduation from an ADA-accredited dental school
2. Completion of a minimum of one year postdoctoral training in either:
   (a) GPR
   (b) AEGD
   (c) postdoctoral (specialty) program

For additional information and program application, please contact:
Dr. Samuel Quek, Director, General Practice Residency Program (973) 972-6265, Dr. Evan Spivack, Program Administrator (973) 972-4070 or Ms. Karen Cook, Office of Graduate Dental Education, UMDNJ-NJDS, 110 Bergen St., Rm B-830, Newark, NJ, 07103, (973) 972-3636.

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