Didactic Program

Structured didactic sessions occur primarily on Tuesday mornings, but may be scheduled throughout the week and will include all residents and full-time faculty of the Department of Oral Medicine. This comprehensive series of lectures, seminars, and participation sessions is presented at the postdoctoral level and includes the following series and courses:

• Clinical Dentistry
• General Medicine
• Oral Medicine
• Literature Review Seminars
• Physical Diagnosis
• Case Conferences
• Resident Presentations
• Continuing Education
• Visiting Faculty
• Specialty Clinics/Conferences (First and Second year)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Clinical Dentistry

This curriculum consists of lectures and participation sessions to enhance residents' diagnostic and clinical skills in all phases of dentistry. Lecture topics include maxillofacial infections, orofacial trauma, pre-prosthetic surgery, guided tissue regeneration, crown lengthening, bone and soft tissue grafting, periapical surgery, electrosurgery, behavior management, preventive therapy, and operating room dentistry. Hands-on sessions include rotary endodontic instrumentation, suturing techniques, and implantology.

General Medicine

Presented by members of the medical staff at CMC, these lectures further the residents' understanding in the pathophysiology and current medical management of a variety of systemic disorders. Residents learn how these medical problems may impact a patient's oral health and/or planned dental treatment. Lectures in this series include specific topics within the broad fields of hematology/oncology, cardiology, hepatology, nephrology, endocrinology, and infectious disease.

Oral Medicine

This curriculum provides an in-depth understanding of the diagnosis and management of a variety of oral and maxillofacial diseases and disorders. This includes lectures on the dental management of medically compromised patients, oral pathology, diagnostic laboratory values, differential diagnosis of facial pain, temporomandibular joint disorders, salivary gland dysfunction, and oral manifestations of systemic diseases.

Literature Review Seminars

Peer-reviewed literature should serve as a primary resource for continuing education throughout a dentist's career. Literature review sessions provide residents with the skills to cope with the large volume of journal articles they need to review on a regular basis. The primary focus is on an analysis of methodology and outcomes reported in clinical research publications in the medical as well as dental literature. Articles on clinical epidemiology, along with select current journal publications, are utilized in the literature review process.

Physical Diagnosis

This component of the didactic program includes self-study modules, lectures, seminars, and demonstrations covering medical history-taking, review of major organ systems, physical examination techniques, and interpretation of clinical laboratory studies and data. This course includes instruction through the Department of Family Medicine and experiences in the Carolinas Simulation Center. It serves as a foundation for the clinical training and experience for residents in medical risk assessment, the ability to distinguish between normal and abnormal clinical findings, and understanding the history and physical examination.

Case Conferences

These patient care review conferences are intended to further the residents' training and experience with the treatment planning process, concepts of comprehensive care, and quality assurance in dentistry. Residents and faculty primarily review and discuss patients referred for evaluation prior to other medical procedures (clearance prior to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, cardiac surgery, organ transplant, bone marrow and stem cell transplant, and anti-resorptive therapy for systemic bone loss). Treatment plans for new patients accepted for comprehensive care are also discussed.

Resident Presentations

To enhance skills at researching the literature and presenting a body of information, each resident will deliver a formal presentation during the residency year. Residents select a topic of interest, perform a literature search, and deliver a lecture utilizing audiovisual media.

Continuing Education

Residents may use their continuing education allotment to attend regional CE courses and national meetings. There are many continuing education opportunities in the region, including lectures and courses sponsored by the Charlotte Area Health Education Center, Charlotte Dental Society, North Carolina Dental Society, and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

Visiting Faculty

Several times a year, the Department of Oral Medicine hosts visiting faculty from around the world with training and experience in oral medicine and other specialties. These individuals deliver didactic presentations and provide clinical instruction in their discipline to broaden residents' knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions.

Specialty Clinics/Conferences (First and Second year)

Attendance at several multidisciplinary clinics and conferences enables residents to better understand the approach to the overall management of patients. Attendance is encouraged for dental residents at the Head and Neck Tumor Board.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

All incoming house officers take Advanced Cardiac Life Support at the outset of the residency program. This course is taught by the Center for Life Support Education at Carolinas Medical Center and is a component of the emergency medicine and anesthesia rotations. In addition to preparing residents for these rotations, this course serves to further the residents' training in risk assessment and the initial management of medical emergencies.