Dental Surgical Science (DESS)


DESS 7210  Clinical Periodontal Therapy  (1 credits)  
Exposes the student, in a more specific and in-depth manner, to the fundamental information covered in earlier courses. Discusses the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases. Students learn the principles, indications, contraindications and techniques for each periodontal surgical procedure and appropriate follow-up care. Emphasis is placed on recognizing appropriate case selection and acceptable end points of therapy.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
DESS 7211  Introduction to Endodontics  (2 credits)  
Provides the knowledge and instruction necessary to educate students in the art of executing the technical procedures of nonsurgical root canal therapy. Provides the science that includes the biological, pathological and evidence-based principles and methods that guide the endodontics specialty. Students also gain an understanding of endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning that will aid them in preserving the natural dentition.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term  
DESS 7212  Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology  (4 credits)  
Integrates oral and maxillofacial pathology into the diagnostic process and involves the study of the diseases and abnormalities of the oral cavity and adjacent regions, including their etiology, epidemiology, clinical and radiographic features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
DESS 7230  Emergency Medical Interventions  (1 credits)  
Provides the basic information needed to handle medical emergencies in the clinical dental setting. Topics include administration of emergency drugs, identification of patient stress, CPR and advanced support techniques.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Summer Term, 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term  
DESS 7231  Foundations of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery  (1 credits)  
Provides students with the basic surgical knowledge to render the procedures provided by the general practitioner including foundations in special examination, diagnosis and treatment planning for dentoalveolar surgery, and medicolegal issues dealing with oral and maxillofacial surgery. Students assess and provide outcomes, manage minor complications, and provide both routine and special post operative care. Medications commonly used in oral surgery will be presented with regards to selection, dosage administration and prescription writing.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Summer Term, 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term  
DESS 7234  Surgical Sciences Introductory Clinical Practicum  (1 credits)  
Orientation of the student to the Surgical Sciences rotations. Students are introduced to operations and procedures regarding the clinical treatment of patients with needs in the areas of periodontal therapy, edodontics, oral surgery and/or pathology.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Summer Term, 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term  
DESS 7310  Intermediate Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery  (1 credits)  
Continues the basic course in dentoalveolar surgery to include diagnosis, treatment and post operative care for patients presenting with complications of severe nature, a need for preprosthetic surgery in conjunction with exodontia, contemporary implant surgery, odontogenic infections, complex radiation and chemotherapy patients with oral surgical needs, and management of obstructive salivary gland diseases. Students are also introduced to techniques, protocol and the management of the hospitalized dental patient.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
DESS 7314  Surgical Sciences Clinical Practicum 1  (1 credits)  
Provides the initial experiences that students have with the clinical treatment of patients with needs in the areas of periodontal therapy, endodontics, oral surgery and oral pathology. Students rotate through controlled experiences in these various areas and provide comprehensive care to patients with certain needs, particularly in the area of periodontics. S/U grade assessment.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
DESS 7318  Junior Honors Clinical Practicum in Oral Surgery  (1 credits)  
An in-depth practicum for students who have applied for or have been accepted into advanced OMS programs. Students are exposed in a more specific and in depth manner to oral and maxillofacial surgical residency programs. Students are assigned additional complex dento-alveolar procedures as they arise and are expected to present case histories, treatment plans, outcomes and assessments of the procedures provided in an outcome based discussion. Enrollment in this course requires special permission of the course director, academic dean, the student's group leader and the clinical director.
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the School of Dentistry.  
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term  
DESS 7319  Junior Honors Clinical Practicum in Periodontics  (1 credits)  
Exposes the students, in a more specific and in-depth manner, to periodontal surgical procedures. Focuses on different surgical procedures and incorporates evidence-based dentistry in the treatment planning and end point of therapy. Includes literature review and journal club with emphasis on current literature and surgical technique. Reviews complex periodontal procedures. Discusses research ideas and research projects. S/U grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of the course dir. and the academic dean.  
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term  
DESS 7320  Clinical Endodontic Procedures  (1 credits)  
Designed to aid students in preserving natural dentition by focusing on both the art of executing technical procedures and the science of recognizing biological and pathological conditions. Evidence-based treatments integrate the student's expertise and the needs and preferences of the patient. Students identify and diagnose pulpal and periradicular disease, evaluate case complexity and develop the knowledge base necessary to perform and complete noncomplicated endodontic procedures.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
DESS 7321  Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery  (2 credits)  
Provides the student with diagnostic skills, surgical management and post operative complications in patients with major deformities requiring preprosthetic surgery, advanced techniques in implant surgery, major odotogenic infections, the principles of biopsy and diagnosis, management of minor and major facial trauma, dentofacial deformities and the diagnosis and management of TMJ and facial pain.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term  
DESS 7323  Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine for Dentistry  (1 credits)  
Builds on the foundational knowledge provided in an earlier general pharmacology course. Provides clinical correlations to topics and addresses areas that are specific to the practitioner, such as: prescribing medications where appropriate, the management of drug interactions and a full review of anesthesia specific to the dental patient.
Prerequisite: Enrolled in the School of Dentistry.  
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term  
DESS 7324  Surgical Sciences Clinical Practicum 2  (1 credits)  
Second course in a sequence that provides the dental student experiences in the clinical treatment of patients with needs in the areas of periodontal therapy, endodontics, oral surgery and oral pathology. Students rotate through controlled experiences in these various areas and provide comprehensive care to patients with certain needs, particularly in the area of periodontics. Students are expected to have greater skill and to be less dependent at this point. S/U grade assessment.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term  
DESS 7334  Surgical Sciences Clinical Practicum 3  (1 credits)  
Third course in a sequence that provides the dental student experiences in the clinical treatment of patients with needs in the areas of periodontal therapy, endodontics, oral surgery and/or pathology. Students rotate through controlled experiences in these various areas and provide comprehensive care to patients with certain needs, particularly in the area of periodontics. Students are expected to have greater skill and to be more independent at this point.
Prerequisite: Enrolled in the School of Dentistry.  
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Summer Term, 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term  
DESS 7414  Senior Clinical Practicum in Surgical Sciences 1  (1 credits)  
The first of two advanced-level practicums that provide experiences in periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and oral pathology. Successful progress in each discipline is required to be judged as making satisfactory progress in this practicum experience. S/U grade assessment.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
DESS 7418  Senior Honors Clinical Practicum in Oral Surgery  (1 credits)  
An in-depth practicum for students who have applied for or have been accepted into advanced OMS programs. Students are exposed in a more specific and in depth manner to oral and maxillofacial surgical residency programs. Students are assigned additional complex dento-alveolar procedures as they arise and are expected to present case histories, treatment plans, outcomes and assessments of the procedures provided in an outcome based discussion. Enrollment in this course requires special permission of the course director, academic dean, the student's group leader and the clinical director.
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the School of Dentistry.  
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term  
DESS 7419  Senior Honors Clinical Practicum in Periodontics  (1 credits)  
A continuation of DESS 7319 with more in-depth cases for the student to work on. S/U grade assessment.
Prerequisite: Cons. of the course dir. and the academic dean.  
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term  
DESS 7424  Senior Clinical Practicum in Surgical Sciences 2  (1 credits)  
The second of two advanced-level practicums that provide experiences in periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and oral pathology. Successful progress in each discipline is required to be judged as making satisfactory progress in this practicum experience. S/U grade assessment.
Level of Study: Dental  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term