Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine - Arizona
Entry-level Competencies for the Beginning General Dentist
- Critical Thinking - Graduates must be competent to:
1.1 Utilize critical thinking and problem-solving, including their use in the comprehensive care of patients, scientific inquiry and research methodology
1.2 Apply the fundamental principles of biomedical and behavioral science for delivery of patient care including promoting, improving and maintaining oral health.
1.3 Demonstrate the ability to self-assess, including the development of professional competencies and the demonstration of professional values and capacities associated with self-directed, lifelong learning.
1.4 Access, critically appraise, apply, and communicate scientific and lay literature as it relates to providing evidence-based patient care. - Professionalism - Graduates must be competent to:
2.1 Apply appropriate ethical and legal standards in the provision of dental care to patients.
2.2 Practice within the scope of competence and consult with or refer to intra- and inter-professional colleagues when indicated. - Communication and Interpersonal Skills - Graduates must be competent to:
3.1 Provide oral health care to diverse patient populations.
3.2 Have the interpersonal and communication skills to function successfully in a multicultural work environment. - Health Promotion - Graduates must be competent to:
4.1 Provide appropriate prevention, intervention, and educational strategies for all patients.
4.2 Utilize universal infection control guidelines for all clinical procedures.
4.3 Communicate and collaborate with other members of the health care team to facilitate the provision of health care.
4.4 Apply principles of social and behavioral science including oral epidemiology, dental public health, and social determinants of health - Practice Management and Informatics - Graduates must be competent to:
5.1 Understand the basic principles and philosophies of practice management, models of oral health care delivery, and how to function successfully as the leader of the oral health care team.
5.2 Understand principles of risk management, informed consent, protected health information, and appropriate record-keeping in patient care.
5.3 Evaluate written and electronic sources of contemporary and emerging information and technologies and incorporate in patient care. - Patient Care
a. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning - Graduates must be competent within the scope of general dentistry to:
6.1 Obtain and interpret patient data and use these findings to accurately assess and manage patients in all stages of life.
6.2 Formulate a comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and/or referral plan for the management of patients.
b. Establishment and Maintenance of Oral Health - Graduates must be competent within the scope of general dentistry to:
6.3 Develop and implement strategies for clinical assessment, prevention, and management of caries
6.4 Prevent, identify, and manage pain and anxiety in the dental patient including consideration of the impact of prescribing practices and substance use disorder.
6.5 Manage preventive and restorative procedures that preserve tooth structure, are esthetic, and promote soft and hard tissue health.
6.6 Communicate and manage laboratory fabrication of restorations and prostheses to correct anatomical form, function, and esthetics and modify when necessary following critical evaluation.
6.7 Manage the replacement of teeth for the partially or completely edentulous patient.
6.8 Prevent, identify and manage periodontal diseases.
6.9 Prevent, identify, and manage pulpal and peri radicular diseases.
6.10 Recognize and manage oral mucosal, temporomandibular, and osseous disorders.
6.11 Manage hard and soft tissue oral surgical procedures.
6.12 Prevent, identify, and manage medical and dental emergencies.
6.13 Recognize and manage malocclusion and space management.
6.14 Evaluate outcomes of treatment, recall strategies and prognosis.
6.15 Provide life support for medical emergencies including implementation of CPR.
6.16 Assess and manage the treatment needs of patients with special needs.