The Mount Sinai Hospital

Pediatric Dentistry Training Program and Curriculum

This is a two-year, hospital-based program offering a composite of clinical experience and didactic instruction at the Pediatric Dental Clinic located at the Institute for Family Health (IFH), Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital (MSM) and the Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH). The program was established in 2004 graduating its first two residents in 2006 and was expanded to four positions as of 2010. The pediatric dental residents receive extensive clinical training in all aspects of pediatric dental medicine and surgery.

A premier tertiary-care facility, The Mount Sinai Hospital draws patients from surrounding communities, across the country and around the world. As a world class academic medical center, Mount Sinai continues to attracts leaders in clinical practice and research. The Kravis Children Hospital serves a wide array of tertiary pediatric care areas with numerous sub-specialty training programs and is a regional leader in neonatal specialty care, pediatric respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal diseases with growing services in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, transplant and hematology units. The MSH is home to numerous institutes and centers focused on pediatric research and clinical care including the Child Health and Development Institute, Children's Environmental Health Center, Seaver Center for Autism, Center of Excellence in ADHD and Related Disorders, Child Adolescent Inpatient Unit, and The Adolescent Health Center (MSAHC) where scientific breakthroughs are translated into effective and responsive care for children while parents are provided support and guidance.

The pediatric dental residency program is situated in the heart of the MSH and is closely linked with the training program in oral & maxillofacial surgery, general practice dentistry, pediatrics and other pediatric sub-specialty fellowships. Pediatric dental residents provide coordinated care for the medically compromised patients and work closely with attending faculty, fellows and house staff from the various pediatric sub-specialty services (particularly in medicine, anesthesiology, emergency, cardiology, hematology, plastics and transplant surgery). The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Dental Clinic is a state of the art facility focused on addressing the oral health need of the adolescent population that was inaugurated in fall of 2011. Opportunities also exist for interdisciplinary clinical research projects particularly in pediatric anesthesia, cleft lip & palate treatments and adolescent medicine. The pediatric dental residents are also active participants in the Mount Sinai Cleft Plate and Craniofacial team and actively engage in pre-surgical molding therapies.

The program provides intensive operating room experience (over 250 ambulatory and in patient pediatric dental surgery cases per year) and the opportunity to work with multiple attending faculty with active OR practices. Residents receive training in IV sedation, oral sedation, pediatric emergency, pediatric medicine, and laser dental surgery. All clinical operations are paperless through Dentrix and Epic Wisdom, digital sensor/phosphor plate radiography are used throughout the clinics. A biolase hard tissue laser is available for resident use and Isodry isolation system is used at the IFH Dental Clinic. A cone beam imaging unit with Dolphin Imaging is available in the Oral Surgery clinic.

Following successful completion of the certificate program, the resident will meet eligibility requirements for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry examination and can become board eligible. All Mount Sinai board certified graduates have been successful in passing their written boards in their first attempt. Pediatric dental residents receive clinical and didactic educational training from board-certified and board-eligible attending staff members. An online curriculum has been developed and which is continually being updated by faculty, residents and alumni. The curriculum is composed of core pediatric fundamentals reviewed in group seminars and lectures. Also oral pathology, pediatric medicine and pediatric dental and oral surgery are regularly scheduled. Residents are required to attend assigned dental and multidisciplinary lectures and seminars. Clinical rotations in pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric medicine and pediatric emergency room are included in the program and completed in the first year. Rotations in various pediatric sub-specialties (cardiology, GI, Psych, Renal, Medical Genetics, ENT, hematology) are available for the second year dental residents. Residents also have the opportunity to rotate through pediatric dental Faculty Practice Associates as well as local well recognized pediatric dental practices in New York City and the North East. Residents are closely mentored by faculty in transitioning to full time practice and continued career development.

Past graduating residents have qualified and have been successful in being selected for a funded fellowship to pursue an executive masters in public health (EMPH) at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. The outreach and community service aspects of the program currently involve participation in health fairs organized by the medical center and participation in international health missions. Residents are also encouraged to attend New York State and Capital Hill lobby day activities.