University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Dentistry, Nashville

The University of Tennessee AEGD Program is a one-year advanced training program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, located in vibrant Nashville, Tennessee. It is focused on the preparation of residents in different disciplines of dentistry for private practice and specialty training through improvement of their dental skills and dental knowledge that applies to patient care to build their confidence and independence while making sound judgment. The program begins on July 1st and ends June 30th of the following year and consists of six (6) residents participating over a twelve (12) month period supervised by general practitioners and specialists. It provides advanced clinical training beyond that achieved in dental school. The knowledge gathered in the AEGD Program supplements the dental school pre-doctoral curriculum. The didactic component is year-long on varying advanced general dentistry topics that include: pain management, diagnosis and treatment planning, esthetic dentistry, complete dentures, removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures, dental crowns, dental implants, orthodontics for the general practitioner, dental emergencies, medical emergency in the dental office, implant dentistry, cultural sensitivity, law pertaining to dentistry, and practice management. The program is focused on improvement of clinical skills and applicable knowledge that will improve patient care. A focus will be on the aspect of diagnosis, treatment planning, and organizing complex cases with the guidance of the faculty in all areas of dentistry. Critical thinking, decision-making skills, and sound reasoning will be enhanced utilizing case presentations to determine the reasoning for the Residents course of treatment and treatment options for patients. Residents will have to complete an initial case and a final case presentation before graduation. Competency, ethics, and professionalism are stressed in the program to achieve independence and confidence for private practice or a recognized dental specialty and to enhance the profession of dentistry. The Resident will provide comprehensive care to patients of diverse populations. The Residents will get supervision and training in the fields of prosthodontics, operative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, and dental implantology. In the course of the twelve- month program, the Resident will learn how to safely manage patients that are medically compromised and how to diagnose and treat patients of varying ages with different backgrounds and provide quality care. The Resident will have opportunities to diagnose, treatment plan, and execute complex cases that may range the term of a year. The Residents will experience new modern technology in a newly constructed facility. Residents will be part of CE courses on topics related to general dentistry.

The program provides time within the work week schedule for emergency patients thus, no on-call schedule and no weekend calls. There are 10 federally observed holidays and a winter recess. At the end of the program, residents will have the necessary experience, confidence, and independence to proceed into general practice or proceed into specialty training. Upon completion of the program, Residents receive a Certificate of Advanced Education in General Dentistry. We welcome diversity and residents with an attitude for learning and acceptance. The selection of candidates is made without regard to an individual’s gender, religion, color, creed, age, race, sexual orientation, citizenship, or other federally protected classes.

Applicants must be graduates of an accredited U.S. Dental School and have passed the National Board Dental Examination Part I and Part II or the INBDE. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center AEGD Program participates in the PASS application process but does not participate in the Match. All interested applicants must apply through PASS and will then be contacted for interview scheduling.

Please submit a headshot-type photo to the program by emailing it to UTNashAEGD@ascension.org.