Virginia Commonwealth University

The two-year program in Pediatric Dentistry consists of a structured curriculum and clinical activities that are designed to enable the graduate to be prepared to enter practice with a comprehensive foundation in the didactic and clinical knowledge necessary to treat the pediatric dental patient. 

 

Residents begin the program with a review course in pediatric dentistry that covers the basic information needed for entrance into the clinics. Clinical work begins in the second week of the program.  The curriculum runs throughout the two years of training and includes a combination of weekly seminars, lectures, and continuing education courses that offer an in-depth, specialized level of information.  Each resident will develop an appreciation for and the ability to critically analyze the classic and current literature.

 

Structured clinical rotations are held in anesthesiology, pediatric medicine, and craniofacial anomalies. First year residents participate in emergency call and are responsible for any emergent pediatric dental care for children admitted to the VCU Health System Pediatric Emergency Department.  A second year resident and faculty attending are also always on call in support of the first year resident.

 

Students successfully completing the program earn a Specialty Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Master of Science in Dentistry. As part of the Master’s thesis, an original research project must be completed by the resident to include research study design, data collection and analysis.  Students must complete the requirements for both the certificate and master's degree concurrently with both being awarded simultaneously.