Competencies for the New General Dentist

 

PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS
  • Professionalism. The new graduate must conduct himself/herself in a professional manner.
  • Ethics. The new graduate must be able to understand the ethical duties and responsibilities to society, the patient, and the dental profession.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT
  • Examination. The new graduate must be able to perform an examination that collects biological, psychological, and social information needed to evaluate the medical and oral condition of patients of all ages.
  • Diagnosis. The new graduate must be able to determine a differential, provisional or definitive diagnosis by interpreting and correlating findings from the history, clinical and radiographic examination, and other diagnostic tests.
  • Treatment Planning. The new graduate must be able to develop, present, and discuss individual treatment plans for patients of all ages which are appropriate yet address every aspect of the patient’s condition, interest, and capabilities.

 

PATIENT MANAGEMENT
  • Patient Behavior. The new graduate must be able to communicate with and manage patients effectively.
  • Pain and Anxiety Control. The new graduate must be able to effectively control physical and psychological discomfort and distress.
  • Acute Care. The new graduate must be able to understand the etiology of dental emergencies to prevent and manage acute dental disease.

 

ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A HEALTH ORAL ENVIRONMENT
  • Prevention of Disease. The new graduate must be able to provide care for patients of all ages which emphasizes prevention of oral disease and supports the maintenance of systemic and oral health.
  • Elimination of Caries. The new graduate must be able to diagnose, treat, and evaluate treatment outcomes of dental caries.
  • Periodontal Therapy. The new graduate must be able to diagnose, prevent, treat, manage, and evaluate treatment outcomes of all phases of periodontal disease.
  • Endodontic Therapy. The new graduate must be able to prevent, treat, and evaluate treatment outcomes of pulpal diseases and subsequent periradicular pathosis.
  • Surgical Therapy. The new graduate must be able to diagnose, treat, manage, and evaluate treatment outcomes of oral and maxillofacial conditions, including excisional and reparative procedures.
  • Occlusal Therapy. The new graduate must be able to diagnose, treat, manage, and evaluate treatment outcomes of occlusal dysfunction.
  • Orthodontic Therapy. The new graduate must be able to diagnose, treat, manage, and evaluate treatment outcomes of limited occlusal abnormalities.

 

RESTORATION OF FORM, FUNCTION, AND ESTHETICS
  • Materials Science. The new graduate must be able to understand and manipulate biomaterials in the treatment of patients with dental and oro-facial disease.
  • Dental Caries. The new graduate must be able to design, provide, and evaluate treatment outcomes of restorations in the treatment of dental disease.
  • Missing Teeth. The new graduate must be able to diagnose, treat and evaluate treatment outcomes of uncomplicated conditions of missing teeth to restore and maintain oral function, health, comfort, and appearances.

 

PRACTICE ADMINISTRATION
  • Beginning Practice. The new graduate must be able to develop and assess a general practice.
  • Managing the Practice. The new graduate must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in business, office systems, and personnel decisions.

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
  • Community Interaction. The new graduate must be able to assume a leadership role for the advancement of oral health in the community.
  • Health Care Law. The new graduate must be able to understand and demonstrate knowledge of jurisprudence and risk management.
  • Epidemiology. The new graduate must be able to understand how to apply epidemiology to address public health issues and be able to incorporate the principles and techniques of epidemiology in solving clinical problems.

 

CRITICAL THINKING AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
  • Critical Thinking. The new graduate must be able to acquire and process information intellectually in a critical, scientific, and effective manner.
  • Information Management. The new graduate must be able to acquire and process information technically in a timely, organized, and effective manner.