Academic Year

The academic year is divided into two semesters and a summer session. The fall semester includes the months of September through December. The spring semester is approximately January through April. The summer sessions run approximately April through August. As courses are reviewed on a ongoing basis, scheduling, course titles, and credit hours are all subject to change.

The first-year curriculum begins the study of normal structure and function of the oral cavity, head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and upper extremities. This is achieved in the anatomy courses - gross, microscopic, and neurologic - and in the study of biochemistry and nutrition.

A major preclinical sequence introducing the student to dental anatomy, dental materials, and occlusion is also introduced in the first year. Other first-year courses include behavioral sciences, preventive dentistry, and a first look at three clinical areas of dentistry: removable prosthodontics, periodontology, and operative dentistry.

In the second-year, three major educational tasks are undertaken. The first is to complete the scientific study of normal and abnormal structure and function, with major courses of study in microbiology, growth and development and pathology. The second is to prepare for the practice of dentistry in a comprehensive clinical setting. This involves preclinical courses in virtually all phases of dentistry: endodontology, fixed prosthodontics, operative dentistry, oral diagnosis and oral medicine, orthodontics, periodontology, and removable prosthodontics. Also included in the course offerings are pain control, including anesthesia and analgesia, and treatment planning. The third task is to gain a level of confidence associated with patient contact. During the spring semester, students have introductory experiences in several clinics.

In the third-year, study of most clinical subjects continues. Lecture courses lessen in quantity, and the clinical practice of dentistry begins to take precedence in time and effort.

The major thrust of the third year is the development of clinical proficiency. The School offers a comprehensive care clinical program in which students are assigned patients and provide all care for those patients. Experience in oral surgery, diagnosis, radiology, and emergency care is gained through those clinics by assigned rotations. Students, in essence, run their own mini-dental practices, where initiative, perseverance, and good time management are necessary in order to complete the junior clinical requirements in a timely fashion.

In the fourth-year, there are only five credit hours of course work in each semester. Higher level courses in orthodontics and removable prosthodontics continue, and new courses include practice management, dental jurisprudence, ethical issues in dentistry, management and dentistry for persons with disabilities.

There is a major increase in both the quantity and the complexity of the dental work performed by fourth year students. By the time they complete the program, Temple graduates are skilled and confident in all phases of general dentistry.