course descriptions

Orthodontics Certificate/Master of Science in Dentistry Courses

ORTH 503. Clinical Orthodontics I (4; F1)
380 hours per semester. Clinical training in patient management procedures, treatment and techniques. Patients are treated in the clinical setting under strict supervision to prepare the student for private practice.

ORTH 511. Evidence-Based Diagnostic Seminar I (2; F1)
75 hours per semester. Diagnostic and treatment planning seminar and Journal Club. Students develop formal presentations on cases being treated in the clinic and present their cases at conferences for faculty input.

ORTH 512. Clinical Orthodontics II (4; S1)
380 hours per semester. Continuation of patient management procedures, treatment and techniques. Students continue to develop and hone their clinical skills under faculty supervision.

ORTH 515. Introduction to Research (3; F1)
90 hours per semester.  The focus of this course in on basic principles of biomedical and clinical research.  It includes the overview of major research components, such as the scientific method, research ethics, biostatistics, formulating a research question, study design, sampling, measurement and interpretation of data, and reliability and validity of results.  This course will also include an introduction to writing skills.

ORTH 516. Orthodontic Literature Review I (1;F1)
30 hours per semester.  The resident will conduct a critical literature review, to develop or improve their ability to think critically and identify gaps in knowledge worthy of further study.  Literature will be selected from major peer-reviewed journals and students will be asked to assess the quality of this evidence.

ORTH 520. Evidence-Based Diagnostic Seminar II (2; S1)
120 hours per semester. Students continue to develop their differential diagnostic and treatment planning skills as well as participation in journal club.

ORTH 522. Clinical Orthodontics III (4; Su1)
381 hours per semester. Continuation of patient management procedures, treatment and techniques.

ORTH 523. Evidence-Based Diagnostic Seminar III (2; Su1)
75 hours per semester. Diagnostic and treatment planning seminar as well as journal club. Students start to present mid treatment progress of their cases in progress as detailed critique of both the diagnosis and clinical results are evaluated.

ORTH 525. Principles of Research I (2; S1)
60 hours per semester. The focus of this course is on the development of the student's thesis proposal.  A comprehensive synthesis of the relevant literature is conducted by the student and one principal mentor.  The student's advisor will evaluate the proposal to identify validity and viability of the topic chooses.  The student will submit the thesis proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

ORTH 526. Orthodontic Literature Review II (1; S1)
30 hours per semester.  Students will be exposed to contemporary Orthodontic literature through class assignments and review of selected textbook chapters and scientific literature. Student will critically analyze readings in classroom discussions.

ORTH 530. Philosophy and Biomechanics of Orthodontic Mechanotherapy I (3; F1)
90 hours per semester. Introduction to orthodontic terminology and theory. Typodont treatment is coordinated with wire bending exercises and applied biomechanics. Orthodontic biomaterials and instrumentation are also introduced.

ORTH 531. Evaluation of the Orthodontic Patient (2; F1)
70 hours per semester. Records acquisition and the application of clinical data are integrated to facilitate developing discriminating diagnostic treatment planning skills. Governmental and University rules and regulations are emphasized and are integrated with essential risk management techniques in order to develop strong diagnostic and treatment planning skills.

ORTH 532. Biomedical Core I (Developmental Growth and Anatomy) (1; F1)
30 hours per semester. Dentofacial growth and development are discussed in detail from embryology to skeletal maturation. Complimenting this area of study is a concentrated course in head and neck anatomy.

ORTH 533. Philosophy of Biomechanics and Orthodontic Mechanotherapy II (1; S1)
90 hours per semester. Introduction to various orthodontic theories and the evolution of treatment mechanics, appliance design, and bracket prescription. Orthodontic and orthopedic force systems are studied through applied biomechanical and clinical principles.

ORTH 536. Biomedical Core II (1; S1)
20 hours per semester. In this seminar series, the basic sciences are discussed as they relate to clinical practice. Topics include histology and oral pathology.

ORTH 538. Interdisciplinary Orthodontics I (1; S1)
30 hours per semester. Seminar series in diagnosing and managing patients with severe dentofacial deformities with a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgical intervention.

ORTH 545. Principles of Research II (1; Su1)

30 hours per semester.  The focus of this course is on implementation of the student's thesis research project after obtaining IRB approval.  Data collection and analysis will begin.  Students will give oral presentations on the progress of the research project.

ORTH 546. Orthodontics Literature Review III (1; Su1)
30 hours per semester.  Continuing of the review of current literature.  Students will be exposed to contemporary Orthodontic literature and they will be assigned recommended readings to be discussed and critically analyzed in the classroom.

ORTH 623. Special Topics in Orthodontic Practice Management I (1; F2)
30 hours per semester. This course will cover the aspects of the business administration of an orthodontic practice. Topics to be covered will include, but are not limited to, accounting for the professional practice, internal and external marketing techniques, human resources considerations, information technology, organizational behavior, investments and financial strategies, and other selected topics.

ORTH 624. Special Topics in Orthodontic Practice Management II (1; S2)
30 hours per semester. The second semester of orthodontic practice management. Topics to be covered will include, but are not limited to, accounting for the professional practice, developing internal and external marketing plans, human resources considerations, information technology, organizational behavior, investments and financial strategies, and other selected topics.

ORTH 625. Special Topics in Orthodontic Practice Management III (1, Su2)
30 hours per semester. The second semester of orthodontic practice management. Topics to be covered will include but are not limited to accounting for the professional practice, developing internal and external marketing plans, human resources considerations, information technology, organizational behavior, investments and financial strategies, and other selected topics.

ORTH 626. Clinical Orthodontics IV (4; F2)
382 hours per semester. Continuation of the clinical component of the program. Careful attention is paid to the nuances that distinguish one clinical situation from another.

ORTH 632. Biomedical Core III (1; S2)
20 hours per semester. In this seminar series, the basic sciences related to orthodontic practice are discussed. Topics include pharmacology and physiology.

ORTH 633. Evidence-Based Diagnostic Seminar IV (2; F2)
120 hours per semester. This seminar series demands that the students discriminate in their diagnostic thinking and case commentary.

ORTH 636. Clinical Orthodontics V (4; S2)
382 hours per semester. Continuation of patient management procedures, treatment and techniques. By this point the student is finishing a number of cases and the retentive phase of clinical practice is being emphasized. A critical review of the patient’s results is undertaken.

ORTH 637. Evidence-Based Diagnostic Seminar V (2; S2)
120 hours per semester. Diagnostic and treatment planning seminar. Greater emphasis is being placed on evaluating the finished cases with respect to the original diagnosis and treatment plan undertaken.

ORTH 638. Interdisciplinary Orthodontics II (1; F2)
30 hours per semester. Seminar series devoted to interdisciplinary care between advanced restorative dentistry, periodontics, and orthodontics.

ORTH 639. Interdisciplinary Orthodontics III (1; S1)
30 hours per semester. Seminar series devoted to interdisciplinary care of craniofacial anomalies. Topics include speech pathology, audiology, plastic surgery, ENT and dentistry.

ORTH 640. Principles of Research III (1; F2)
30 hours per semester.  Continuation of the student's thesis research project.  Students will give oral presentations to update peers and advisors on the research project progress and preliminary findings.

ORTH 641. Orthodontics Literature Review IV (1; F2)
30 hours per semester.  Literature will be read and analyzed as recommended by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) in preparation for the ABO written exam.  The students will be given assignments from classic articles and textbooks along with occasional quizzes to assess their progress.  Classroom sessions will be conducted to follow the sequence of topics published by the ABO's updated reading list.

ORTH 643. Clinical Orthodontics VI (4, Su2)
380 hours per semester. Continuation of patient management procedures, treatment and techniques. Graduating students will transfer their patients to those residents completing their first year of education in order to facilitate continuity of care.

ORTH 644. Evidence-Based Diagnostic Seminar VI (2, Su2)
75 hours per semester. Greater emphasis is being placed on evaluating the finished case with respect to the original diagnosis and the treatment plan undertaken.

ORTH 730. Principles of Research IV (1; S2)
30 hours per semester.  Continuation of the student's thesis research project.  Students will provide advisors with survey of findings and project status.  The project should be near conclusion and ready for write-up by the end of this semester.  Students will organize the information and present a final outline to their advisors for approval.

ORTH 731. Orthodontic Literature Review V - ABO preparation (1; S2)
30 hours per semester.  The course will complete the review of the Literature recommended by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) in preparation for the ABO written exam.  The students will also be given reading assignments from contemporary journal articles.

ORTH 740. Principles of Research V (3; Su2)
90 hours per semester. The focus of this course is on the conclusion and final presentation of the thesis research project.  Analysis of data, interpretation and conclusion of the project will be prepared for dissemination.  Thesis write-up is finalized and submitted to the student's advisory committee in preparation for oral defense.

ORTH 746. Thesis Seminar (3; Su2)
60 hours per semester. The student will prepare and then present an oral defense of the final thesis project to the advisory committee and orthodontics department.  The student will present areas of future research stemming from the thesis results.  The student will serve as a mentor to underclassmen in the area of research methodology and in the application of research evidence to clinical practice.  A manuscript of the thesis results is submitted for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal.

Fellowship in Orthodontic Clinical Research Courses

ORTH 540. Introduction to Clinical Orthodontics I (3; F)
250 Clinical hours. Training in patient management procedures, treatment and techniques. Patients are treated in the clinical setting under strict supervision to prepare the student for private practice. The purpose of this course is to give the students through the 1 year of Fellowship an introduction of the understanding of the clinical principles of orthodontic treatment and management of the orthodontic patient. The course is designed to integrate the knowledge of evidence based diagnosis and treatment planning with clinical management of simple assigned cases (minimum of 25 cases/per student) as well as proper patient’s charts keeping, records keeping and efficient scheduling. The course will prepare the student to be competent in delivering clinical care to the orthodontic patient with simple problems list. The majority of the cases with need for limited or simple orthodontic correction are expected to be assigned and completed by the Fellows.

ORTH 542. Introduction to Clinical Orthodontics II (3; S)
250 Clinical hours. Continuation of clinical training in patient management procedures, treatment and techniques started in the Introduction to Clinical Orthodontics I course. The majority of the assigned cases should be in mid-treatment at this point and clinical competency as well as efficiency is expected to increase.

ORTH 544. Introduction to Clinical Orthodontics III (2; Su)
150 Clinical hours. Continuation and termination of the clinical training in patient management procedures, treatment and techniques started in the Introduction to Clinical Orthodontics I and II courses. The majority of the assigned cases should be in the finishing stage at this point and clinical competency of the Fellows is evaluated through an oral exam and Faculty validation of clinical procedures.

ORTH 550. Basic Evidence Based Diagnosis and Treatment Planning 1 (2; F)
64 hours per semester. Students develop formal presentations on cases being treated in the clinic and present their cases at conferences for faculty input.  This course is an introduction to concepts of evidence based contemporary literature (evidence) to incorporate in treatment planning exercises.

ORTH 552. Basic Evidence Based Diagnosis and Treatment Planning II (2; S)
64 hours per semester. Continuation of formal presentations on cases being treated in the clinic started in the Basic Evidence Based Diagnosis and Treatment Planning I course. The Fellows are expected to show increased competency and consistency through their case presentations and active participation in class discussions with supporting evidence from contemporary orthodontic literature.

ORTH 554. Basic Evidence Based Diagnosis and Treatment Planning III (1; Su)
32 hours per semester. Continuation and termination of formal presentations on cases being treated in the clinic started in the Basic Evidence Based Diagnosis and Treatment Planning I and II courses. The Fellows are now expected to show proficiency at presenting and discussing the diagnosis and treatment planning of orthodontic cases with simple problems list.

ORTH 560. Introduction to Orthodontic Literature and Research I (1, F)
32 hours per semester. Series of classes with emphasis on improving the ability of critical review of scientific literature, understanding the basic concepts of biostatistics, and conceiving a testable research question for the future research project.

ORTH 562. Introduction to Orthodontic Literature and Research II (1; S)
32 hours per semester. A continuation of the series of Journal Club sessions with deeper emphasis on critical thinking and supervision of research efforts.

ORTH 564. Introduction to Orthodontic Literature and Research III (1; Su)
32 hours per semester. A final series of Journal Club sessions with deeper emphasis on summary of literature regarding basic orthodontic issues. Finalization of the research project.

ORTH 587. Special Topics in Orthodontics (1; S)
32 hours per semester. An extension of the B.E.B. Diagnosis & Treatment Planning seminars series; this course is designed to encourage the students to conduct critical and comprehensive review of the orthodontic literature to be presented, discussed and debated with peers and faculty.