Health Sciences Bulletin

School Of Dental Medicine

DEAN: Patrick M. Lloyd, DDS, MS

OFFICE: 160 Rockland Hall
PHONE: (631) 632-8950
WEB:  https://dentistry.stonybrookmedicine.edu

  • About the Program

    About the Program

    The School of Dental Medicine contributes to the mission of the University through its outstanding educational programs, internationally recognized contributions to scientific knowledge, and service to the profession and community including the provision of excellent clinical care to thousands of patients each year.

    All educational programs at the School of Dental Medicine are accredited without reporting requirements by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The school is a vital, collaborative component of Stony Brook University. The school is made up of a number of academic departments that are responsible for ensuring that the curricula (predoctoral, postdoctoral and continuing education) reflect the most recent advances in dentistry and medicine. These departments include General Dentistry, Hospital Dentistry and Dental Anesthesiology, Oral Biology and Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, and Prosthodontics and Digital Technology.

    The foremost goal of the pre-doctoral program (Doctor of Dental Surgery, DDS) at the School of Dental Medicine is to provide an education that enables its students to develop into competent, caring dentists, who are prepared to become leaders in the profession during this time of dramatic change in healthcare. Graduates of the school may pursue general dental practice, enroll in specialty programs, or choose a career in academic dentistry and/or research. The School of Dental Medicine offers advanced degrees including Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Oral Biology or Molecular and Cellular Biology through the Graduate School and the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology. There are also opportunities for students to pursue combined or concurrent degree programs culminating in the DDS/MPH, DDS/MBA or the DDS/MS in Material Science Engineering.

    Advanced specialty programs in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics and dental care for the developmentally disabled are housed in the School of Dental Medicine. Residencies in general dental practice (GPR), pediatric dentistry, dental anesthesiology, prosthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial radiology are offered through Stony Brook University Hospital. 

    The school has affiliations with a number of regional hospitals including Nassau County Medical Center and Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

    Overall, students are provided with opportunities to observe the relationships of systemic and oral health in the hospitalized patient, and to participate as members of a healthcare team.

    Doctor of Dental Surgery Program

    The School of Dental Medicine maintains a small predoctoral class size and provides a personalized education in a nurturing environment that helps guide our students’ professional growth and promote independence and maturity. Faculty members are routinely available to help reinforce material presented in lectures, encourage students with special interests and offer assistance with developing clinical skills.

    The School of Dental Medicine fosters a culture of science within the predoctoral curriculum. Students develop the understanding that scientific inquiry and the ability to critically evaluate and integrate new findings in the care of patients is a necessity to fully develop as professionals. Through participation in research projects, students are encouraged to explore the current technologies and work with faculty in developing new paradigms for the therapy of disease.

    Students at the School of Dental Medicine receive rigorous instruction in the traditional basic sciences (anatomy, biochemistry, histology, microbiology, physiology, genetics, general pathology, embryology, pharmacology, neuroscience and nutrition), most of which are in courses taken together with students from the School of Medicine. The school offers a unique translational science curriculum that bridges the fundamental knowledge obtained in the basic sciences to the orofacial complex and clinical dentistry. Students also receive extensive training in the behavioral sciences and practice management that helps them to better understand the social and community context within which dentists function. They learn to establish rapport with their patients and to establish a partnership that assures the best possible clinical outcome. Most of the clinical component of the educational program is provided in the Dental Care Center of the School of Dental Medicine, a state-of-the-art facility situated in a pleasant suburban community. The largest dental treatment facility on Long Island, the Dental Care Center provides care for thousands of patients, offering a rich diversity of patient needs to enhance the learning and clinical experience of our students. Clinical experiences begin in the latter part of the first year, with increasing clinical education in the second, third and fourth years. The student is responsible for obtaining thorough medical, dental and psychosocial histories; determining diagnoses; developing patient-centered treatment plans; and rendering comprehensive care for patients. The School of Dental Medicine consistently ranks among the top dental schools in the nation for the amount of supervised clinic experience per student. The number of patient visits per student is also one of the highest in the country.

    Whereas the majority of instruction in the early clinical years is discipline-based, the fourth year clinical experience is provided in the General Practice Program. This innovative program enables students to treat their patients in a setting that simulates general dental practice. Clinical instruction is provided by general dentists and specialists where appropriate. Practice management and behavioral sciences skills are reinforced by faculty on a daily basis as students refine their clinical abilities. Students may participate in the senior selective program in which up to 120 hours can be devoted to advanced training in various clinical disciplines or research projects.

    Students also pursue service learning opportunities via local, national or international outreach programs coordinated by faculty. Formal outreach programs include the Indian Health Service (Pine Ridge, South Dakota), Chile, Jamaica and Madagascar. Similarly, some dental students pursue interprofessional degree or certificate programs at the University, such as the Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Business Administration (MBA). Upon completion of the four-year predoctoral curriculum, students can be confident in their abilities as well rounded, new dentists prepared to embark upon their futures in the profession.

    For additional information regarding the predoctoral program or admissions, please call (631) 632-8871, or write:

    Office of Education
    115 Rockland Hall
    School of Dental Medicine
    Stony Brook University
    Stony Brook, NY 11794-8709
    www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/dental/

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