Preventive & Community Dentistry Fact Sheet

Pre-Doctoral Education - responsible for 22 pre-doctoral courses including cariology, prevention, communication, nutrition, ethics, community dentistry, and administration of extramural experiences.

• Courses in each year of pre-doctoral curriculum
  
  • Clinical courses include:
    
    • Preventive clinic (D1-2)
    • Required extramural programs (D4), including:
      
      • Geriatric and Special Needs Dentistry Clinic
      • Geriatric and Special Needs Dentistry Mobile Unit - Using portable dental equipment, provide comprehensive dental care for residents of 10 nursing homes in a four-county area. ADA Geriatric Oral Health Care Award (1998)
      • Two sites per student, each 5 weeks in length - Includes
        
        • Iowa community health centers
        • VA medical center
        • children's hospital
        • private preceptorships
        • a several out-of-state locations (e.g., Indian Health Service, Colorado Migrant Program)

Graduate and Postdoctoral Education

• Responsible for 15 graduate courses
• 2-year Dental Public Health graduate program
  Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited since 1975
  Offers Master of Science degree (thesis required)
• Geriatric Dentistry Fellowship (1-year Certificate Program)

Main Areas of Research

• Fluoride exposure, genetics and dental caries/dental fluorosis
• Fluoride ingestion and childhood bone development
• Diet and oral health
• Early childhood caries epidemiology and prevention
• Oral health services research (cost, access to care, quality of care, and outcomes)
• Oral health in geriatric populations

Department Faculty

• 7 Professors (including 3 with Endowed Professorships and 7 with American Board Specialty certification)
• 3 Associate Professors
• 5 Assistant Professors
• 150 Adjunct Faculty, primarily at extramural clinical sites
• 7 Administrative and research support staff
• 2 Dental Hygienists
• 5 Dental Assistants