Doctor of Dental Surgery

SUNY Stony Brook University

The clinical component of the Doctor of Dental Surgery educational program is provided by the departments of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, General Dentistry, Oral Biology and Pathology, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Conjoint courses are offered in oral diagnosis, radiology, occlusion, pain control and emergency care. Students are introduced to patient care in a carefully controlled environment according to a timetable adjusted to each student's ability. Students are taught to obtain a medical and psychosocial history and to incorporate this information into the total treatment plan for the patient. Most didactic teaching and preclinical laboratory experience is completed by the end of the second year. Clinical training begins in the latter part of the first year, with the major portion of clinical experience occurring during the third and fourth years. The student is responsible for the complete care of the patients assigned to them. When the services of a specialist are required, the student participates in the treatment as provided by the appropriate dental consultant. All phases of patient care are closely supervised by the professional staff.