The Doctorate of Dental Medicine curriculum initially emphasizes the basic sciences
with an expanding emphasis on the clinical sciences. The student's knowledge and familiarity
with the basic sciences is reinforced with applied courses in each discipline.
Graduates of the DMD Program must be competent in providing oral health care within
the scope of general dentistry in order to:
Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the comprehensive care of patients,
scientific inquiry and research methodology.
Apply advances in biomedical science to clinical practice and to integrate new medical
knowledge and therapies relevant to oral health care.
Apply the principles of behavioral science that pertain to patient-centered oral health
care.
Communicate effectively with and provide care to a diverse patient population.
Correctly apply legal and regulatory concepts related to the provision and/or support
of oral health care services.
Apply the basic principles and philosophies of practice management to oral health
care delivery, and function successfully as the leader of the oral health care team.
Communicate and collaborate with patients, staff and other members of the health care
team to facilitate health care delivery.
Correctly apply the ADA’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, the
laws of the State of Georgia, and the Rules of the Georgia Board of Dentistry.
Access, critically appraise, apply, and communicate scientific and lay literature
as it relates to providing evidence-based patient care.
Provide oral health care within the scope of general dentistry to patients in all
stages of life.
Assess the patient’s health status, establish oral diagnoses and prognoses, formulate
a comprehensive treatment plan, and obtain informed consent.
Perform screening and risk assessment for head and neck cancer.
Recognize the complexity of a patient’s treatment needs and identify when referral
is indicated.
Educate, motivate and treat patients to improve and maintain their oral health.
Prescribe and administer pharmacological agents for anesthesia, and pain and anxiety
control.
Restore teeth.
Communicate and manage dental laboratory procedures in support of patient care.
Replace teeth using fixed, removable and dental implant prosthodontic therapies.
Manage periodontal diseases.
Manage pulpal and periradicular disease.
Diagnose and manage oral mucosal and osseous disorders.
Perform hard and soft tissue surgery.
Diagnose and manage dental emergencies.
Diagnose and manage malocclusion and space discrepancies.
Develop a patient recall plan that is based on treatment outcomes and prognosis.
Assess the treatment needs of patients with special needs.
