Foundations of Tooth Development, Oral Health and Dental Disease. 3.5 Credit Hours

Catalog description

HHD 1 (Foundations of Tooth Development, Oral Health and Dental Disease) provides dental students with foundational knowledge in tooth development, cariology, and oral health. Students learn about fundamental biology and the growth and development of the oral cavity and explore genetic and other abnormalities in tooth development, structure, and pathology by combining key concepts from histology, cell and molecular biology, microbiology, and cariology. The histology of connective tissues, bone, epithelium, enamel, dentin, and cementum, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive odontogenesis are discussed. The epidemiology, microbiology, and evidence-based treatment of dental caries are presented. Finally, risk-assessment and risk-based prevention for oral diseases are introduced including the importance of good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, use of topical fluorides, and appropriate usage of silver diamine fluoride. Registration for this course requires enrollment as a DS1 student.