DEN 717: Dental Medicine 1

The goals of Dental Medicine 1 (DMED 1) are to introduce the first-year dental student to the fundamental biologic principles and processes that influence wellness and disease. Case-based scenarios are used to ensure the depth of instruction is sufficient to 1) ensure the aspiring dental professional understands the relationship between systemic health and oral health, 2) the importance of their active participation in both early systemic disease identification and management, and 3) ensure their ability to develop individual patient-tailored strategies to safely manage the dental needs of the patient. Students examine a variety of important contributors to health and disease, including principles and mechanisms of pharmacology, infectious disease, genetic influences on human health, and functions of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems. Successful completion of DMED 1 is required to progress to the D2 year.