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WellSpan Medical Education

Experience That Lasts A Lifetime

WellSpan York Hospital's general practice residency (GPR) in dentistry is a comprehensive educational program designed to provide clinical, didactic and hospital experience at the post-doctoral level. It is approved by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.

The training, guidance and hands-on experience received by a resident in our GPR program will prepare them to achieve the highest level of competence possible in meeting the oral health needs of a vast range of ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.

 More specifically, WellSpan York Hospital's GPR program prepares its residents to:

  • Dental-residency-treatmentDiagnose oral and maxillofacial diseases and provide dental care appropriate to the health care needs of each patient.
  • Develop and deliver both routine and complex dental care strategies for a wide variety of patients through the integration of their acquired advanced knowledge and clinical skills.
  • Function and communicate effectively with other health care professionals in a variety of health care settings, with a full comprehension of each professional's function and the intricate organization established within that setting. This is enhanced through the use of the electronic medical record.
  • Pursue individual areas of interest within their chosen field in order to successfully achieve career goals.

View our goals and objectives.

A Comprehensive Curriculum.

The one-year GPR in dentistry at WellSpan York Hospital may well be the most impactful year of your career. Our program focuses on providing advanced training and clinical experience in diagnostic sciences, preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry (operative, fixed and removable prosthodontics, for example), periodontics, pedodontics, adjunctive orthodontics, rotary endodontics, implantology, dental trauma and oral surgery.

Considerable Hands-On Experience.

Dental-residency-03One key benefit of our program is that the majority of the dental resident's time is devoted to advanced training and a diversity of clinical experiences in providing oral health care to ambulatory patients. In fact, at least 75% of our residents' schedules concentrate on the direct delivery of oral health care.

Also a distinct advantage to our program is that the ambulatory care experience we afford is sufficiently varied and complex, providing the opportunity for the resident to increase his or her diagnostic ability, skill and judgment in clinical dentistry.

 

A Well-Rounded Approach To Education.

Dental-residency-04The training in our residency program is delivered primarily in the context of patient care. Inclusion of formal educational activities, including BLS certification, is designed to supplement the invaluable clinical experience provided. Our didactic programs include the full gamut of topics focusing on nitrous oxide sedation, medical risk assessment, inpatient care, same-day surgery care, infection control, quality assurance, principles of office management, and analysis of hospital organization and function.

An integral part of our GPR in dentistry is the formal instruction and clinical application of physical diagnosis and medical risk assessment. The resident becomes proficient in tasks such as obtaining a patient's medical history, as well as ordering and interpreting the laboratory, radiographic and other data as needed in order to devise and implement dental therapy for hospitalized and ambulatory patients.

Through the resident work-ups of inpatients and same-day surgery patients, valuable clinical experience in medical assessment is acquired by the resident. This skill is honed and further refined during rotations in anesthesia, internal medicine and emergency medicine. Dental residents also gain experience in the realm of requesting and reviewing consultations for inpatients and in responding to requests for consultations from other service entities.

Residents Soon Become Well-Versed In A Full Range Of Emergency Techniques.

Dental-residency-06Those enrolled in our dental residency program also receive training and experience in both emergency medicine and dental emergency procedures which will enable them to anticipate, diagnose and treat emergencies that coincide with dental procedures. In addition, dental residents are taught how to anticipate, evaluate and manage systemic emergencies.

Intensive clinical experience and direction provide the resident with professional competence in the diagnosis and treatment of emergency problems related to the oral cavity. The essential skills needed to diagnose and provide primary care for acute infections of oral origin, acute disorders of the oral mucosa, hemorrhage of the oral cavity, and traumatic injuries to the dental and maxillofacial structures are enhanced. Patient assessment, treatment of dental and alveolar fractures and the early or initial management of fractures of facial bones are included in this focus as well. 

An Environment Conducive To Quality Education And Patient Care.

Since 1925, dentistry has been an integral part of WellSpan York Hospital's delivery of emergency care. In 1942, a more formal schedule of dental services was provided by volunteers. The present general practice residency program in dentistry was initiated and approved by the American Dental Association in 1981.

The residents provide outpatient care in a brand-new modern facility, WellSpan Dental – Hoodner. Operating out of the 2003 Springwood Road Queensgate Shopping Center location. In the new facility there are a total of 24 operatories with a state-of-the-art adjacent lab space, offices, and digital dentistry offerings to patients which include a scanner and 3-D printing capabilities.

The center is well-equipped with the latest dental technology for each resident to be assigned a chair side assistant whenever delivering direct patient care. Staffing patterns provide the dental residents with sufficient dental auxiliaries to develop competence in auxiliary management and four-handed dentistry techniques. Current concepts of four-handed dentistry are stressed within the dentistry curriculum.

The hospital's online reference library and research library knowledge center provides access to a diversified collection of current dental, medical, and other pertinent reference materials in the form of books and audiovisual materials. Dental holdings include current texts in each discipline of dentistry. Current and back issues of major dental journals and a dental literature index are also housed in the library and are readily accessible. 

In-Depth Training In Various Clinical Aspects.

In an effort to broaden the scope of expertise our residents develop; each is assigned to services outside the department of dentistry. These include rotations in each of the following departments: anesthesia, internal medicine, and Mobile Dentistry and FQHC’s. On the services assigned, the residents serve in an active capacity in the professional management of patients.

Formal instruction is rendered, and clinical experience gained in anesthesia and pain control. The anesthesia rotation enables residents to acquire vital knowledge and experience in the management of patients undergoing general anesthesia. The experience focuses on preoperative evaluation, assessment of the effects of pharmacological agents, venipuncture techniques and administration of IV agents, patient monitoring, airway management, intubation, and the prevention and treatment of anesthetic emergencies.

Caring And Well-Seasoned Leadership.

Dental-residency-conferenceThe Dental Residency program's teaching staff includes a full-time program director and assistant program director, along with full time general practice attendings. These professionals are assisted by volunteer dental specialists and generalists who have a high degree of competence in all areas of dentistry addressed in the program. Personalized attention is a successful ingredient in our GPR. Our program is designed so that residents' performance is constantly under the supervision of full-time attending dentists. 

In addition, the residency features a regular schedule of lectures and seminars headed by local and visiting faculty.  Also, residents are encouraged to participate with the York County Dental Society and to attend the continuing education courses they sponsor.

Stipends And Fringe Benefits

Dental residents receive the same educational stipend and range of benefits as all first year house officers. The benefits package includes meals, uniforms, laundry, health and malpractice insurance, 12 days of paid time off, and generous reimbursements for continuing education.

 

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