I go to Columbia so i can help answer some of your concerns. Columbia has a reputation for being very academic and medical science based for the first two years and not so strong clinically. The curriculum, however, was revised two years ago. So NOW,although it is still academic and we do take anatomy, physiology, human development, neural science, pharmacology, immunology, and microbiology with the medical students, we have additional dental related classes that we take the first two years, including oral histology, local anesthesia, dental anatomy and occlusion, operative dentistry, orthodontics, oral radiology, cariology etc.
First year, we start clinical studies from day 1. Actually the dental anatomy text along with an interactive CD was handed out during orientation so we could start reading up. We had that class for the first half of first year where we made crown preps and did wax ups. The second half of first year, we had operative dentistry where we made cavity preps..class I, II, III, V and restorations using amalgam and composite so we learn to use our handpiences, instruments, mirror etc while working on a manequin head. In addition, we have an ortho class where we make retainers, do cephalometric analyses, molar uprightings, and lingual springs etc. We also have introductions to pediatric dentsitry and prosthodontics during first year.
During second year, we have more operative dentistry and the prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, physical diagnosis, oral pathology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery courses.
Between second and third year, we are assigned to various hospital rotations around nyc. Third year, we see patients in the clinic and we also work in an area of concentration that we choose such as community dentistry, pediatrics, private practice, oms, ortho, just to name a few and we do extra work in that area.
Fourth year, of course, is also seeing patients in the clinic as if it were a full-time job.
