UPenn Rennovations?

I'm not a PENN student, but I don't think any school allows pre-docs to "place" implants--this is done by OMFS or perio usually. You may have the opportunity to "restore" a couple.

Hup

 

Here are the restorative requirements I am trying to reach by May:

To keep it simple:
1 surface amalgam=3 equivalents (add 1 equivalent if resin)
2 surface amalgam=4 equivalents (add 1 equivalent if resin)
1 crown/bridge unit=20 equivalents (so a 3 unit bridge would be 60)
1 arch of Dentures=40 equivalents
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Students must complete 1575 equivalents, with the following distribution:

280 equivalents in Removable Prosthodontics:
Minimum of 120 equivalents in complete dentures (minimum baseline of 3 arches)
Minimum of 120 equivalents in removable partial dentures (minimum baseline of 3 arches)
Minimum of 40 equivalents (1 arch) of complete denture or removable partial denture

675 equivalents in Fixed Prosthodontics
Minimum of 180 equivalents in Bridges;
Minimum of 375 equivalents in Since Crowns;
Minimum of 120 in any combination of Crown & Bridge

500 equivalents in Operative Dentistry
Minimum of 250 in Amalgam
Minimum of 150 in Resin
Minimum of 100 in any combination
Remaining 120 equivalents in any combination of categories.

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You need to complete about 52 cleanings, and about 18 patients who need perio work (sc/rp)

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You need to complete a minimum of 15 canals of root canal therapy on patients and a bunch more on extracted teeth.

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The other requirements (ortho, peds, omfs, etc.) are basically attendance based.

 

Honestly, I could be wrong. I'm under the assumption that the placement will always go to post-grad. However, I'm sure you could "assist" an implant placement and get a lot out of the experience. Remember, placement is a surgical procedure.

Hup

 

They are raising money for the renovations, but from what I am told it is not going to be done for some time. I don't think it will negatively impact anyone because they will do it "a bay at a time" and the students in that bay will be moved to another clinic that will be made available. They did that when they re-did the perio clinic and it worked out really well.

As of now, no students place implants but the head of our restorative department is trying to make it a requirement for graduation (not sure how likely it is). Also, who knows what could change with a new dean.

 

Well, it really depends on your "group" and how you decide to run things. Most groups are 18 students w/equal # of D3s and D4s. In my group D4s get their own chair for every session. The D3's have a "wait list" they rotate on, but generally they get a chair because of cancelations or seniors not being in clinic (interviews, externships, etc.). Last year I only sent 1 patient home because I could not get a chair in the first half hour and that was because people were screening for the NERBs. So, from my standpoint, it is a little bit of a pain as a D3 but it is great when your a D4 (when it counts). I will admit that some of my classmates have not been as lucky though.

Last thing I will mention- Although penn is not perfect, and chairs are sometimes an issue, we have a surplus of patients (thats why our requirements can be so high). Make sure you end up at a place where you will be busy ... I couldn't imagine having to do dentiform prepps to graduate because I haven't had enough clinical experience.

 

Patient exposure-
Basically none until 3rd year. You pick a friend (non-dental student) to do a cleaning on in D2, and you learn basic perio/anesthesia technique on each other in D2. To be honest, I would have liked to see a pt. earlier.

RCT-
Penn is one of the few places in the area that participates w/ medicaid so I have patients that travel an hour to come and see me. The reason our fixed pros and RCT requirements are so high is because we tend to have a motivated patient population. There are always some people who have a hard time meeting the requirements though.

 

School is open on the weekends, but the clinics are closed. I am in clinic on Tue/Wed, and alternating Fridays. You are welcome to come in and shadow me any of those days ... Just PM me.