General Practice (GENP)

GENP 302. Dental Materials. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 2 credits. Provides the scientific foundation for understanding the factors guiding the use of biomaterials in dentistry as they relate to the practice of dental hygiene. Dental and material science concepts are defined and their relationships developed to establish an understanding of the influence of material properties and manipulation on the longevity and success of treatment. Dental materials are discussed in terms of their physical, mechanical, chemical, biological and esthetic properties. Factors that influence tooth sensitivity, caries prevention, tissue irritation, longevity of restoration, dental bonding, materials selection and allergic reactions are emphasized. Primary dental materials will be discussed in relation to their properties and manipulation with an approach to aid in patient education and to recognize adverse affects on the patient's health from improper manipulation or placement failures.

GENP 311. Oral Anatomy and Occlusion. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to admitted students in the dental hygiene degree program. This course is designed to develop the student’s knowledge of the morphology and anatomical features of the human adult dentition. It is intended to provide students with a fundamental working knowledge of the internal and external morphology of the human adult dentition in order to effectively communicate using appropriate anatomical terms related to the human dentition. This course is intended to facilitate additional later course work involving diagnosis and treatment of normal and pathological conditions. This didactic course offers limited hands-on and self-study sessions.

GENP 511. Dental Anatomy. 2.5 Hours.

Semester course; 2.5 lecture hours. 2.5 credits. A lecture course designed to develop the student's knowledge of the morphology and anatomical features of the human adult dentition.

GENP 512. Operative Dentistry Lecture. 4 Hours.

Yearlong course; 67 lecture contact hours. 4 credits. Paired with GENP 513, the courses consist of lectures and laboratory exercises, including both virtual reality-based training and conventional mannequin simulation sessions. Information is presented regarding caries as a disease process, and students are presented with the knowledge and develop the skills necessary to treat the disease with both non-invasive and invasive operative treatment techniques. Extensive didactic instruction and laboratory simulation experience is provided in tooth preparation and restoration. Experience is also provided concerning properties, chemistry and manipulation of the various direct dental restorative materials used to restore teeth to their correct anatomical and functional form. Students receive a grade of CO for fall, with a grade and all credit hours earned in spring.

GENP 513. Operative Dentistry Laboratory. 4.5 Hours.

Yearlong course; 213 laboratory contact hours. 4.5 credits. Paired with GENP 512, the courses consist of lectures and laboratory exercises, including both virtual reality-based training and conventional mannequin simulation sessions. Information is presented regarding caries as a disease process, and students are presented with the knowledge and develop the skills necessary to treat the disease with both non-invasive and invasive operative treatment techniques. Extensive didactic instruction and laboratory simulation experience is provided in tooth preparation and restoration. Experience is also provided concerning properties, chemistry and manipulation of the various direct dental restorative materials used to restore teeth to their correct anatomical and functional form. Students receive a grade of CO for fall, with a grade and all credit hours earned in spring.

GENP 514. Fundamentals of Occlusion. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 laboratory contact hours. 2.0 credits. Covers theories of occlusion, foundational concepts and fundamental lab skills essential for developing an understanding of occlusion. Through this course students begin to develop their working understanding of the concept of occlusion.

GENP 521. Dental Anatomy Lab. 1.5 Hour.

Semester course; 4.5 laboratory hours. 1.5 credits. A laboratory course designed to develop the student's knowledge of the morphology and anatomical features of the human adult dentition.

GENP 552. Emergency Clinic. 1 Hour.

Semester course; clinical hours. 1 credit. Part of the AEGD curriculum, students must enroll in this course for two consecutive semesters for a total of 2 credits. Students learn how to identify and manage emergency care needs of patients during evening and weekend hours when VCU dental practices are closed.

GENP 558. General Dentistry Seminar. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 seminar hour. 1 credit. Part of the AEGD curriculum, students must enroll in this course for two consecutive semesters for a total of 2 credits. Students will participate in discussions of resident patient cases and relative current literature.

GENP 566. Specialty Lecture Seminar Series. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 seminar hour. 1 credit. Part of the AEGD curriculum, students must enroll in this course for two consecutive semesters for a total of 2 credits. Covers a range of dental interdisciplinary topics and is designed to develop advanced critical thinking skills in AEGD residents.

GENP 580. AEGD Clinic. 1-6 Hours.

Semester course; clinical hours. 6 credits. Part of the AEGD curriculum, students must enroll in this course for two consecutive semesters for a total of 12 credits. Provides the core clinical patient care experience for residents in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program.

GENP 590. Advanced AEGD Clinic. 6 Hours.

Semester course; 18 clinical hours. 6 credits. This is a clinical study and experiential course in advanced general dentistry designed to prepare the second-year residents of the AEGD program for the practice of dentistry at a higher level than that achieved during the first-year resident course of study. It is expected that the resident will evaluate each patient’s general and oral health needs, provide professional dental care and refer the patient, when indicated, to dental specialists or other appropriate health care providers while maintaining a strong continuity of care. The AEGD resident will develop professionally not only in the clinical aspect, but in the ability to think critically. AEGD students must enroll in this course for two consecutive semesters for a total of 12 credits. Graded as pass/fail.

GENP 620. Cariology. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Designed to help students understand major aspects of cariology, which include the process of dental caries, diagnosis and detection, prevention and treatment, and clinical application.

GENP 700. Selective in Aesthetic Dentistry. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 16 seminar contact hours. 1 credit. Prerequisites: D4 standing and selection by course faculty. This course is designed to give the tools in understanding proper diagnosis, treatment planning and approaches in execution of the proposed treatment plan of more advanced multidisciplinary cases. Graded as pass/fail.

GENP 739. Clinical Operative III. 5 Hours.

Yearlong course; clinical contact hours. 5 credits. Will introduce dental students to the basic skills required for an entry-level general practitioner. This is a practical, hands-on two-semester clinical skill-development course where students learn to develop treatment plans for oral disease control in patients, restore teeth to form and function, manage emergency patients and manage an efficient recall system.

GENP 742. Treatment Planning Seminar. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 4 seminar hours. 2 credits. Designed to assist each D-3 student in the continual development of their treatment planning skills in particular and critical-thinking skills in general. The treatment planning seminar utilizes faculty-facilitated, case-based and problem-solving teaching strategies to provide each student with the opportunity to gain experience in developing and discussing treatment plans for both simulated and current clinical comprehensive care patients. The course will build on and solidify the concepts of diagnosis and treatment planning taught in the various D-1, D-2 and D-3 courses as well as augment student clinical experiences to date.