This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2023-2024 VCU Bulletin. This edition includes all programs
and courses approved by the publication deadline; however we may receive notification of additional program
approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available
in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Sharon K. Lanning, D.D.S.
Professor and chair
Faculty in the Department of Periodontics participate in the training of predoctoral dental students by emphasizing the evidence-based underpinnings of contemporary periodontics while providing innovative educational instruction. The department also trains specialists in periodontics via its postgraduate program. Furthermore, faculty provide outstanding care to patients through VCU Dental Care, the faculty practice of the VCU School of Dentistry.
PERI 508. Physical Diagnosis. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 30 lecture hours. 2 credits. Provides lectures and hands on experience in physical diagnosis, history taking, general physical examination and review of major organ systems.
PERI 511. Anesthesiology Rotation. 1.5 Hour.
Semester course; 45 clinical sessions. 1.5 credits. Provides students with experience in general anesthesia under the direction of the dental anesthesiologist. Emphasizes operating room procedures, airway management, intravenous technique, anesthetics and resuscitative procedures. Includes clinical management of conscious sedation cases.
PERI 512. Conscious Sedation. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 30 lecture/seminar hours. 2 credits. Reviews concepts of parental conscious sedation techniques to include anatomy and physiology of the respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous system, drug pharmacology, intravenous technique, prevention, recognition and management of complications, management of emergencies, physiologic monitoring and equipment, basic life support and advanced cardiac life support.
PERI 514. Introduction to Periodontics. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 48 lecture/seminar hours. 3 credits. Provides students with an introduction to the clinical practice of periodontics. Emphasizes diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, treatment planning, initial therapy, therapeutic approaches, suturing techniques, oral hygiene and dental photography.
PERI 515. Internal Medicine Rotation. 1.5 Hour.
Semester course; 45 clinic sessions. 1.5 credits. Provides students with experience in internal medicine under the direct supervision of the Department of Internal Medicine. Emphasizes hospital procedures and management of the medically-compromised patient.
PERI 520. Principles of Periodontics. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 30 lecture/seminar hours. 2 credits. Must be taken for two consecutive semesters. Reviews the principles of the basic science of periodontology, including anatomy of the periodontium, classification, etiology, diagnosis, scaling and root planning, and treatment planning. Reviews the indications and contraindications for management of complex periodontal problems. Reviews the principles of non-surgical and surgical techniques.
PERI 525. Diagnosis of Periodontal Diseases. 1 Hour.
The first in a four-part series of didactic courses designed to prepare the dental student for the clinical diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. Through this course, students will develop a fundamental understanding of how to assess patients for periodontal disease and how to develop a specific diagnosis. Enrollment is restricted to admitted dental students.
PERI 526. Etiology and Pathogenesis of Periodontal Diseases. 1.5 Hour.
1.5 credits. The second in a four-part series of didactic courses designed to prepare the dental student for the clinical diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. Through this course, students will build upon their knowledge of diagnosis and develop their understanding of the causes, mechanisms and development of periodontal disease. Enrollment is restricted to admitted dental students.
PERI 552. Implantology. 1,2 Hour.
Semester course; 16 lecture/seminar hours. 1 credit. Covers the historical review of dental implants, including biologic principles, techniques and systems; diagnosis, interdisciplinary considerations, treatment planning and indications and contraindications for implants; wound healing for implants, including osseointegration, surgical techniques and implant maintenance. Provides a hands-on technique laboratory.
PERI 619. Clinical Pathology Rotation. 0.5 Hours.
Semester course; 21 clinic sessions. 0.5 credit. Provides instruction in patient assessment, biopsy technique, assessment of tissue preparations and review of oral histologic slide materials.
PERI 627. Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy. 1.5 Hour.
The third in a four-part series of didactic courses designed to prepare the dental student for the clinical diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. Through this course, students will add to their skill set a conceptual knowledge of non-surgical treatment options for periodontal disease. Enrollment is restricted to admitted dental students.
PERI 630. Medicine: Oral Medicine Seminar. 1.5 Hour.
Semester course; 26 seminar hours. 1.5 credits May be repeated for credit. Must be taken every semester of the program. Emphasizes diagnosis, pathogenesis, oral manifestations and management of systemic diseases. Reviews the management of the medically-compromised patient, including laboratory procedures, pharmacology, hematology and reviews of the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and neurologic systems. Discusses and critically evaluates medical and oral medicine topics relative to management of the periodontal patient.
PERI 650. Periodontal Literature Review. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 48 seminar hours. 3 credits. Must be taken every semester of the program. Reviews the periodontal literature from early classic articles to current publications pertaining to the scientific basis for periodontal procedures. Reviews the concepts of diagnosis, etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, therapy, maintenance of periodontal diseases and implantology. Discusses content of the literature by means of abstracts and study questions.
PERI 654. Treatment Plan: Case Presentations. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 12 seminar hours. 1 credit. Must be taken every semester of the program. Emphasizes the interpretation the medical and dental histories, radiographic and clinical findings, diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, treatment planning, therapy and supportive periodontal care. Discusses the content of reviewed cases by written and oral presentations. Requires the student to assimilate and interpret clinical findings.
PERI 656. Current Literature Review. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 36 seminar hours. 3 credits. May be repeated for credit. Must be taken every semester of the program. Provides an in-depth review of contemporary periodontal literature. Discusses content of the reviewed literature by means of abstracts and discussion.
PERI 680. Clinical Periodontics. 0.5-12 Hours.
Semester course; 1.5-36 clinic hours. 0.5-12 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the M.S.D. program. Provides supervised training in periodontics. Provides the student with the experience in the treatment and management of patients with various types and severities of periodontal diseases. Emphasizes diagnosis, treatment planning, prognosis, scaling and root planing, non-surgical and surgical techniques. Provides experience in the treatment of advanced periodontal cases and more complex surgical techniques including preprosthetic, orthodontic, periodontal plastic and mucogingival procedures, guided tissue regeneration, guided bone regeneration and implant surgical techniques. Must be taken for seven credits in the fall and 8.5 credits in the spring of the third year of the program for a total of 15.5 credits. May be taken for additional semesters as needed to complete clinical training, but additional credits will not apply towards degree completion. Graded as P/F.
PERI 700. Advanced Periodontal Selective. 1.5 Hour.
Yearlong course; 15 seminar and 25 clinical hours. 1.5 credits. Prerequisites: successful completion of all prior courses in periodontics and permission of the course director. This course is offered to dental students who demonstrate high academic achievement and are interested in expanding their practical knowledge and experience in periodontal surgical procedures. It is designed to enhance the general dentist’s knowledge regarding indications, diagnosis and treatment planning of periodontal surgical procedures and to provide hands-on experience in applying techniques of surgical periodontal procedures suitable for judicious use in general dental practice. Students receive CO grading in the fall and a pass or fail grade and earned credit in the spring.
PERI 719. Specialty Practice Management. 0.5 Hours.
Semester course; 22 seminar hours. 0.5 credit. Must be taken for two consecutive semesters. Provides the student with experience in office management. Requires visits to specialty offices to familiarize the student with contemporary modes of practice administration and patient management.
PERI 733. Surgical Periodontal Therapy. 1 Hour.
1 credit. The fourth in a four-part series of didactic courses designed to prepare the dental student for the clinical diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. Through this course, students will complete their didactic exploration of periodontal diseases with a conceptual knowledge of surgical treatment options for periodontal diseases. Enrollment is restricted to admitted dental students.
PERI 739. Clinical Periodontics III. 5 Hours.
Yearlong course; clinical contact hours. 5 credits. The primary objective of the department is to provide an educational experience that will enable the dental student to meet the periodontal needs of present and future patients. These objectives necessitate student awareness of the biology of the periodontium and pathology of gingival and periodontal diseases; the ability to examine, diagnose and develop a treatment plan for the patient with significant periodontal disease; and an understanding of the implications of periodontal diagnosis and treatment on the oral and general health of the patient. The student should also be competent in plaque control, scaling, root planing and other procedures ordinarily included in presurgical phases of therapy. The student should be familiar with the entire scope of periodontal therapy, understanding the rationale and indications for surgical treatment and anticipated results.
PERI 749. Clinical Periodontics IV. 1 Hour.
Yearlong course; 1 clinic session per week. 1 credit. This final clinical course in periodontics provides competency assessment of the dental student as an entry-level dentist in the diagnosis and management of patients with periodontal diseases. Students receive CO grading in the fall and a pass or fail grade and earned credit in the spring.