Faculty: Graduate School of Health Science This major focuses on the oral health care of children from infancy through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. Students develop skills in preventive and therapeutic oral health care, child psychology, and clinical management. Graduates are prepared for careers in pediatric dental practices, hospitals, and academic institutions. **Learning Objectives:** - Understand the fundamentals of pediatric dentistry and child oral health. - Develop skills in preventive and therapeutic oral health care for children. - Learn techniques for managing child behavior and ensuring positive dental experiences. - Explore principles of child growth, development, and psychology. - Analyze and interpret pediatric dental data and research findings. - Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical decision-making skills for effective pediatric dental practice. **Major Outline:** 1. **Introduction to Pediatric Dentistry** - Overview of key concepts, principles, and practices in pediatric dentistry and child oral health. - Fundamentals of child dental development, oral diseases, and preventive care. 2. **Preventive Pediatric Dentistry** - Principles of preventive pediatric dentistry, including oral hygiene, diet, fluoride therapy, and sealants. - Techniques for delivering preventive oral care and educating patients and families. 3. **Behavior Management in Pediatric Dentistry** - Fundamentals of child psychology, behavior management techniques, and communication skills. - Techniques for managing child behavior, anxiety, and ensuring positive dental experiences. 4. **Pediatric Dental Traumatology** - Principles of pediatric dental traumatology, including diagnosis, management, and treatment of dental injuries. - Techniques for managing dental emergencies and traumatic injuries in children. 5. **Pediatric Oral Pathology** - Principles of pediatric oral pathology, including diagnosis, management, and treatment of oral diseases and abnormalities. - Techniques for identifying and managing oral pathologies in children. 6. **Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry** - Principles of providing dental care to children with special health care needs, including medical, physical, and developmental conditions. - Techniques for adapting dental treatment and managing special needs patients. 7. **Pediatric Dental Research** - Principles of pediatric dental research, data analysis, and evidence-based practice. - Techniques for conducting and evaluating research in pediatric dentistry. 8. **Clinical Pediatric Dentistry** - Real-world experiences in pediatric dental practice, including patient care, case presentations, and clinical rotations. - Application of learned skills in practical pediatric dental scenarios. 9. **Capstone Project in Pediatric Dentistry** - Comprehensive project applying skills in preventive pediatric dentistry, behavior management, or dental traumatology. - Delivery of a polished pediatric dental case presentation, research project, or clinical study. **Assessment Methods:** - Preventive care plans, behavior management strategies, dental traumatology reports, oral pathology analyses, special needs care plans, research methodology projects, clinical case presentations, capstone projects, and clinical evaluations. **Recommended Textbooks:** - "Pediatric Dentistry: Infancy Through Adolescence" by Pinkham et al. - "Behavior Management in Dentistry for Children" by Wright et al. - "Dental Traumatology for the Pediatric Dentist" by various authors. - "Pediatric Oral Pathology" by various authors. - "Special Care in Dentistry" by various authors. - "Pediatric Dental Research Methods" by various authors. **Prerequisites:** Completion of a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Suitable for dental graduates interested in specializing in pediatric dentistry. **Major Duration:** Typically 2-3 years for a certificate or Master of Science (MS) in Pediatric Dentistry, including coursework, clinical rotations, and research projects. **Certification:** Graduates may receive a certificate or Master of Science (MS) in Pediatric Dentistry and pursue board certification from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) or other relevant certifying bodies. **Target Audience:** Aspiring pediatric dentists, dental specialists, and individuals seeking careers in pediatric dental practices, hospitals, and academic institutions. This major equips students with the clinical, behavioral, and research skills needed to excel in pediatric dentistry, supporting careers in pediatric dental practices, hospitals, and academic institutions.