The Cooper University Hospital Pediatric Dental Residency Program intends to prepare residents for a career in pediatric dentistry. We incorporate clinical practice, teaching, and community health service in the area of comprehensive oral health care for children, with a dedicated emphasis on providing quality services for children with special health care needs. The Program is designed to follow the principles, policies and educational requirements set forth in the accreditation requirements in the American Dental Association Guidelines for Advanced Specialty Education Programs and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Guidelines for Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry.
After completion of their 24-month clinical training, the pediatric dental resident will possess the knowledge and skills to:
1. Provide care in all areas of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral conditions in infants, children, and adolescents, including those with special health care needs.
2. Provide care utilizing pharmacological management in the delivery of comprehensive oral health care.
3. Diagnose and appropriately treat or refer problems of occlusal development.
4. Function in a hospital and private practice model setting, interacting with fellow professionals in the delivery of multi‐disciplinary care.
5. Educate patients, parents and other healthcare providers in the proper methods of preventing dental disease and trauma in infants, children, and adolescents, including those with special health care needs.
6. Critically evaluate health related literature so that evidence‐based advances in dental and medical sciences may be incorporated into clinical practice.
7. Prepare the pediatric dental resident for a career in clinical practice and/or academics.
8. Continue life-long learning and professional growth after completion of the program, through coursework, self‐study, research and attaining certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.