Fully accredited by the American Dental Association, the General Practice Residency in Dentistry within the School of Health & Medical Sciences trains residents to become competent generalists. Training is provided in physical diagnosis, medical risk assessment and emergency management. Residents treat a large volume of medically complex patients and healthy patients with the full spectrum of oral health needs.
The one-year program is sponsored by St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, a level-two trauma center that houses one of New Jersey's designated children's hospitals. Six general practice residents (GPRs) are enrolled each July. They plan and conduct treatment under supervision at a well-equipped, off-site dental center minutes from the hospital's main campus. A portion of the clinical training focuses on the management of dental urgencies and emergencies; however, each resident also has an assigned group of patients eligible for comprehensive treatment. As such, GPRs gain experience in all phases of dentistry from treatment planning through conventional and implant prosthodontics. In the hospital, residents admit, manage and discharge dental service patients; provide consultation to other services; and treat patients in the Emergency Department with appropriate supervision and guidance.
The department's core didactic program consists of:
- Lectures and seminars, weekly;
- Grand Rounds, monthly;
- Journal Club;
- Impromptu discussion; and
- Special presentations.
Teaching is ongoing in the operating room, the clinic and on rounds each day. The rationale for medical and surgical decisions is routinely discussed and an open exchange of ideas is encouraged. Scholarly activity is required, and mentorship is provided by faculty.
Residents gain valuable experience working closely with oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) residents and faculty, participating in team management of implant patients and a collaborative approach to the care of maxillofacial trauma and detonfacial deformity patients. First on-call responsibilities are shared by GPRs and first-year OMS residents. Senior residents and OMS attendings take second and third call, ensuring the continuous availability of experienced clinicians.
Dedicated to providing residents with a quality learning experience, faculty members represent every discipline of dentistry and are well-trained and experienced clinicians/educators.
Pediatric Dentistry Program
St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, has recently announced the opening of a new pediatric dentistry residency program, as of July 1, 2011.
One of only two pediatric dentistry residency programs in the State of New Jersey, the program at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center is academically affiliated with The Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences. Accredited by the American Dental Association's (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the program will be administered in St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center's Department of Dentistry alongside the general practice residency and the oral and maxillofacial surgery program, both of which have enjoyed CODA approval for many years.
Dr. Henna DeSimone, a member of the Medical Staff since 2008, will serve as pediatric residency program director. A Board Certified pediatric dentist, Dr. DeSimone has completed residencies in general dentistry and dental anesthesiology as well as a fellowship in special care.
For more information regarding the Dentistry Residency Programs at SJRMC, please visit Seton Hall University.
