ORIGINALLY POSTED 6/20/06Minimum RequirementsThe minimum requirements in order to be cleared for graduation from the Section of Pediatric Dentistry are:
1. A minimum of 18 full days participating in the clinical care of children
2. Satisfactory completion of all eight (8) competency exams in clinical pediatric dentistry
Participation in the Clinical Care of ChildrenOf the 18 full days of clinical care of children you are required to complete, opportunities for the fulfillment of 14-16 full days have been created for you through your block assignments.
Third Year UCLA Pedo Block AssignmentDuring the third year, you will work with the pedo residents in the UCLA Children’s Dental Center. Attendance in the clinic is mandatory on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (accounting for 3 days of clinical care). If there are additional clinic sessions on Wednesday and Friday, you may receive credit toward your overall requirement.
Third/Fourth Year Venice Dental Center Block AssignmentDuring the third or fourth year, you will be assigned to one quarter of a weekly full-day assignment at the Venice Dental Center. Half of this assigned clinical time is intended to focus on the care of children. If you complete your entire assigned block, you will be credited for 4-5.5 full days of clinical care, depending on the number of weeks in the quarter in which you are assigned. Regardless of the length of your VDC block rotatation, you must still complete 18 total days in the clinical care of children.
Third/Fourth Year Inglewood Children’s Dental Center Block AssignmentFor the Class of 2007, you will be assigned to three one-week blocks at the Inglewood Children’s Dental Center during the latter portion of the third year and the fourth year. Beginning October 3, 2006, clinic sessions will be on Tuesday (AM/PM), Wednesday (AM/PM), and Thursday AM (accounting for 7 days of clinical care).
For the Class of 2008 and beyond, you will be assigned to a block beginning Spring Quarter of the 3rd year. This block assignment is likely to be longitudinal, like at the VDC. The Section will be working with the Curriculum Committee to decide on the best situation.
Additional Days of Clinical CareYou will be responsible to schedule yourself for the balance of your requirement in the participation in the clinical care of children, usually 2 days. Experiences that may be credited toward your minimum requirements include:
• Staying on Wednesday afternoons or Fridays (when available) during your assigned Third Year UCLA Pedo Block Assignment
• Signing up to participate at the UCLA CDC during the third year and the summer at the beginning of fourth year (see Lorena de la Torre, the assistant responsible for checking in students to rotations to sign up)
• Non-assigned days at the Inglewood Children’s Dental Center (check the online bulletin board at
www.uclapedodays.blogspot.com for additional clinic days)
• Non-assigned days at the Venice Dental Center (contact Bonnie Torres for information)
• The USC/UCLA Mobile Dental Clinic
Competency ExamsIn addition to setting minimum time requirements in the clinical care of children, the Section of Pediatric Dentistry has identified a number of clinical skills in which each student must demonstrate clinical competency to demonstrate potential for the responsible care for children after graduation. These skills are:
1. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
2. Prophylaxis, Fluoride Treatment, and Oral Hygiene Instruction
3. Bite-wing X-rays
4. Local Anesthesia
5. Class I Composite or Amalgam
6. Class II Composite or Amalgam
7. Pulpotomy
8. Stainless Steel Crown
For each clinical procedure, you will be expected to exceed a minimum criterion to be considered competent. The standards are described in the Pediatric Dentistry Competencies Log, in which your progress toward clinical competency will be recorded.
At each clinical session, you may choose any or several of the procedures listed for competency testing. When you feel ready to be evaluated on a procedure(s), you must approach the instructor and indicate the specific procedure(s) you wish to have qualified before you start the procedure. You should have your clinic log available in your cubicle for the instructor to sign upon completion and evaluation of the procedure(s).
After an appropriate starting check, perform the procedures as you normally would, but with minimal assistance from the instructor. Have your preparation, matrix and final restoration or other procedure evaluated as you normally would. Responding appropriately to the instructor’s questions is a part of the qualifying procedure.
After completion of the procedure(s) and instructor evaluation, please get the log sheet signed by your instructor. If an instructor chooses not to sign your form, he or she will give you the reasons for his or her decision. Please note that when the instructor signs off, it indicates that you have achieved competency in the procedures. Instructors do not sign off when you have been given so much help that you have not yet attained competency.
