International Dentist Education Program (IDEP)
The School of Dentistry offers qualified graduates of foreign dental programs the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree. Completion of this advanced standing educational program will allow graduates to take state or regional dental board examinations and be eligible for licensure and practice in the United States.
Students in the International Dentist Education Program are given advanced standing in the School of Dentistry because much of their foundational curriculum was completed during their foreign dental school. The School of Dentistry will allow for a maximum bulk transfer of 108 credit hours. (The foundational coursework can include Biochemistry, Embryology, Introduction to Professional Ethics, Introduction to History Taking and Physical Exam Skills, Foundations of Professional Development, Gross Anatomy, Histology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Physiology).
The IDEP program requires a full-time, daily pre-matriculation course (IDEP 5000) consisting of 8 weeks of online learning, and 12-14 weeks of hands on didactic and preclinical laboratory training. Pre-matriculation is followed by matriculation through the 3rd and 4th years of the undergraduate dental program with classroom lectures and direct patient care in the group practices and departmental clinical courses and rotations. Students must complete the same requirements as all other dental students starting with year 3.
Admissions Requirements
The application requirements for the IDEP are a dental degree from a foreign country; official, school-certified copies of transcripts; official course-by-course dental school transcript evaluation (ECE); a National Board Dental Examination Part I overall score of 80 (within the past 5 years); minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination score of 92 (Internet-based) or 580 (paper-based); three letters of recommendation; and completion of personal statements about the applicant’s clinical experience, dental-related activities, and professional goals.
- Information about admission and application requirements is detailed on the School of Dentistry Web Site.
- Additional information about the IDEP can be obtained by contacting the IDEP office through e-mail at: IDEP@uthscsa.edu.
- *National Board Exams taken after January 1, 2012, will have scores reported as pass/fail. A passing score will be required for those applicants whose scores are reported as pass/fail.
Sample Plan of Study
Junior Year- Group A
| Third Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| DIAG 7036 Radiographic Interpretation 1 | 1 | |
| DIAG 7052 Geriatrics 1 | 1.5 | |
| DIAG 7055 Oral Medicine 1 | 2.0 | |
| EMSP 7001 Basic Cardiac Life Support | ||
| ENDO 7041 Junior Endodontics Lecture | 1 | |
| GEND 7026 Practice Administration 1 | 2.5 | |
| ORTH 7073 Junior Orthodontic Lectures And Case Analysis 1 | 1.0 | |
| PEDO 7041 Pediatric Dentistry Lecture | 1 | |
| PERI 7059 Implantology 1 | 1.0 | |
| PERI 7081 Periodontics | 1.5 | |
| PROS 7018 Fixed Prosthodontics 1 | 1.0 | |
| PROS 7091 Removable Partial Denture Prosthodontics Lecture 1 | 0.5 | |
| PROS 7095 Complete Dentures Lecture 1 | 1.0 | |
| RESD 7010 Operative Dentistry Lecture | 1.5 | |
| COMD 7031 Professional Ethics | 0.5 | |
| DIAG 7036 Radiographic Interpretation 1 | 1 | |
| DIAG 7052 Geriatrics 1 | 1.5 | |
| DIAG 7055 Oral Medicine 1 | 2 | |
| GEND 7026 Practice Administration 1 | 2.5 | |
| ORTH 7073 Junior Orthodontic Lectures And Case Analysis 1 | 1 | |
| PATH 7023 Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology: Clinicopathologic Conference | 1 | |
| PERI 7059 Implantology | 1 | |
| PROS 7018 Fixed Prosthodontics | 1 | |
| PROS 7091 Removable Partial Denture Prosthodontics Lecture | 0.5 | |
| PROS 7095 Complete Dentures Lecture | 1 | |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 18 | |
Junior Year- Group B
| Third Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| COMD 7050 Preventive Dentistry Clinic 1 | 1.5 | |
| ENDO 7043 Endodontics Clinic 1 | 1.0 | |
| GEND 7001 General Dentistry Clinic 1 | 4.0 | |
| INTD 7020 Clinical Patient Management 1 | 5.0 | |
| OSUR 7051 Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1 | 4.0 | |
| PEDO 7091 Pediatric Dentistry Clinic 1 | 2.0 | |
| PROS 7019 Fixed Prosthodontics Clinic 1 | 4.5 | |
| PROS 7092 Removable Partial Dentures Clinic 1 | 1.5 | |
| PROS 7099 Complete Dentures Clinic 1 | 2.5 | |
| RESD 7011 Operative Dentistry Clinic 1 | 4.5 | |
| COMD 7050 Preventive Dentistry Clinic 1 | 1.5 | |
| ENDO 7043 Endodontics Clinic 1 | 1 | |
| GEND 7001 General Dentistry Clinic 1 | 4 | |
| INTD 7020 Clinical Patient Management 1 | 5 | |
| OSUR 7051 Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1 | 4 | |
| PEDO 7091 Pediatric Dentistry Clinic 1 | 2 | |
| PROS 7019 Fixed Prosthodontics Clinic 1 | 4.5 | |
| PROS 7092 Removable Partial Dentures Clinic 1 | 1.5 | |
| PROS 7099 Complete Dentures Clinic 1 | 2.5 | |
| RESD 7011 Operative Dentistry Clinic 1 | 4.5 | |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 30.5 | |
| 1 | A single grade at the end of the year is given for courses that extend through both semesters. |
Junior Clinic Rotations
All junior dental students enhance their clincial experiences by participating in several School of Dentistry and off-campus required clinical rotations including the following. These are subject to change based on community availability.
- Oral Surgery
- Dental Emergency
- Geriatrics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontics
Senior Year- Group A
| Fourth Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| COMD 8014 Oral Health Care System | 1 | |
| COMD 8032 Jurisprudence | 0.5 | |
| ENDO 8043 Senior Endodontics Lecture | 1 | |
| GEND 8026 Practice Administration 1 | 1.5 | |
| GEND 8078 General Dentistry Seminar 1 | 2 | |
| PERI 8015 Periodontics | 0.5 | |
| PHAR 8009 Pharmacotherapeutics | 2 | |
| PROS 8001 Dental Implantology | 0.5 | |
| GEND 8026 Practice Administration 1 | 1.5 | |
| GEND 8078 General Dentistry Seminar 1 | 2 | |
| RESD 8051 Senior Esthetic Dentistry | 0.5 | |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 9.5 | |
Senior Year- Group B
| Fourth Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| GEND 8077 General Dentistry Clinic 1 | 26.5 | |
| GEND 8077 General Dentistry Clinic 1 | 26.5 | |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 26.5 | |
| 1 | A single grade at the end of the year is given for courses that extend through both semesters. |
Senior Clinical Rotations
All senior dental students enhance their clinical experiences by participating in several School of Dentistry and off-campus required clinical rotations including the following. These are subject to change based on community availability:
- Dental Emergency
- Dental Hygiene
- Oral Medicine
- Oral Surgery
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Primary Dental Care - South Texas Rotation
- Primary Dental Care – SACDC at Haven for Hope
Dental Selectives1
The School of Dentistry has a selective program that allows students to enrich their education through courses of their choosing.
Satisfactory completion of selectives will be recorded on the transcript as CR. No credit hours will accrue, and the computation of the GPA will be unaffected. When a student has been officially enrolled in a selective course, the selective becomes a mandatory part of the student’s curriculum and must be completed unless proper procedures for withdrawal are followed. Failure to withdraw properly or unsuccessful completion of the selective will be recorded on the transcript as an F grade. This will be treated by the Academic Performance Committee as any other failing grade in any required course.
Selective courses are offered primarily in the summer, but many are year-round as selectives by arrangement. Courses are offered to all level of students. Rising DS2 and DS3 students are required to complete a minimum of one selective. Rising DS4 students are required to complete a two-week continuous clinical selective, a six-week research selective, or another approved plan. The two-week selective may be one of the following:
- South Texas Rotation
- General Practice Dental Emergency Care (DECC)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Pediatric Dentistry Summer Selective
Current selectives are listed below; however, offerings may vary each year. An updated list is sent to students twice a year to allow them to plan ahead. The list with course descriptions, teacher, location, etc. can be found online at http://dental.uthscsa.edu/selectives/index.php.
Courses
COMD 7031. Professional Ethics. 0.5 Credit Hours.
This course provides a deeper understanding of the role that ethics plays in dental practice through a series of small-group discussions focused on the resolution of ethical dilemmas. It also provides a more thorough appreciation of the ethical principles and theory of normative ethics, as well as an understanding of the importance of dental research ethics, the role of ethics in the "business" of dentistry, and dentist's role in addressing social justice issues.
COMD 8014. Oral Health Care System. 1 Credit Hour.
A series of lectures and panel discussions introduce students to the structure as well as methods of financing dental care. Concepts of both traditional and recently evolved forms of dental practice also are discussed.
COMD 8032. Jurisprudence. 0.5 Credit Hours.
An in-depth review of the Texas Dental Practice Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners will be presented as preparation for the Dental Jurisprudence examination given by the Board. General review of the interface of the law and dental practice including dental torts, malpractice, partnerships, insurance, record keeping, and other related legal issues are presented.
DIAG 7036. Radiographic Interpretation. 1 Credit Hour.
This is a comprehensive didactic course in dental radiologic interpretation of diseases of the jaws including differential radiological diagnosis of developmental abnormalities and pathological lesions of the teeth and jaws.
DIAG 7052. Geriatrics. 1.5 Credit Hour.
Lectures and seminars emphasizing dental management of the geriatric patient cover such topics as normal aging, treatment planning, pharmacologic considerations, management and communication techniques, dementias, dentistry for nursing home and homebound elderly, and clinical care.
DIAG 7055. Oral Medicine. 2 Credit Hours.
Lectures, demonstrations, and visual aids present the fundamentals of diagnosis and treatment in general medicine and surgery as they relate to dentistry. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate skill in physical diagnosis in laboratory sessions.
EMSP 7001. Basic Cardiac Life Support. Credit Hours.
Course instruction satisfies AHA guidelines for Basic Cardiac Life Support. Successful completion merits AHA BLS Healthcare Provider course completion certification. Topics include basic airway and ventilatory management of the choking and/or unconscious infant, child or adult victim, cardiac chest compression techniques, and automated external defibrillation (AED). AHA standard written and skills exams administered.
ENDO 7041. Junior Endodontics Lecture. 1 Credit Hour.
This course enhances the cognitive skills attained by the student that has successfully completed ENDO 6041 and ENDO 6142 in the Sophomore year. Topics covered include: endodontic radiography, endodontic diagnosis, endodontic irrigants and medicaments, evaluation of endodontic outcomes and retreatment, management of endodontic emergencies including pain control, diagnosis and management of tooth root resorption, endodontic treatment risk assessment, management of the immature root apex and management of traumatic tooth injuries including tooth fracture, luxation and avulsion. The importance of the inter-relationships with other dental disciplines such as periodontics and restorative dentistry are also emphasized.
ENDO 8043. Senior Endodontics Lecture. 1 Credit Hour.
This course will build on the cognitive skills attained by the dental student who has successfully completed ENDO 6041 and 6142 in their sophomore year, and ENDO 7041 in their junior year. Topics covered include: endodontic radiology, management of the open apex, diagnosis and management of procedural errors that occur during routine endodontic therapy, management of post-operative complications, management of luxation injuries and root resorption, bleaching of endodontically treated teeth, endodontic pharmacology, and principles of endodontic surgery. A review of endodontic information necessary to pass licensing examinations will also be provided.
GEND 7026. Practice Administration. 2.5 Credit Hours.
This course presents the various career choices available in dentistry and presents material to aid students in the career decision-making process. An introduction to the basic principles of beginning and managing a dental practice with emphasis on establishing a philosophy of practice, establishing goals, selecting practice modes, and choosing a location. The principles of office design and equipment selection also are covered.
GEND 8026. Practice Administration. 1.5 Credit Hour.
This series of lectures deals with the business aspects of conducting a practice. Consideration of establishing and administering a practice, estate planning, bookkeeping methods, banking, marketing, management and utilization of personnel, and completion of a prospectus and office design project also are presented.
GEND 8077. General Dentistry Clinic. 26.5 Credit Hours.
Clinical experience for senior students under supervision of the Department of General Dentistry emphasizes comprehensive patient care in an atmosphere that closely simulates the private practice environment. Providing students an opportunity to accomplish procedures from each discipline of dentistry is the goal; therefore, students receive instruction from a faculty of general dentists. Various specialty departments provide didactic material, rotations in specialty clinics, and consultation. Senior Seminars, conducted by the Department of General Dentistry, entail lectures, problem-solving sessions, and presentations of selected cases designed to enhance the students' knowledge of comprehensive clinical dentistry.
GEND 8078. General Dentistry Seminar. 2 Credit Hours.
This seminar presents topics relevant to clinical practice including application and selection of dental materials, an overview of dental equipment, and clinical techniques. It is intended to reinforce philosophies presented by the specialty disciplines, to provide the opportunity to discuss dental topics of current interest, and to promote dialogue between students and faculty.
ORTH 7073. Junior Orthodontic Lectures And Case Analysis. 1 Credit Hour.
This advanced lecture/case presentation series emphasizes the principles of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning for limited orthodontic procedures and the principles of comprehensive orthodontic therapy, interdisciplinary dentistry, and orthognathic surgery.
PATH 7023. Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology: Clinicopathologic Conference. 1 Credit Hour.
This course is a series of 14 clinicopathologic conferences presented in an interactive case-based/clinical problem-solving format. Students will be expected to apply their fund of basic science knowledge learned in the prerequisite didactic pathology courses to simulated dental practice situations. Cases will be discussed systematically utilizing the S.O.A.P. format (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan). Students are required to complete and turn in a worksheet and self assessment for each case. Students are expected to read articles from current scientific literature posted on the course Blackboard Web site and take the online challenge examinations. Lectures on the critical topics of head and neck cancer and skin cancer will be given by the course director.
PEDO 7041. Pediatric Dentistry Lecture. 1 Credit Hour.
This course covers development of the dentition, preventive and interceptive orthodontics, trauma and pulp therapy in primary teeth, pediatric restorative dentistry, periodontics, pediatric oral pathology and surgery, preventive dentistry, behavior management, and special problems in children.
PERI 7059. Implantology. 1 Credit Hour.
Through lecture sessions, this introductory course offers students an opportunity to obtain both background and knowledge regarding accepted dental implant systems.
PERI 7081. Periodontics. 1.5 Credit Hour.
This course is an expansion of the foundation presented in the sophomore year. Surgical treatment planning, rationale, techniques, and wound healing are emphasized. A three-hour surgical laboratory exercise is included. Periodontal interrelationships with prosthodontics, endodontics, and orthodontics are examined in case presentation formats with student participation.
PERI 8015. Periodontics. 0.5 Credit Hours.
This lecture course is a comprehensive review of current periodontal topics. Topics include those that should be employed in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of periodontal diseases in a general dentistry practice setting. Both non-surgical and surgical treatment approaches will be discussed.
PHAR 8009. Pharmacotherapeutics. 2 Credit Hours.
The emphasis of this course is on understanding the rationale, indications, and contraindications for prescribing pharmacologic agents in dentistry. Consideration of the pharmacologic agents that the patient may be taking at the time of the dental visit is emphasized.
PROS 7018. Fixed Prosthodontics. 1 Credit Hour.
This course is designed to be adjunct to and to complement the preclinical course so that the student correlates previous instruction in the clinical care of patients in need of crowns and/or fixed partial dentures.
PROS 7091. Removable Partial Denture Prosthodontics Lecture. 0.5 Credit Hours.
This didactic course is designed to acquaint the student with a variety of approaches that may be used in treating the partially edentulous mouth. Lectures cover critical steps in treatment of the partially edentulous patient, stabilization of periodontically weakened teeth, intracoronal and other attachments used in partial denture construction, swinglock partial dentures, removable partial overdentures, and cancer therapy as it relates to prosthodontic treatment.
PROS 7095. Complete Dentures Lecture. 1 Credit Hour.
This course offers a series of lectures designed to present more sophisticated concepts in the prosthodontic treatment of edentulous and partially edentulous patients not included in previous courses. Lecture topics include preparation of the tissues for dentures, complete denture esthetics, occlusal systems for complete dentures, single complete dentures, immediate dentures, overdentures, maintenance care for the complete denture patient, and relining of dentures.
PROS 8001. Dental Implantology. 0.5 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to be an ever-evolving lecture series designed to provide senior dental students with more information regarding advanced topics in implant dentistry. The premise of this course is to provide evidenced-based materials regarding the latest information and current topic of interest in the field of implant dentistry. Lecture topics may include but are not limited to advanced treatment planning, immediate provisionalization (Non-loaded) of dental implants, the controversy of connecting an implant to a natural tooth, implant esthetics, advanced prosthodontic techniques, and implant and the maxillofacial patient.
RESD 7010. Operative Dentistry Lecture. 1.5 Credit Hour.
A series of lectures designed to present more sophisticated didactic material in areas not included in the first and second year preclinical courses. This course serves as a forum for discussion of individual clinical problems and their solutions which are of interest to the class as a whole.