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The following functional standards for predoctoral students at the 糖心视频 College of Dental Medicine are provided to assist candidates and current students regarding the abilities necessary to provide quality comprehensive oral healthcare services to the public. This publication complies with Standard 4-10 established by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
The functional standards represent a set of guidelines in the following areas:
The 糖心视频 College of Dental Medicine incorporates these guidelines along with other established criteria, as standards for graduation from the four-year professional program. In any case, where a student’s abilities in one of these areas are compromised, he or she must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to meet the functional requirements. It is expected that seeking and using such alternative means and/or abilities shall be the responsibility of the student. Upon receipt of the appropriate documentation, the school or college will be expected to provide reasonable assistance and accommodation to the student.
Certain chronic or recurrent illnesses, including infectious, psychiatric, or substance abuse problems that interfere with patient care or safety are not compatible with dental practice or training. Other illnesses, such as immune disorders, may lead to a high likelihood of student illness and should be carefully considered. Candidates with questions or concerns about how their own conditions or disabilities might affect their ability to meet these functional standards are encouraged to meet with a dental school counselor prior to submitting an application.
The student must be able to acquire a defined level of required knowledge as presented through lectures, laboratories, demonstrations, and patient interaction in a clinical setting. Acquiring this body of information necessitates the functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensations enhanced by the functional use of other sensory modalities. Examples of these observational skills in which accurate information needs to be extracted in an efficient manner include:
Visual Abilities
Auditory Abilities
Tactile Abilities
Communication Abilities
The student must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively with patients and their families, peers, staff, instructors, and other members of the healthcare team. The student must be able to demonstrate established communication skills using traditional and alternative means. Examples of required communications skills include:
Sensory and Motor Coordination Abilities
Students must possess the sensory and motor skills necessary to perform all general dental services required for graduation from the 糖心视频 College of Dental Medicine including emergency dental care. In general, this requires sufficient exteroception sense (touch, pain, temperature), proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory), and fine motor function (significant coordination and manual dexterity using arms, wrists, hands, and fingers). Some examples of skills required include, but are not limited to:
Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities
Problem-solving, a most critical skill, is essential for dental students and must be performed quickly, especially in emergency situations. In order to be an effective problem solver, the student must be able to accurately and efficiently utilize such abilities as assessment, judgment, investigation, memory, and comprehensive assimilation. Examples of these abilities include being able to:
Behavioral and social attributes
The student must possess the necessary behavioral and social attributes for the study and practice of dentistry. Examples of such attributes include:
Other Important Considerations:
Students are encouraged to be immunized against infectious diseases, such as mumps, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, influenza, and COVID-19 prior to contact with patients and/or infectious objects or materials, in an effort to minimize the risk of infection to patients, dental personnel, and themselves. Annual documentation regarding TB status is required following matriculation.
Students and faculty providing clinical care must maintain continuous certification in basic life support (B.L.S.) throughout matriculation or employment at the 糖心视频 College of Dental Medicine, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and be able to manage common medical emergencies.