Course Objectives and Goals:

The Orthodontics Mini Residency is a five-week program administered by the UAB School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics and the UAB Continuing Dental Education Department. This course aims to educate dentists on basic orthodontic concepts and prepare interested applicants to successfully integrate into UAB's International Orthodontic Certificate Program if accepted.

The course will consist of 4 weeks of virtual classes held live via Zoom. Each candidate will then schedule a week with the department for a rotation at the School of Dentistry. You will be required to attend class in person for this week in Birmingham, Alabama.

Prerequisites:

Candidates must possess a DMD/DDS or equivalent and have successfully completed an accredited dental program in a country other than the United States or Canada.

Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended are required. Furthermore, candidates will be required to provide documentation of having passed TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Candidates should have passed the NBDE Part I or integrated exam before acceptance into the Mini Residency Program.

Time and Location:

Spring Term 2021; May 3rd – June 2nd - plus a one week rotation to be scheduled through the Orthodontic Department- SDB 317.

Attendance:

Attendance is required for all students. Under unforeseen and special circumstances, students should inform the course master that they are not able to attend.

Student Evaluation:

There are two written examinations on Mosby's Orthodontic Review Textbook, and two written examinations on Biomechanics. In addition, during the Mosby's book and biomechanics class, students are evaluated through Q&A on didactic material and patient's records that is presented to them during each session. Furthermore, they are expected to pass the wire bending exercises.

Remediation:

The student will have an opportunity to discuss the projects with the course master in order to obtain the pass rate.

Accommodations:

If you have a disability, please make an appointment with one of the course directors as soon as possible to discuss accommodations that may be necessary.

Presenting

Course Directors:

Chung How Kau, BDS, MScD, MBA, PhD, MOrth, FDS, FFD, FAMS, FICD, CERT (Ortho), Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics

• Address: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, 1919 7th Avenue South, SDB 305, Birmingham AL 35294-0007
• Phone: 205-934-2782
• Fax: 205-975-7590
• Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Terpsithea Christou, DDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Clinic Director, Department of Orthodontics

• Address: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, 1919 7th Avenue South, SDB 305, Birmingham AL 35294-0007
• Phone: 205-934-3190
• Fax: 205-975-7590
• Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Course Syllabus

Textbook

Please purchase prior to the start of class. Available from the publisher Elsevier, Amazon, AbeBooks, or other online retailers:

Mosby's Orthodontic Review by Jeryl D. English, Timo Peltomäki, Kate Pham-Litschel, 2nd edition. Paperback ISBN: 9780323186964 eBook ISBN: 9780323186988

Evidence based articles

Published in prestigious journals will be made available during lectures and hand-on sessions.

Course Structure

This course will be delivered through four course modules: Didactic, Demonstration, Practice, Exam.  

At designated times throughout the five-week course period, the students will participate in a blend of self-paced and group-paced activities. Activities will consist of:

• Continuous series of lectures and reading assignments.
• Meetings of whole class discussion on specific orthodontic topics.
• Rotations in the clinic and work observation with their mentor.
• Lab work observation followed by practice exercises on wire bending and typodont exercises.
• Examination and interview process by a Departmental Admissions Committee (applies to candidates interested to participate into the International Orthodontic Program).

Module 01: Didactic

• 1: Craniofacial growth and development
• 2: Development of the occlusion, Andrew's six keys of occlusion
• 3: Appropriate timing for orthodontic treatment
• 4: Orthodontic records and case evaluation
• 6: Diagnosis of Orthodontic problems
• 7: Orthodontic appliances
• 9: Treatment planning
• 10: Treatment tactics for problems related to dentofacial discrepancies in three planes
• 11: Phase I
• 13: Treatment of Class II Malocclusions
• 14: Class III Correctors
• 15: Minor tooth movement
• 16: Phase II
• 17: Adult Orthodontic treatment
• 19: Mini implants and palatal implants for orthodontic anchorage
• 20: Oral Hygiene
• 21: Orthodontic and craniofacial deformities
• 23: Retention in Orthodontics
• 24: Soft-tissue diode laser surgery in Orthodontics
• 1: Lectures on Biomechanics
• 2: Case presentations
• 2: Study Design and Methods class
• 3: Data Collection, Analysis and Publication class

Module 02: Demonstration

• 1: Clinical Photographs
• 2: Physical/Digital Study Casts on typodonts
• 3: 2D radiographs
• 4: 3D radiographs
• 5: Patient's management software: Dolphin
• 6.a: Basic Wire-bending exercises
• 6.b: Bracket placement at FA point and with using MBT prescription
• 6.c: Indirect bonding/Tray-fabrication
• 1: Bonding on study casts
• 2: Indirect bonding set up
• 3: Wire Sequence
• 4: Ligature ties/ Power chain/ Separators

Module 03: Practice

Residents will repeat the above wire-bending/lab exercises (Module 02) that have been demonstrated by the faculty member.

Module 04: Exam

• 1: Written examination on Mosby's Orthodontic Review Textbook
• 2: Written examination on Biomechanics
• 3: Interview by Departmental Admissions Committee

The UAB School of Dentistry Predoctoral Orthodontics Program consists of didactic and clinical courses that introduce dental students to the principles of Orthodontics. In the D2 year, students learn the theories and mechanisms of craniofacial Growth and Development and receive an introduction to cephalometrics. In the D3 year didactic course, students learn the basics of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning as they relate to interceptive and comprehensive treatment in adolescent and adult patients. During the D3 and D4 Orthodontics Clinic courses, dental students are paired with postdoctoral students for Case Based Learning sessions and laboratory exercises, rotate in the Postdoctoral Orthodontic Clinic and assist with patient treatment. In addition, the D3 and D4 students have the opportunity to provide limited treatment to their patients as part of an Orthodontic elective program.