The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery combines clinical and didactic training to fit the individual interests, abilities, and development of students. Its training program for predoctoral students is based in the College of Dentistry, with some clinical assignments in the oral and maxillofacial surgery division at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Its certificate program is based primarily in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency program at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

D.D.S. Student Training

The Doctor of Dental Surgery curriculum in oral and maxillofacial surgery is designed to develop a foundation of professional knowledge and surgical skills that will enable students to diagnose and manage surgical problems related to general dentistry practice. The program emphasizes high ethical standards and development of good surgical concepts and judgment.

Young patient undergoing a dental procedure.

The clinical portion of the curriculum allows students to develop surgical skills and apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in didactic courses. Theory and application of anesthesia-analgesia, intravenous sedation, and nitrous oxide analgesia techniques are presented through didactic and clinical experiences.

Professional Program of Study

Certificate

The University of Iowa health sciences campus has outstanding basic and clinical science departments that stimulate and support scholarly research and superior clinical practice. Appropriate environments for residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery are provided by University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, the College of Dentistry, and the Carver College of Medicine.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Courses

OMFS:5208 Pain and Anxiety Control 0-3 s.h.

Nitrous oxide; intravenous, oral, intramuscular anxiety and pain control; pharmacology of agents; complications, their management.

OMFS:5220 Research Methodology arr.

Research terminology; application of ethical, quantitative, and qualitative approaches to research; critical analysis of published research; guide and oversee Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol processes.

OMFS:8115 Anesthesia and Pain Control I 1 s.h.

Principles, techniques of complete medical history, head and neck examination, cardiovascular and respiratory examination; neuroanatomical, psychophysiological aspects of pain; pharmacologic action and techniques for using local anesthetics.

OMFS:8230 Basic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2 s.h.

In-depth review and instruction pertaining to systemic medical considerations which may affect oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS), wound repair, principles of asepsis, routine and complicated exodontia, surgical complications and informed consent, preprosthetic surgery, medical emergencies, management of patients undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy, infections, OMFS trauma, temporomandibular disorders, and maxillary sinus and salivary gland disorders.

OMFS:8245 Anesthesia and Pain Control II 1 s.h.

Theory, application, and instrumentation of nitrous oxide and IV sedation; emphasis on cardiovascular and respiratory physiology; pre-anesthetic evaluation of patients and practical techniques for nitrous oxide sedation.

OMFS:8355 Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 1 s.h.

History, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and traumatic injuries of the oral and maxillofacial region.

OMFS:8360 Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery arr.

Clinical experience at the College of Dentistry and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.