Endodontics
The Division of Endodontics is responsible for educating dental students and post-doctoral learners, as well as overseeing their endodontic clinical experience, generating knowledge via research, and providing community support via patient care within the field of Endodontics.
The mission of the college's graduate program in endodontics is to graduate specialists in endodontics who are biologically oriented, technically competent, and socially sensitive. Graduates will embrace our core values of active learning, critical thinking, evidence-based medicine, respect for the patient, as well as personal responsibility and integrity. They will be prepared to practice endodontics at a high level and contribute to the profession and specialty through teaching, research, and service.
Division Chief: Dr. Al Wiemann
Patient Care
The graduate program in endodontics will treat patients within UK Dentistry with advanced procedures in microsurgical and non-surgical approaches to endodontic disease. Program participants will treat patients who are medically compromised, those who present for emergency care, and those requiring advanced diagnostic evaluations and development of complex treatment plans which include placement of implants, prosthetic treatments, and treatment for mon-odontogenic facial pain. Learners will be able to discuss cases among various specialty disciplines within the college including periodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, pathology, and orofacial pain.
Faculty
Al Wiemann, DMD, MS, Division Chief
Mark Schachman, DMD, Program Director
Part-Time Faculty
Jacob Weigle, DMD
Justin Kindler, DDS
Graduate Students
Second Year:
Dr. Vlado Pavlovic
Dr. Quinten Travis
Dr. David Eccker
First Year:
Dr. Sara (Maria) Goff
Dr. Christina Pascale
Dr. Michael Skanchy
Certificate Program Overview
The endodontics program will produce graduates with specialty training in the areas of non-surgical and surgical management of endodontic disease. The certificate program is a full-time 24-month program consisting of didactic, clinical, teaching, and research components. There are three (3) graduate student openings per year. The goal of the program is to prepare graduates for careers in either endodontic academics or private specialty practice. The program is based on guidelines recommended by the American Association of Endodontists and approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association.
Applications will be accepted via ADEA PASS. See more details here.
Educational Overview
The didactic component, 32% of the program, consists of seminars and coursework in a variety of endodontic topics including:
- Endodontic Therapy Lectures
- Introduction to Advanced Endodontic Lab Curse
- Endodontic Textbook Seminar
- Advanced Clinical Endodontics I
- Graduate Endodontic Research Project
- Endodontic Literature Review
- Advanced Clinical Endodontic II
- Research Design-Methodology
- Oral Biology I
- Oral Facial Pain & TMJ Disorder
- Clinical Medicine
- Oral Biology II
- Advanced Oral Maxillofacial Pathology
The clinical component, approximately 55% of the program, consists of program participants treating a variety of cases that would present to a practicing endodontist. Cases will vary from non-surgical root canal therapy to microsurgical intervention, diagnosis of orofacial and non-odontogenic disease to consultation and decision making in treatment planning cases. All clinical treatment is conducted under an endodontist's oversight, which fosters best evidence-based approaches and critical thinking. Faculty will emphasize standards and practices of the American Association of Endodontists and strive for clinical excellence among our students.
The teaching component, 8% of the program, requires program participants to teach in the predoctoral endodontic laboratory course, the predoctoral endodontic clinic, and urgent care clinic.
The research component, 5% of the program, requires program participants to participate in a research project and prepare an initial manuscript suitable for publication to meet the graduation requirements. Research opportunities are available with consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies within the College of Dentistry.
Facilities
The post-graduate endodontic suite is located on the third floor of the College of Dentistry Dental Science Building, 770 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky. The clinic is a newly renovated, state of the art space that consists of well-equipped individual operatories. Each operatory has its own Global microscope suspended from the ceiling, ultrasonic units incorporated into the chairside delivery system, and chairside x-ray capability. Each treatment operatory has its own computer with two available LED monitors for viewing.
Adjacent to the endodontic suite is the Endodontic Conference Room which has a 72” high definition monitor capable of viewing cases in the endodontic suite in real-time. Lectures, case presentations, and seminars take advantage of this technology daily, including the review of images for endodontic consolations for the college. In addition, there is a new Kodak CS 8100 CBCT machine conveniently located on the same floor as the endodontic suite.
Accreditation
The program in endodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation [and has been granted the accreditation status of "initial accreditation"]. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611. The Commission's web address is http://coda.ada.org.