Advanced Dental Therapy (MS)

The program prepares licensed dental hygienists for an advanced practice role. The goal is to enhance the oral health of underserved and diverse populations by providing individuals who have a baccalaureate degree with the theoretical and applied skills needed to be eligible for licensure as a dental therapist and credentialing as an advanced dental therapist in the state of Minnesota. These new intra-professional team members are educated to the same standard of care as a dentist for their defined scope of practice and currently provide care under the supervision of a licensed dentist through a collaborative management agreement. 

Current Catalog Year
2024-2025
Degree
Master of Science
Major / Total Credits
37 / 37
Locations
Mankato

Program Requirements

Common Core

This lecture course provides the student with advanced knowledge regarding dental anatomy, occlusion, and biomaterials.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and simulation laboratory-based course provides the student with initial operative dentistry learning opportunities for the permanent dentition. This course focuses on the principles of operative dentistry cavity preparation and restoration design, as well as the appropriate selection and application of direct restorative materials. Special topics include techniques which restore form, function, and esthetics to permanent teeth in the simulation lab setting in preparation for patient care. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and judgment, psychomotor skills, and self-evaluation.

Prerequisites: none

This didactic course prepares the student with the knowledge, skills and judgments to collect and analyze patient health data relevant to advanced dental therapy practice. This course focuses on the development of critical thinking skills and the use of sound clinical judgment to develop individualized treatment plans. Regulations and rules that guide judgments and actions of all dental team members are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and simulation-lab based course emphasizes restorative and preventive strategies specific to the primary and mixed dentitions in advanced dental therapy practice. Course focus includes child and adolescent behavior and trauma management; data gathering, analysis, and treatment planning; and management of the developing occlusion. Consultations and referrals are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

This laboratory and clinical course prepares the student with the knowledge, skills and judgments to collect and analyze patient health data relevant to advanced dental therapy practice. This course builds upon the critical thinking skills learned in ADT 510 and allows students to develop and apply sound clinical judgment when creating individualized treatment plans and while working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.

Prerequisites: none

This course consists of lecture, laboratory, and clinical components. The lecture and laboratory components address the basic principles of complex tooth preparations and restorations, interim restorations, uncomplicated permanent tooth exodontia, and suturing techniques. The clinical component of this course provides the student with initial clinical experiences in the delivery of advanced dental therapy services and patient management.

Prerequisites: none

This course prepares the student with the pharmacological knowledge and skills necessary to think critically and make sound judgments when providing patient-centered care within their scope of practice. Effective patient care begins with sorting through the patient¿s medical/dental health status and pharmacological report. Based on a comprehensive initial analysis, the student will discern appropriate modifications and necessary drug prescriptions/interventions to ensure overall safe and optimal care. Drug classes, pharmacological effects, adverse reactions, drug contraindications and interactions will be addressed practically and reinforced through case-based learning.

Prerequisites: none

This course reviews common medical and dental emergencies that may be encountered in Advanced Dental Therapy practice, as well as management protocols and prevention strategies for emergencies. This course illustrates the relationship between accurate data collection and achieving successful outcomes in the management of dental and medical emergencies. Emphasis is placed on gathering, analyzing, and processing information to develop appropriate action plans.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and clinically-based course provides the Master of Science in Advanced Dental Therapy student with the opportunity to address their scope of practice dealing with prosthodontics. Students develop and refine their knowledge, skills, and judgments in providing advanced dental therapy scope of practice to underserved patients across the lifespan.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and clinically based course provides the student with opportunities to deepen and refine their knowledge, skills, and judgments in providing advanced dental therapy scope of practice to underserved patients across the lifespan. In the clinical setting ethics, responsibility, self-assessment, and self-improvement continue to be emphasized as well as professional referrals and collaborations to provide comprehensive patient care.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides the student with practical experiences in delivering advanced dental therapy oral healthcare services to special needs patients in extended campus, nontraditional clinical settings as well as the university clinic. Patient groups encountered may include: pediatric, geriatric, and medically compromised patients; patients with genetic and/or acquired disabilities, and financially or motivation-impaired patients. Knowledge and skills to effectively promote healthcare policy are also a course focus.

Prerequisites: none

This course advances the competency of Master of Science in Advanced Dental Therapy students. The oral healthcare of special needs and underserved patients are addressed in non-traditional and university dental settings. Critical thinking, clinical judgment, ethics, and professional responsibility are emphasized, in addition to health equity.

Prerequisites: none

This course is the zenith of advanced dental therapy student educational experiences. Knowledge, skills, clinical judgments, and critical thinking appropriate for successful advanced dental therapy practice are demonstrated in clinical practice and assignments.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

This course requires capstone topic identification in an area related to Advanced Dental Therapy. The student composes a scholarly reading list, an abstract for the capstone paper and an outline of paper contents.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Students complete their capstone project and present their conclusions to faculty and/or colleagues in the oral and allied health professions.

Prerequisites: none

Degree Plan

First Year

Summer - 6 Credits

This lecture course provides the student with advanced knowledge regarding dental anatomy, occlusion, and biomaterials.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and simulation laboratory-based course provides the student with initial operative dentistry learning opportunities for the permanent dentition. This course focuses on the principles of operative dentistry cavity preparation and restoration design, as well as the appropriate selection and application of direct restorative materials. Special topics include techniques which restore form, function, and esthetics to permanent teeth in the simulation lab setting in preparation for patient care. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and judgment, psychomotor skills, and self-evaluation.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 6 Credits

This didactic course prepares the student with the knowledge, skills and judgments to collect and analyze patient health data relevant to advanced dental therapy practice. This course focuses on the development of critical thinking skills and the use of sound clinical judgment to develop individualized treatment plans. Regulations and rules that guide judgments and actions of all dental team members are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and simulation-lab based course emphasizes restorative and preventive strategies specific to the primary and mixed dentitions in advanced dental therapy practice. Course focus includes child and adolescent behavior and trauma management; data gathering, analysis, and treatment planning; and management of the developing occlusion. Consultations and referrals are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 6 Credits

This laboratory and clinical course prepares the student with the knowledge, skills and judgments to collect and analyze patient health data relevant to advanced dental therapy practice. This course builds upon the critical thinking skills learned in ADT 510 and allows students to develop and apply sound clinical judgment when creating individualized treatment plans and while working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.

Prerequisites: none

This course consists of lecture, laboratory, and clinical components. The lecture and laboratory components address the basic principles of complex tooth preparations and restorations, interim restorations, uncomplicated permanent tooth exodontia, and suturing techniques. The clinical component of this course provides the student with initial clinical experiences in the delivery of advanced dental therapy services and patient management.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 6 Credits

This course prepares the student with the pharmacological knowledge and skills necessary to think critically and make sound judgments when providing patient-centered care within their scope of practice. Effective patient care begins with sorting through the patient¿s medical/dental health status and pharmacological report. Based on a comprehensive initial analysis, the student will discern appropriate modifications and necessary drug prescriptions/interventions to ensure overall safe and optimal care. Drug classes, pharmacological effects, adverse reactions, drug contraindications and interactions will be addressed practically and reinforced through case-based learning.

Prerequisites: none

This course reviews common medical and dental emergencies that may be encountered in Advanced Dental Therapy practice, as well as management protocols and prevention strategies for emergencies. This course illustrates the relationship between accurate data collection and achieving successful outcomes in the management of dental and medical emergencies. Emphasis is placed on gathering, analyzing, and processing information to develop appropriate action plans.

Prerequisites: none

This lecture and clinically-based course provides the Master of Science in Advanced Dental Therapy student with the opportunity to address their scope of practice dealing with prosthodontics. Students develop and refine their knowledge, skills, and judgments in providing advanced dental therapy scope of practice to underserved patients across the lifespan.

Prerequisites: none

Third Year

Fall - 7 Credits

This lecture and clinically based course provides the student with opportunities to deepen and refine their knowledge, skills, and judgments in providing advanced dental therapy scope of practice to underserved patients across the lifespan. In the clinical setting ethics, responsibility, self-assessment, and self-improvement continue to be emphasized as well as professional referrals and collaborations to provide comprehensive patient care.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides the student with practical experiences in delivering advanced dental therapy oral healthcare services to special needs patients in extended campus, nontraditional clinical settings as well as the university clinic. Patient groups encountered may include: pediatric, geriatric, and medically compromised patients; patients with genetic and/or acquired disabilities, and financially or motivation-impaired patients. Knowledge and skills to effectively promote healthcare policy are also a course focus.

Prerequisites: none

This course requires capstone topic identification in an area related to Advanced Dental Therapy. The student composes a scholarly reading list, an abstract for the capstone paper and an outline of paper contents.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 6 Credits

This course advances the competency of Master of Science in Advanced Dental Therapy students. The oral healthcare of special needs and underserved patients are addressed in non-traditional and university dental settings. Critical thinking, clinical judgment, ethics, and professional responsibility are emphasized, in addition to health equity.

Prerequisites: none

This course is the zenith of advanced dental therapy student educational experiences. Knowledge, skills, clinical judgments, and critical thinking appropriate for successful advanced dental therapy practice are demonstrated in clinical practice and assignments.

Prerequisites: none

Students complete their capstone project and present their conclusions to faculty and/or colleagues in the oral and allied health professions.

Prerequisites: none