Clinical Experiences in the Henderson Dental Center

From the beginning of the General Dental Residency Program at Trinity Health Oakland, we established a goal of providing excellent treatment for each patient that we see. Our residents perform all of the services that would be typical of a general dental office. Due to a broad and deep pool of patients requiring care, we are able to give each resident clinical experiences in all areas of dentistry.

Treatment Planning

One of the areas that residents are most interested in is developing skills in treatment planning. This involves an examination of the patient, developing a list of diagnoses, and prioritizing and sequencing treatment to meet this patient’s needs. Most residents have had very little exposure to this in dental school and the program makes this a priority with clinical demonstrations, case presentations and involvement of dental specialists in developing the plan of treatment

What procedures will I be able to do?

Prospective residents frequently ask about doing procedures that they may have done once, or not at all in dental school. In our program, we focus on giving the residents opportunities to perform these procedures in a highly supported clinical environment. Whether it is placing your first implant or your first molar endo, you will be working with a faculty member very closely. Some of the experiences our residents have include placing implants, fixed bridges, molar endodontics, periodontal surgery, and difficult extractions. Choosing your case for these experiences is very critical and the Program Directors, in conjunction with the specialists, know how to make this an excellent clinical educational experience.

Working with Dental Specialists

The resident has the ability to work with members of all dental specialties. Endodontists, Periodontists, Oral Surgeons, Pediatric Dentists, and Prosthodontists all have designated times and days each month. Most of these faculty, along with the general dentists, have been involved with the program for years. In addition, many of the specialists welcome you to their offices to see how they work in their practice. This can be the beginning of a productive networking experience for the resident.

Intraoral Scanner and CBCT

Both of these imaging tools are available to our residents. The intraoral scanner can be used for diagnostic models, crown and bridge impressions, and occlusal guards. The CBCT/Panoramic was installed in 2020 and allows us to better plan implants, and diagnose periapical bone loss. With both of these tools, we are better able to help the resident become more competent in the use of these imaging tools.

Dental Assistants

The Henderson Dental Center is staffed with a full complement of dental auxiliaries. Dental assistants are available to work with the residents and help them in learning how to perform the efficient dental treatment. When an assistant is not available, an Isolite combination suction, isolation, and illumination system is present in each unit to assist in delivering high-quality care.

Dental Laboratory

The program works with major dental laboratories in the Metro Detroit area and this allows the resident to become familiar in working with a commercial dental lab.