Adult Restorative Dentistry

About

The UNMC Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry (ARD) is at the forefront of dental education, patient care and research. The department features award-winning faculty, cutting-edge digital dentistry technology, and exceptional hands-on clinical training. The unique learning environment fosters student success, extraordinary patient care and innovative research. The department's focus areas include general dentistry, biomaterials, digital dentistry, implant dentistry, operative dentistry, practice management, prosthodontics, and temporomandibular disorders.

Education

The ARD preclinical and clinical curriculum educates students in operative dentistry, prosthodontics, implant dentistry and biomaterials. The curriculum is a competency based format and involves caries management, the complete spectrum of current, evidence-based restorative techniques, all ceramic restorations and tooth replacement options including complete prosthetics, and applied research. 

Courses taught include:

• Caring for Patients with Disabilities
• Cariology
• Dental Anatomy
• Dental Implantology
• Dental Materials
• Diagnosis & Treatment Planning
• Digital Dentistry
• Evidence-Based Dentistry Principles
• Fixed Prosthodontics
• Integrated Biomaterials, Cariology and Operative Sciences
• Occulusion
• Physical Assessment
• Practice Management
• Practice Transition
• Removable Prosthodontics
• Restorative Dentistry
• TM Disorders and Sleep Disorders
• Treatment Planning

Highlights of Our Intricately-Designed Educational Experience:

Extraordinary Faculty – ARD faculty members significantly impact our students’ learning and success. They serve as group leaders during clinical education, providing essential guidance and support. ARD faculty are engaged in cutting-edge research, actively participate in national and international outreach to help underserved populations, and represent the College of Dentistry in national organizations, including the American Dental Education Association.

Leader in Digital Dentistry Education – In our digital design studio, students have access to the latest CAD/CAM technology for designing dentures and restorations, as well as an equipment studio with milling machines, 3D printers and other advanced technology. Digital implant and digital imaging training enhance our students’ preclinical and clinical work.

Hands-on Learning in Clinics – The ARD department has developed a highly effective clinical model that closely mirrors the comprehensive care provided in private practice. Dental and dental hygiene students are assigned to color-coded teams supported by a faculty group leader, associate leader and a group practice coordinator. Working together, these teams provide patients with all the care they need. This clinic model promotes teamwork, improves efficiency, and helps students build strong relationships with their patients.

Patient Care

Patient centered comprehensive care serves as the clinical management system for assessment and treatment planning and entry of patients into the college's clinics, as well as the assignment of patients to predoctoral dental students. Dental emergency services provides the educational background and clinical experiences for dental students to manage patient dental emergencies. 

Team members work primarily with D2, D3 and D4 students to ensure a broad range of comprehensive dental experiences and to assign optimum numbers of clinical patients to meet discipline-specific competency exams. Along with patient care coordinators and appointment clerks, faculty members help students manage their patients' needs through weekly seminars, case presentations, treatment planning conferences, clinical experiences in screening, and overall record management.

Research

A biomaterials research area supports both faculty and student research projects. ARD faculty participating in the biomaterials and biomechanics focus groups conduct research in collaboration with faculty from the Growth & Development and Oral Biology departments.