The General Practice Residency (GPR) is a one-year program based at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey (SJUMC). The program is fully accredited by the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and the next accreditation site visit is now scheduled for 2023.
Four residents per year are selected from a large applicant pool that spans across the United States and Canada. The program is designed to train residents to become fully competent general practitioners. Training is provided in physical diagnosis, medical risk assessment, and emergency management. Residents treat a large volume of medically complex patients and healthy patients with the full spectrum of oral health needs. The Department of Dentistry at SJUMC sponsors two other advanced education programs: a four-year oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) residency and a two-year residency in pediatric dentistry. Residents gain valuable experience working closely with OMFS and pediatric residents and faculty, participating in team management of implant patients and a collaborative approach to the care of maxillofacial trauma. Dedicated to providing residents with a quality learning experience, faculty members represent every discipline of dentistry and are well-trained and experienced clinicians/educators.
Residents have the opportunity to plan and conduct treatment under supervision at a well-equipped off-site dental center right across from the hospital main campus. A portion of the clinical training in dentistry focuses on the management of dental urgencies and emergencies; however, each resident also has an assigned group of patients eligible for comprehensive treatment. As such, GPR residents gain experience in all phases of dentistry from treatment planning through conventional and implant prosthodontics. Residents will also gain tremendous exposure to oral surgery and endodontic procedures. Rotations include eight weeks of oral and maxillofacial surgery, four weeks of general anesthesia, two weeks of internal medicine, and two weeks of emergency medicine. Hospital-based assignments include admitting patients, caring for in-house patients, suturing lacerations, and the evaluation and management of maxillofacial trauma under appropriate supervision with appropriate guidance.
The General Practice Residency at SJUMC prepares its graduates to practice full scopes of general dentistry. Our mission is to:
- Provide intensive and comprehensive training within all disciplines of general dentistry, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, and pediatrics so that residents are proficient in practicing to the standard of a general dentist.
- Provide training in patient assessment, diagnosing, and treatment planning for comprehensive and emergency cares.
- Provide opportunities for residents to treat medically complex patients, special needs, and pediatric patients under IV sedation and/or general anesthesia.
- Deliver a didactic program that is multifaceted and that integrates basic and clinical sciences at a level well above pre-doctoral education so that residents are prepared to utilize that knowledge in clinical and private practice.
- Promote an environment conducive to learning by an open exchange of ideas, promoting scholarly activity by our weekly Journal Club, and promoting compassion and curiosity to deliver patient-centered care.
