Periodontics residents have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art techniques in regenerative and implant dentistry.

You gain extensive experience in surgical techniques, treatment planning, and patient management during the Periodontics Residency.

Rotation schedule

A typical rotation schedule for a periodontics resident:

Rotation descriptions

Biostatistics

Twelve hours of coursework in basic biostatistics helps you to interpret scientific data. This lays a foundation for the research activities in your residency.

Anatomy of the head and neck

This course consists of 10 lectures of two hours each. It is taught jointly by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Anatomy. The course covers the entire spectrum of head and neck anatomy, except the internal anatomy of the eye and neuroanatomy.

Topics included:

• Blood supply
• Bony anatomy
• Connective tissue
• Innervation
• Lymphatics
• Musculature
• Skin

Surgical pathology

You have the opportunity to examine fresh surgical specimens, review frozen sections with the pathologist, and review fixed sections. You select cases and prepare them for a biweekly oral pathology conference. You also have the opportunity to study a large, excellent histology collection of oral tumors and lesions.

Anesthesiology

You spend four weeks working in general anesthesia at Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, Methodist Campus. You receive instruction in basic anesthesia principles and help deliver IV sedation to surgical patients. You learn techniques ranging from starting an intravenous infusion to nasal tracheal intubation, airway management, endotracheal intubation, and limited general anesthesia.

Didactic training

The Periodontics Residency didactic curriculum is primarily accomplished using a seminar format. During your residency, you attend these instructional sessions:

• Conferences devoted primarily to periodontics are held daily. Literature reviews, case reports and treatment plans are presented during lectures and a slide-and-tape series.
• A periodontic-prosthodontic conference is held once a month during the fall, winter and spring quarters to discuss treatment planning for complex cases. All residents and consultants in both sections participate in these conferences.
• Elective courses are available in statistics, immunology, nutrition and pharmacology.

You also prepare patient presentations for multidisciplinary discussion throughout your training.

Research training

You are required to pursue a research project and write a thesis during your Periodontics Residency. Most residents are allocated one half-day a week for research leading to thesis submission.

Your research opportunities at Mayo Clinic are outstanding and include areas such as immunology, microbiology and virology, pathology, electron microscopy, and clinical studies covering all aspects of periodontal therapy. When you complete a thesis and successfully pass Mayo Clinic's oral and written examinations, you will be awarded a Master of Biomedical Sciences degree by Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Teaching opportunities

You may have the opportunity to teach Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine students and visiting students from other medical and dental schools through chair-side instruction and seminars.

Evaluation

Your progress is reviewed by your program director at the end of each quarter. Your evaluation is based on a personal interview and written examinations. During the Periodontics Residency, you must maintain at least a B average in all clinical and didactic courses.

Each year, you take the American Academy of Periodontology's In-Service Examination.