School of Dentistry

Information for Future Students

 

TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION, ACADEMIC PROGRESSION, AND GRADUATION

The LSUHSC appreciates the unique nature of the curricula for each of the oral health degree programs offered by the School of Dentistry. In addition to proven academic ability and other relevant personal characteristics, the School of Dentistry expects all applicants and students of the Programs in Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Dental Laboratory Technology and Advanced Education to possess and demonstrate the attributes, skills and abilities that will allow them to successfully complete their respective course of study and receive the full benefit of the education as noted below.

Physical health: The student must possess the physical health and stamina required to participate in the program of dental education. Example:
• Perform moderately taxing and repetitive work while paying attention to specific intricate detail. This work may require prolonged sitting, often in restrictive positions.

Intellectual skills: The student must have sufficient powers of intellect to acquire, assimilate, integrate, and apply information. Problem solving, a critical skill demanded of health professionals, requires the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize. Examples:
• Comprehend and mentally visualize three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures.
• Perform problem-solving and apply critical thinking skills in a timely manner for effective patient treatment.

Motor skills: The student should be able to execute motor movements that are reasonably required to provide oral health care and emergency treatment to patients that require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Examples:
• Demonstrate sufficient manual dexterity/motor function to elicit information from patients through such diagnostic procedures requiring the use of dental-specific instruments and through measures such as palpation, auscultation, and percussion.
• Perform emergency procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, application of pressure to control bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds, and oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.

Communication: The student must be able to communicate effectively with all members of the health care team to include patients, faculty, other health professionals and peers in both oral and written form. Examples:
• Communicate with patients to elicit information, detect changes in mood, activity and to establish therapeutic relationships.
• Retrieve information from literature, computerized databases and lectures and communicate concepts on written exams and in patient charts.

Sensory abilities: The student must be able to acquire a defined level of information as presented through didactic, laboratory and clinical experiences. Examples: • Acquire information conveyed through demonstrations, microscopic images and written documentation presented in images from paper, film, slides, video, and computer.
• Demonstrate the functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensation while using appropriate sensory modalities.

Behavioral qualities: The student must possess the emotional health and maturity required to demonstrate the required competencies of the curriculum. The student must display good judgment, and must behave in a professional, reliable, and responsible manner. Examples:
• Be adaptable and possess sufficient flexibility to function in new and stressful environments.
• Demonstrate appropriate motivation, integrity, compassion, and portray a genuine interest in caring for others.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSURE
The educational requirement in nearly all states is a DDS or DMD degree from a university-based dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). References to accreditation in states' licensure provisions relate to CODA and no other agency. CODA directly accredits programs in the United States, and indirectly accredits dental education programs in Canada through a reciprocal agreement with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). Graduates of accredited U.S. and Canadian dental education programs are eligible for licensure in the United States.

Background checks are required on all applicants accepted into the LSUHSC School of Dentistry (Dental, Dental Hygiene, Dental Laboratory Technology, and Advanced Education programs). These background checks are performed by Certiphi. Certiphi also performs the background checks on the LSUHSC medical school applicants.

Admissions Contacts

Dental, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Laboratory Technology
Admissions Information
Louisiana State University School of Dentistry
Office of Admissions
1100 Florida Avenue, Box 28
New Orleans, LA 70119

Dental
Office of Admissions
Telephone:  504-941-8124
Fax:  504-941-8123
E-mail:  ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu

Dental Hygiene
Tricia Barker, RDH, MEd
Interim Program Director
Telephone: 504-941-8152
Fax:  504-941-8123
E-mail:  tbark1@lsuhsc.edu

Dental Laboratory Technology
Julio Zavala, BS, MCDT
Program Director
Telephone:  504-941-8145
E-mail:  jzaval@lsuhsc.edu

Advanced Education Programs & Residencies
Telephone:  504-941-8113
E-mail:  ds-AdvancedEducation@lsuhsc.edu