The formal curriculum will be determined by mutual consent of Dr. Cronin and the fellow. This curriculum will reflect the educational priorities of the fellow and will include selected courses from the following:

Concepts of Occlusion: Various concepts of occlusion with special emphasis on the clinical application of gnathology is a focus of this course. The laboratory phase includes the development of a functional occlusion through the cusp-fossa additive wax method and an occlusal equilibration technique.

Current Prosthodontic Journal Club: A review of the current literature, as it appears in major dental periodicals devoted to issues involving prosthetic dentistry, is fundamental to the practice of advanced prosthodontics. As such, a thorough review of the current literature is a necessary educational adjunct for the development of required theoretical and practical skills. The inclusion of the Current Prosthodontic Journal Club in the Fellowship curriculum is essential to adequate advanced training in the specialty area of prosthodontics.

Research Methodology: This course is an introduction to methods and techniques used in dental research. Topics will include basic assumptions and concepts of science research, selecting research topics, specifying objectives and hypotheses, literature reviews and experimental design.

Clinical Photography: This course is a series of practical demonstrations covering procedures and techniques related to dental clinical photography, small object close-up photography and making slides from radiographs. Guidelines for the selection and purchase of an acceptable clinical camera outfit will be reviewed.

Fixed Prosthodontics Tooth Preparations: A practical and rational approach to the preparation of teeth for fixed prostheses will be reviewed through lecture presentation, a review of pertinent dental literature, seminar discussion and practical application of concepts in the laboratory setting. The preparation of dentiform teeth will allow the student to apply concepts presented in literature and receive critical review by faculty.

Removable Partial Denture Survey and Design: This short course will expose the student to the survey and design concepts for removable partial denture frameworks presently being taught on the undergraduate level at the UTHSCSA.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Prosthodontics Diagnostic Conference: This treatment planning conference is held monthly during the fall and spring semesters and is attended by the Prosthodontic and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Students and faculty. Patients with dental facial anomalies and those requiring combined surgical-prosthodontic management as well as dental implant patients will be presented during this conference.

Perio/Endo/Ortho/Prostho Graduate Diagnostic Conference: This conference is scheduled every week during the Fall and Spring semesters to facilitate the educational transfer of diagnosis and treatment planning for combined treatment of individual patients. Appropriate radiographs and/or slides should be used to facilitate presentation of these patients to all residents and faculty.

Advanced Prosthodontic Treatment Planning Seminars: The Advanced Prosthodontic Treatment Planning Seminar will provide an opportunity for residents and fellows to present thought provoking diagnostic and/or treatment planning situations encountered in the graduate clinic. A panel of board certified prosthodontists will be available to critically assess the diagnostic information and recommended treatment plan as well as offer varying options as to possible methods of addressing the clinical situation at hand.

Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Rotation: The Department has a formally trained maxillofacial prosthodontist on staff, Dr. Mark Pigno and an anaplastologist, Ms Nancy Hansen. The fellow will observe patients being treated for acquired, congenital, and developmental maxillofacial defects. Observation of ongoing laboratory technical support for the above mentioned clinical procedures is also recommended. The objective of this rotation is to gain an understanding of the prosthodontic principles involved in the multidisciplinary rehabilitation of this special patient population.

Advanced Prosthodontics Seminar: This Wednesday morning seminar includes a monthly Literature Seminar, laboratory exercises, outside consultants and resident patient presentation to be scheduled during the confines of the seminar every Wednesday during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Advanced Prosthodontics Literature Review: Thorough understanding of the existing body of knowledge is essential to education at the postdoctoral level. Exposure to the history, theory, techniques, instrumenta-tion, and materials involved in modern prosthodontics will facilitate this understanding. As such, a topic oriented review of critical literature in the broad areas of fixed, removable and maxillofacial prosthodontics will be held during a Literature Seminar. In attendance at the Literature Seminars will be first, second and third year residents, Prosthodontic Fellows, faculty and invited lecturers possessing expertise in areas of interest.

Implant Prosthodontics: The objective of this course is to offer each student an opportunity to obtain background information, knowledge and skills associated with dental implant treatment modalities.

Overview of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics: This course introduces the student to the discipline of Maxillofacial Prosthetics. Emphasis is placed on treating patients requiring prosthetic devices in the head and neck area due to surgery or trauma.

Endosseous Dental Implants: This course offers a graduate-level introduction to the basics of the osseointegrated implant surgical and prosthetic technique. Lectures on advanced concepts of osseointegration therapy related to several implant systems will be included.