Minimum Technical Standards Policy for Admissions and Matriculation

General: Candidates and students must have sufficient motor functions to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and treatment to patients within an acceptable amount of time.

Specific: A candidate must possess the motor skills necessary to directly perform palpation, percussion, auscultation and other diagnostic maneuvers, basic laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures. Such actions require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional uses of the senses of touch and vision.

Specific: A candidate must be able to perform basic life support (including CPR), transfer and position disabled patients, physically restrain adults who lack motor control, and position and reposition self around patients. A candidate must be able to operate controls utilizing fine movements, operate high or low speed dental instruments within less than one millimeter, and utilize hand instruments (including scalpels for surgical procedures).

General: A candidate must be able to acquire a defined level of required information as presented through demonstrations and experiences in the basic and dental sciences.

Specific: This includes, but is not limited to, information conveyed through physiologic and pharmacological demonstrations in animals; and microbiological cultures and microscopic images of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. A candidate must be able to acquire information from written documents and to visualize information presented in images from paper, films, slides, video and computer. A candidate must be able to interpret unannotated radiographs (X-rays) and other graphic images, with or without the use of assistive devices. A candidate must have functional use of visual, auditory and somatic sensation while being enhanced by the functional use of sensory modalities.

General: A candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately, at a distance and close at hand, and observe and appreciate auditory and non-verbal communications when performing dental operations or administering medications.

Specific: A candidate must be able to perform visual and tactile dental examinations and treatment, including use of visual acuity, accommodation, and vision to discern the differences and variations in color, shape and general appearance between normal and abnormal, soft and hard tissues. Use of tactile senses may be by direct palpation or indirect through instrumentation. A candidate must also possess the visual acuity to read charts, records, small print and handwritten notation, and distinguish variations in colors intra and extra orally. A candidate must be able to sense and distinguish sounds for patient safety, both verbal and non-verbal including, but not limited to, a verbal request for help, non-verbal sounds of distress such as choking, and sounds of equipment problems or failure.

General: A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and/or guardian; convey or exchange information at a level allowing development of a health history; identify problems presented; explain alternative solutions; and give directions during treatment and post-treatment. For effective patient treatment, the candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the health care team, orally and in writing.

Specific: A candidate must have sufficient facility with English to retrieve information from literature, computerized data bases and lectures, to communicate concepts on written exams and patient charts; elicit patient backgrounds; describe patient changes in moods, activity and posture; and coordinate patient care with all members of the health care team.

General: A candidate must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize.

Specific: A candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures. Problem solving, a critical skill demanded of a dentist, requires all of these intellectual abilities. A candidate must be able to perform these problem-solving skills in a timely fashion for effective patient treatment.

General: A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, maintenance of patient confidentiality, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients.

Specific: A candidate recognizes the curriculum is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. He/she must be able to tolerate demanding workloads, to include functioning effectively under stress, adapting to changing environments, displaying flexibility and learning to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admission and educational processes. A candidate must also be able to manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them. A candidate must reasonably be expected to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior.