Department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

BIOC 705 Syllabus

BIOCHEMISTRY 705, DENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY

Spring Semester, 2019

Departmental Information

Department: Biochemistry

Course Title: Dental Biochemistry

Course Number: BIOC 705

Credit Hours: 5

Semester: Spring 2019

Curriculum Level: 2
Semester/1 Year

Instructors:

Lectures: Drs. Mike Gunther (Course Director), Drew Shiemke, Roberta Leonardi, and Aaron Robart, all from the Department of Biochemistry.
Clinical Correlations: Drs. Weaver, Gunther, Leonardi; for others, see Friday information.

Dr. Gunther’s contact information:
Office, Rm 3110-B Health Sciences North;
Office hours: most noon hours, by appointment.
Email: mgunther@hsc.wvu.edu;
Telephone (304) 293-0714; The easiest way to make appointments with Dr. Gunther or any of the other instructors is generally by email.

Dr. Shiemke: Room 3103B HSN, (304) 293-2310, ashiemke@hsc.wvu.edu;
Dr. Leonardi: Room 3143A HSN, (304) 293-7591, roleonardi@hsc.wvu.edu;
Dr. Robart: Room 3148 HSN, aaron.robart@hsc.wvu.edu, (304) 293-5878.

Course Overview

Taught in conjunction with General Biochemistry (BIOC 531), the main lecture part of this course is designed to be a general introduction to biochemical compounds, processes, and concepts for students in the dental and related health professions. Through additional topics such as nutrition/effects of nutrient deficiencies, blood clotting, AIDS, diabetes, tooth and bone composition, hydroxyapatite solubility behavior, critical pH, saliva and fluoride protection, dental erosion and caries, connective tissue, and local anesthetic action, special emphasis is placed on biochemistry for dental students as part of their background training for the practice of dentistry, including passage of the National Dental Board exam.

Instructional Format, Class Meeting Times and Class Sizes

The lecture portion of the course consists of four lectures per week, including clinical correlations, and meets Monday and Wednesday from 10–11:50 a.m. along with BIOC 531. The lecture class size is approximately 70 students. In addition, ten 1½-hr. separate Friday Sessions for Dental students only (approximately 50 students) will focus on topics directly related to dentistry along with nutrition. More information on these sessions, which will meet each Friday, 10-11:30 a.m., except for exam days and Spring and Friday before Easter Breaks, will be given out separately. This information will be posted after each session under "Links" on the BIOC 705 Website. The format for these sessions will vary between lecture and other activities.

Required Textbook/Handout Packets

The required textbook for this course is Principles of Biochemistry by Moran, et al. (5th Ed., 2012). The lecture schedule and lecture material to be covered have generally been designed to follow the text, with some change in order. Additional textbooks will be on reserve in the library, if needed, for the few lectures like Blood Clotting that are not covered in Moran.

Posted under "Course Information" on the BIOC 705 Website, is the schedule of lectures, clinical correlations, Friday Sessions, and examinations for the semester. The lecture outlines and visual aids which accompany each lecture for PART I of the course (Lectures 1-15 and 17) are downloadable from the BIOC 705 Website. The materials for PART II and PART III will be available for download later in the semester but in any case before the lectures are presented. Materials for the Friday Sessions will be available on the SOLE site.

The instructors for Biochemistry 705 will be readily available to provide student assistance or consultation regarding the course. Students are encouraged to clarify areas of confusion without delay, and to review lecture material daily to “keep up” with the course. A page on “Some Tips for Studying Biochemistry” is posted on this Website's "Links" page.

Course Prerequisites

BIOC 705 prerequisites are general and organic chemistry, and admittance into the Dental Program at West Virginia University.

Program Competencies

The lectures, clinical correlations, and Dental Friday sessions help students to achieve the following Competencies for the Graduating Dentist, WVU School of Dentistry (2001):

Scientific Process:
The graduating dentist must acquire, critically evaluate and assimilate scientific information necessary for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of oral health problems.

Examination of Patient:
The graduating dentist must be able to perform an examination that collects the medical, physical, psychological and social information needed to evaluate the systemic and oral condition(s) of patients of all ages (infant through older adult) or with special needs, (including, but not limited to, persons with developmental disabilities, complex medical problems and physical limitations), manage behavioral factors which affect oral health, and use the information to implement strategies that facilitate the delivery of oral health care.

Diagnosis:
The graduating dentist must be able to determine a differential, provisional or definitive diagnosis by interpreting and correlating findings from the history, clinical and radiographic examination and other diagnostic tests.

Treatment Planning:
The graduating dentist must be able to develop, present, and discuss individual treatment plans for patients of all ages consistent with the patient’s condition, interest, goals and capabilities.

Prevention of Disease and Maintenance Health:
The graduating dentist must be able to provide care for patients of all ages that emphasizes prevention of oral diseases and supports the maintenance of existing systemic and oral health.

Diversity Awareness:
The graduating dentist must be able to discuss cultural factors that impact oral health and provide culturally-sensitive care to persons with varying individual characteristics and backgrounds.

Control of Pain and Anxiety:
The graduating dentist must be able to employ techniques to manage orofacial discomfort and psychological distress.

Caries Management:
The graduating dentist must be able to treat and manage caries in the primary, mixed and permanent dentition.

Stomatology Therapy:
The graduating dentist must be able to manage limited or common non-life threatening oral mucosal diseases or disorders.

Ethics:
The graduating dentist must be able to discern and manage the ethicolegal issues of dental practice.

General Course Objectives

 The overall objective of Biochemistry 705 is to provide a requisite knowledge base upon which additional basic science and clinical courses can build, upon which clinical judgments will eventually be made, and upon which additional life-long learning can be achieved. General objectives are as follows:

• Gain the basic biochemical knowledge necessary to meet the institutional objectives and goals for clinical competency. In addition to basic biochemistry, students will acquire information emphasizing nutrition/effects of nutrient deficiencies, blood clotting, AIDS, diabetes, obesity, tooth and bone composition, hydroxyapatite solubility behavior, critical pH, saliva and fluoride protection, dental erosion and caries, connective tissue, and local anesthetic action.

• Gain basic biochemical information important for understanding fundamental structures, functions and interrelationships of the body in homeostasis and in conditions of disease or abnormality.

• Gain an appreciation of the relevance of biochemistry to dental students as the interrelationships between biochemistry and clinical practice are emphasized. Clinical examples will be given in lectures themselves, in "clinical correlation" type presentations, and especially in the Friday Dental Sessions.

• Supports and exemplifies ethical standards by promoting positive faculty-student interactions; encouraging open communication; straight dealing in examinations; and adjustment of the teaching to individual styles and paces of learning.