The General Practice Residency for Dentistry program at Wake Forest School of Medicine is designed to provide high-quality general dentistry and specialty service training to residents.

The two-year program admits two to three residents per year.

Program Goals

The overall goals of the General Practice Residency for Dentistry Program flow from the general missions of the Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Section on Dentistry.

These are to:

  • Provide a full range of general dentistry and specialty services to patients referred from within the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and from the community.
  • Educate residents to be able to:
    • Provide high-quality, comprehensive, general dental care for healthy and medically compromised patients.
    • Integrate mature diagnostic ability, judgment, treatment planning and confidence in each area of general practice using principles of scientific method and evidence-based dentistry.
    • Act as the primary dental care provider for a group of healthy and medically compromised patients and direct the services of dental specialists and other health care providers in the appropriate management of patients.
    • Function effectively in the management of hospital patients, including consulting with other health care professionals, reviewing a medical history and physical exam, and using clear and concise language and proper medical terminology.
    • Function effectively and confidently in treating patients who are anxious or medically or mentally compromised, including triaging suitable patients and care delivery settings, sedation and general anesthesia cases.
    • Exhibit scientific and professional writing and presentation skills along with the ability to critically search and evaluate professional literature in a variety of media.
    • Exhibit practice management skills, including setting production goals through selective scheduling and time management.
    • Model the values of professional ethics, integrity and responsibility in all interactions with patients and colleagues.
  • Provide high-quality patient care in the context of an educational program and community service program.
  • Serve the region as a resource for the provision of dental services for individuals with special needs, including developmental disabilities, complex medical problems and significant physical limitations.