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Bench Prep/Hand Skills Course

Preparing You For Admission To An International Dentist Education Program

Not Supported.

April 14, 2023 - April 17, 2023

Course Overview & Mission

Four day CE course designed towards developing the psychomotor skills to obtain optimum results per American practice standards. This course will enable you to earn 32 credit hours towards continuing education. Bench tests are one of the criteria by which an applicant will be evaluated as they apply for an IDEP program. Hand skill course will explore basic concepts required by most US dental schools during their admission. There will be a mock exam held on the last day of the course.


Course Logistics

This program includes a low faculty-to-student ratio and detailed review of the requirements. The mock exam held on the last day will help trainees assess their level of competence.

Curriculum

  • 32 credit hours of didactic and hands-on experience towards continuing education will be provided
  • It includes structured practice time under the guidance of faculty in a simulation lab
  • An extensive review of the fixed and operative psychomotor skills
  • Wax drip exercise
  • Learn the challenges of bench test
  • Tour UT dentistry, San Antonio

  • Schedule

  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily
  • Instruction and practice session 3 full days
  • Mock test and feedback 1 full day

  • Eligibility

  • DDS/DMD/BDS degree, or its equivalent, from an International Dental School
  • Registrants may be foreign national, US citizen, or permanent resident

  • Attire

  • Business casual
  • Disposable gowns will be provided during hands-on course
  • Closed-toed shoes
  • Identification badges are to be worn so that the name on the badge is visible at all times

  • Presenter(s)

    • Poornima Mensinkai, BDS, MS, PhD
      • MensinkaiP182Dr. Poornima Mensinkai, BDS, MS, PhD, was born in Bangalore, India. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery from Karnataka University, India in 2000. She graduated with her Master’s in 2011 and PhD in 2017 from Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Mensinkai is currently a Full-time Clinical Assistant Professor with Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. Dr. Mensinkai completed her Teaching excellence course in 2011 and Entering mentoring in 2017. She teaches Dental Anatomy to freshmen and Operative Dentistry to sophomores. She is passionate about training International dentists aspiring to make a career in the US and is the Director for Hand Skill CE course at Smile UTHSCSA. Dr. Mensinkai is on the admission committee for DDS and International Dentist Education Program. She serves on dental education outreach committee and DECO Task force for Screening. She is a member of Indian Dental Association, American Dental Education Association, International American Dental Research. You may contact this author at mensinkai@uthscsa.edu
    • Scott G. Stafford, DDS, MBA
      • StaffordS173Dr. Stafford, DDS, MBA, is a 1996 graduate of UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. He has owned and operated four dental practices, simultaneously, in and around the San Antonio area. He has lectured and written on the topic of Practice Management and Ownership for the last 15 years. He has served as guest faculty at UNLV, and Roseman dental schools and authored the Practice Management programs at these and several other dental programs. He co-developed a practice management curriculum software that has been utilized at Howard University, UMKC, University of Kentucky, UNLV, Roseman, UT Health Houston, VCU, ECU, Univ. of Pittsburg, UNC, CU, and UMN, and UT Health San Antonio. He earned his MBA from Texas Tech University with an emphasis in Healthcare management in 2007. He left full-time private practice in 2017 and became Director of Continuing Dental Education and Practice Management at UT Health San Antonio. He continues patient care in faculty practice on a part-time basis, while lecturing and scouting for new CE topics and speakers. He has two children, currently in college, and is married to his wife, Rhonda, of 31 years. You may contact this author at staffords@uthscsa.edu
    • Karen Troendle, BA, DDS, MPH
      • TroendleK184Dr. Karen B. Troendle, BA, DDS, MPH, professor, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. Dr. Troendle received her D.D.S. from the UTHSCSA, and her M.P.H. from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Troendle has over 40 years of teaching experience in the disciplines of prosthodontics and restorative dentistry. She has directed numerous courses in Fixed Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry and has received awards for the creation and dissemination of innovative educational materials including the Health Science Center’s Presidential Excellence in Teaching award as well as The University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. You may contact this author at troendle@uthscsa.edu
    • Marianela Villarreal, DDS
      • VillarrealM183Dr. Marianela Villarreal Garza, DDS, is currently a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Texas Health San Antonio (UTHSCSA) School of Dentistry. She earned her D.D.S. degree in 2006 from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. She then earned her Certificate in Prosthodontics from University of Rochester in 2010. Dr. Villarreal is currently the Fixed Prosthodontics Module Course Director in the DS I and DS II Foundations of Restorative Dentistry Courses. She is also a Course Director in the DS III Fixed Prosthodontics Lecture Series, and a Co-Course director in the DS III Clinical Fixed Prosthodontics Course. She maintains an active faculty practice limited to Prosthodontics. She is a member of the Interview Admissions Committee for the International Dentist Education Program (IDEP), a member of the DS I and DS II Curriculum Committee, and a member of the Student/Faculty Relations Committee. Dr. Villarreal is also a member of the American Dental Education Association, in which she served as a Chair for the Comprehensive Care and General Dentistry Section, and a member of the American Prosthodontics Society. You may contact this author at villarrealga@uthscsa.edu
    Disclosure

    It is the policy of the UT Health San Antonio Office of Continuing Dental Education to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its sponsored educational activities. All participating speakers, course directors, and planning committee members are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Relationships of spouse/partner with proprietary entities producing health care goods or services should be disclosed if they are of a nature that may influence the objectivity of the individual in a position to control the content of the CDE activity. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance in order to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Specific disclosure information for each speaker, course director, and planning committee member will be shared with the audience prior to the speaker’s presentation.

    Continuing Dental Education Staff members have nothing to disclose.


    Tuition

    • Individual: $3600

    (HAND SKILLS REFUND POLICY: Payments are to be received in full, electronically, by the deadline listed. Cancellations made up to 7 days prior to course start will receive a refund minus a $500 administrative fee. No refund will be provided if a participant cancels less than 7 days prior to course start.)


    Tuition Includes:

  • Lunch each day
  • Reference guide material
  • Luncheon Seminar
  • Use of simulation unit
  • Kilgore typodont, hand instrument
  • Burs and hand instruments will be provided to use during the course
  • Certificate of completion
  • Closing ceremony
  • Disclaimer

    This course is not a prerequisite nor does it guarantee admission to any dental school.

    Registration and Cancellation Policy

    Payments are to be received in full, electronically, by the deadline listed. Cancellations made up to 7 days prior to course start will receive a refund minus a $500 administrative fee. No refund will be provided if a participant cancels less than 7 days prior to course start.

    Register now!

    Register now!

    Contact/Social

  • If course is full or for additional information, please write to IDQuery@uthscsa.edu
  • Find us on Facebook - Hand Skill Course UTDentistry
  • Course Offerings

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    • For help or questions about this program, you can contact us at:
    • Phone: (210) 567-3177
      Email: smile@uthscsa.edu

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