History of the Graduate Prosthodontics Program

 

 

 

The Graduate Prosthodontic Program at the University of Texas Dental Branch can trace its origin back to 1953 when Dr. Joe B. Drane from the M. D. Anderson Hospital Program in Maxillofacial Prosthodontics began a part-time rotation at the new University of Texas Dental Branch. The first program director was Dr. Heinz O. Beck. At that time, the Dental Branch and adjacent M. D. Anderson Hospital were new facilities built in the heart of the planned Medical Center complex. The early residents of the program were all associated with outside sponsoring institutions (i.e.) The Veterans Administration, The United States Air Force, and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Early residents who were postgraduate students did not receive a certificate in prosthodontics from the Dental Branch. Rather, they received their certificate from their sponsoring organization where they did most or all of their clinical training, (i.e.) the USAF, VA and /or M. D. Anderson Hospital. Early residents who were graduate students and enrolled in the Master of Science program, received their Master of Science degree from the University of Texas. In addition they received their certificate in prosthodontics from their sponsoring agencies. The above roster for USAF, UTDB, and M. D. Anderson Hospital residents is accurate. However, there seems to be no good source of information concerned with VA residents from 1955 until 1965. Because of this it is not clear just what year the VA residents actually began rotations at the Dental Branch. It is also uncertain exactly how many VA residents received training at the Dental Branch but available records show that it was in excess of 45.

The Houston Veterans Administration Medical Center prosthodontic residency was affiliated with the Dental Branch early on and has continued that affiliation until the present. The United States Air Force Prosthodontic residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas, maintained an affiliation with the Dental Branch from 1959 until 1981. The first class of Air Force residents to receive a Master of Science degree from The University of Texas - Houston Dental Branch was the class of 1964, which began training in 1962. The last class of Air Force prosthodontic residents to receive a Master of Science degree from the Dental Branch was the class of 1983, which began training in 1980. In addition, the Air Force sent a small number of residents to the Dental Branch for their clinical, prosthodontic training, as well as their didactic training. In all, the Dental Branch has trained 76 Air Force residents from 1955 until the last class graduated in 1983. The residency in Maxillofacial Prosthodontics at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center was also affiliated with the Dental Branch from 1953 until the unfortunate closing of the residency program in 1986. Only a one-year clinical fellowship in Maxillofacial Prosthodontics has continued at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Dental Branch has trained 123 maxillofacial prosthodontic residents for M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

According to ADA directives, the UTDB Prosthodontic Program switched from a removable program to a combined (fixed/removable) program in 1984. In 1996, the program was expanded from a two-year residency to a three-year residency that awarded both a Certificate in Prosthodontics, as well as a Master of Science Degree.

During its 40 plus years of existence, the Graduate Prosthodontic Program at the University of Texas Dental Branch has had four program directors.