Course overview
From a patient care focus, this stream introduces students to the practice of dentistry and provides a foundation for understanding the normal structure and function of the oral cavity, evidence-based maintenance of patients' health and dentistry as a career. By working through a series of interactive learning activities, students develop an integrated knowledge base related to evidence-based patient care and related clinical skills and professional behaviours. These integrated learning activities present various practice situations that focus on the initial phases of patient care and are supported by class meetings, laboratory, tutorial and clinical exercises. Learning is also supported by independent study and discussion of findings in class. Students work in a collaborative environment to learn to critically evaluate themselves, and plan and implement strategies for improvement. The stream emphasises the scientific basis of dentistry and integrated knowledge of the structure and function of selected body systems, including the normal appearance of oral soft and hard tissues, and main features of the masticatory system and key functions of a healthy body such as nutrient supply and waste removal, respiration, transport and movement, as a basis for the analysis of patients' oral health; reviews important ethical issues in dentistry; develops individual and group learning skills; provides clinical experiences related to the review of occupational health and safety, creation of dental records from patient histories and oral examination, the oral ecosystem in terms of balance and imbalance, preventive dentistry and maintenance of patients' oral health, at both individual and population health levels; and introduces students to behavioural sciences as applied to dentistry.
Course learning outcomes
- comply with AHPRA, Uni and SA Dental policies by displaying appropriate professional and ethical behaviour through respecting colleagues and patients, maintaining Academic Integrity, maintain patient confidentiality and obtaining informed consent in all learning environments
- apply critical thinking, evidence-based approach, clinical reasoning to inform decisions at all levels of interaction with healthy adult patients by applying the hierarchy of evidence and basic statistical concepts when critically evaluating relevant literature.
- describe the distribution of oral health disease/illness/disability at a Population level in Australia and relate this to contributory factors and their importance
- critically reflect and evaluate their own performance, seeking feedback and implementing appropriate strategies for improvement and continuing professional development
- describe different approaches to respond to common occupational stressors and seeks assistance in developing effective management strategies for self and patients
- establish a safe working environment in laboratory and clinical settings and identify and rectify unsafe practices
- describe patient-centred care to support and enable pts to understand and co-manage their oral health needs
- begin to describe the limits of professional and individual clinical skills/scope of practice and recommends referral where appropriate
- work and communicate effectively and respectfully with peers, staff and members of the oral health care team in simulated and clinical setting, and adopt a leadership role when necessary
- Identify the principles of communicating in a respectful and culturally safe manner, with peers, staff, members of the oral health care team and patients from varying cultural groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- use effective person-centred communication to competently manage the oral care of healthy adult patients through appropriate use of questions, active listening, explanations, empathy, and feedback
- obtain patient reason for visit, chief concern and medical history, relevant dental history and social history (using biomedical, biopsychosocial, and illness frameworks)
- perform extraoral, intraoral soft, periodontal and hard tissues, perform a simple occlusal analysis including the collection and interpretation of additional clinical information, appropriately recognise the range of normality and record normal findings and clinical signs of common oral diseases for selected healthy adult patients.
- select appropriate tests to identify specific risk factors leading to an imbalance in the oral ecosystem and use results to devise tailored preventive management plans in relation to common oral diseases in medically healthy adult patients
- Interpret & evaluate gathered data, including selected other investigations to formulate diagnosis for selected healthy adult patients
- explain the principles of identification of risk factors in relation to the diagnosis, development & management of common oral diseases in selected healthy adult patients
- apply understanding of the oral ecosystem, patient education, behaviour change and remineralisation materials to develop preventive recommendations to restore and maintain oral health for selected healthy adult patients.
- describe and implement appropriate occupational health and safety procedures required when working within a clinical and simulated clinical environment including infection control, ergonomics, manual dexterity.
- confirms correct patient, procedure; obtain informed consent, create/maintain accurate dental clinical records
- demonstrate effective practice management skills and time management and powers of observation
- apply knowledge of risks associated with dental radiographs to safely and accurately take bitewing radiographs in simulated settings; examine and critique bitewing radiographs and recognise the appearance of normal imaged structures and associated basic pathology (eg restorations, caries, calculus) in bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs
- perform simple preventive treatments, including remineralisation techniques eg professional or home fluorides, fissure sealants, oral hygiene instructions, dietary advice, diagnostic procedures in simulated and/or clinical situations
- in accordance with Minimal Intervention (MI) principles, explains the principles of tooth conservation
- apply integrated knowledge of structure and function of selected body systems, genetics, anatomy ,as a basis for analysis of patients' oral health.
- apply integrated knowledge of dental material science and digital technology to the management of patients
- recognise and together with tutor manage complications of oral procedures
- discuss the signs and symptoms of associated with emergency situations in the clinic an collapse of a patient, and aware of emergency procedures