Course overview
The academic program aims to provide an overview and development of comprehensive oral health examination, treatment planning, prevention and restorative care for adults.
This course will involve an interdisciplinary approach to management of the ageing dentition. In addition to a cariology and root caries update, students will learn to identify and understand the nature of the forms of non-carious loss of tooth structure including erosion, attrition and abrasion. The principles of examination, diagnosis and treatment planning for periodontal disease are also covered. The course will focus on how to clinically assess patients, identify their risk factors and plan short and long-term management.
Oral pathology, TMJ disorders and emergency management of oral conditions are reviewed and further developed. Additional topics covered include physiology of pain, oral and dental pain pathways, local anaesthesia, psychology, chronic pain and referral.
This course will help students acquire an appreciation of reasonable treatment goals, dental management, and ethical and legal issues in relation to medically-challenged, intellectually-disabled, psychiatrically-disabled and functionally-impaired aged patients, including patients requiring hospital management.
Course learning outcomes
- Review and critique the theoretical basis of dental diseases underlying the provision of simple, direct tooth restorative care to adults.
- Apply an understanding of interdisciplinary issues and an appreciation of the complex clinical disciplines that relate to adult restorative care by being able to explain contemporary views on clinical patient management.
- Critically evaluate the principles of managing the older adult, incorporating medical and pharmacological factors and the possible complications when restoring teeth.
- Prepare and present a series of case studies exploring the management of the older adult including communication, psychological and motivational factors.
- Clarify the professional responsibilities for care of the adult patient incorporating the roles of the various dental practitioners.
Availability
Class details
Adelaide City Campus West
Class number 55184
Section WS01
Size 30
Available 30
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The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.