Oral Health Practice 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject comprises four modules.

Dental Materials: Classification of dental materials; polymers, amalgams; resin composites and adhesive materials; gypsum and agar products; glass ionomeer and other dental cements; and abrasives.

Preclinical Procedures: Maintenance of dental equipment; safe work practices; operator positions; principles of hand instrumentation; rubber dam principles and application; scaling and root planing; minimal intervention approaches to the management of dental caries; polishing teeth and restorations; removal of overhangs; impressions and study models; and the clinical application of dental materials.

Clinical procedures: Infection control in dental practice in accordance with the current NH&MRC guidelines; team dentistry; patient history taking and examination; and the provision of preventive dental services.

Oral Radiology: Forms of radiation; biological effects of radiation; radiation safety and proection measures; the dental X-ray machine; X-ray beam and image formation; techniques for producing radiographic images; intra and extra oral radiographs; radiographic film; film handling, processing and storage; digitial radiography; indications for dental radiographs; radiographic interpretation; and common errors in radiographic techniques.

On completion of this subject the student should:

1. Understand the nature of dental caries and periodontal diseases and appreciate the necessity for
a preventive approach to their management in a clinical setting.

2. Demonstrate skills and knowledge to:
a) identify and record a patient’s oral condition;
b) identify and evaluate dental materials used in the identification recording, prevention and treatment of dental diseases;
c) use the principles and techniques of conservative dentistry to restore tooth function;
d) select and use appropriate instruments for basic periodontal therapy;
e) effectively manage patients and their families in a clinical setting;
f) manage common medical emergencies that may be encountered in the dental environment;
g) work safely in the laboratory and clinical settings observing infection control, occupational health and safety and radiation safety guidelines.

1) One 3-hour written examination at the end of first semester; 2) one 3-hour written examination at the end of second semester; 3) Continuing assessment of preclinical procedures performed throughout the year, one practical test at the end of first semester and one practical test at the end of second semester; 4) apractical test and practical folio to be submitted at the end of second semester; and 5) continuing assessment of clinical procedures performed throughout the year, practical assessment of Infection Control at the end of first semester and a clinical exam at the end of second semester. Satisfactory performance in the Infection Control assessment is required to proceed to clinical practice. A pass in each of sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 is required for an overall pass in this subject.

• A Handbook of Paediatric Dentistry (A Cameron and R Widmer (eds)), 2nd edn, Mosby, 2003
• A Handbook for Dental Hygienists (WJN Collins and TF Walsh), 4th edn, Oxford University Press, 1999
• Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice (ML Darby and MM Walsh), 2nd edn, Saunders, 2003
• Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques (JI Haring and L Jansen), 2nd edn, Saunders, 2000
• Essentials of Dental Caries (EAM Kidd and S Joyston-Bechal), 2nd edn, Oxford 1997
• Pickard's Manual of Operative Dentistry (EAM Kidd, BGN Smith and HM Pickard), 6th edn, Oxford University Press, 1990
• Preservation and Restoration of Tooth Structure (GJ Mount and WR Hume), Mosby, 1998
• Infection Control in the Health Care Setting (National Health and Medical Research Council), NH&MRC, 1996
• Periodontal Instrumentation (AM Pattison and GL Pattison), 2nd edn, Appleton and Lange, 1992
• Periodontology for the Dental Hygienist (DA Perry, PL Beemsterboer and EJ Taggart), Saunders, 1996
• Elements of Dental Materials for Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants (RW Phillips and BK Moore), Saunders, 1994
• Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry: A Contemporary Approach (JB Summit, JW Robbins and RS Schwartz), Quintessence Publishing, 2000
• Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (EM Wilkins), 8th edn, Williams and Wilkins, 2000

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Recording
• Evaluation
• Workplace safety