Oral Health Sciences 3

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Successful completion of all Year 2 subjects.

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 two modules.

Pharmacology and Pathology: The principles of drug action in the body and the mechanisms of action of drugs in common use in dentistry and medicine, disorders of growth and neoplasia, inflammation and repair, circulatory disturbances, and the special pathology of the major organ systems.

Medicine: Common medical problems, methods of diagnosis and treatment and diseases of particular importance to dentists.

By completion of this subject, the dental student should:
(1) Comprehend:
a) the principles of the absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs in the body;
b) the basic mechanisms of drug action;
c) the pharmacology of:
• the autonomic nervous system;
• drugs used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular and central nervous system
• local anaesthetics;
• drugs used for the treatment of inflammation;
d) the use and mechanisms of action of:
• antibiotics, antiviral and antitumour drugs;
• analgesics;
e) the nature of drug interactions;
f) the nature and use of drugs of abuse;
g) the terminology of pathology;
h) the principles and essential information regarding the major types of disease processes, their
i) causes, and the responses of cells, tissues, organs and systems in these disease processes;
j) the morphological and functional characteristics of common and important diseases;
k) the molecular basis of pathological processes;
l) common presentations of medical disease;
m) the use of investigations; and
n) the uses and side effects of drugs.
(2) Have developed:
a) skills in:
• using objective sources of drug information;
• communication with patients and in describing diseases;
b) observational and organisational skills to:
• identify and interpret the macroscopic appearance of disease processes in exposed structures;
• cut sections of organs; and
• identify and interpret the microscopic appearance of disease processes in cells, tissues, organs and systems;
c) an understanding of:
• prognosis;
• the clinical features and natural history of medical conditions;
• the possible use of investigations in diagnosis and management of disease
d) the ability to:
• formulate possible differential diagnoses;
(3) Appreciate:
a) the relevance of drug action and reaction to dental science;
b) the importance of:
• the principles of drug action to therapeutics;
• evaluating clinical manifestations of diseases in terms of disturbances of structure and function;
c) the elements of clinical trial design (single and double blind factors and use of statistics);
d) the responsibility of dentists under the Dentistry and Poisons Act;
e) the capabilities and limitations of special investigations (including clinical pathology,
biochemistry and radiology);
f) the effect of illness on the social, occupational and recreational activities of patients.

(1) Pharmacology: One 1-hour multiple choice written examination in mid-semester 1 and one, 2-hour multiple choice and short answer written examination at the end of Semester 1. (2) Pathology: One 2-hour written examination and one 1-hour practical examination at the end of Semester 1 and continuous assessment. (3) Medicine: One 2-hour written examination at the end of Semester 1. A pass in each of Sections (1), (2) and (3) is required for an overall pass in this subject.

• *2005 Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (Kumar V, Abbas AK and Fausto N (eds)), 7th ed, Elsevier Saunders
• 2004 Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Dentistry (JA Yagelia, EA Neidle and FJ Dowd), 5th ed, Elsevier Mosby, or
• 2004 Principles of Pharmacology. The Pathophysiologic Basis of Drug Therapy (DE Golan, AH Tashjian, EJ Armstrong, JM Galanter, AW Armstrong, RA Arnaout and HS Rose), Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, or
• 2007 Pharmacology (HP Rang, MM Dale and JM Ritter), 6th ed, Churchill Livingstone
• 2003 Medicine for Dentists (Dimmitt S), 2nd ed, University of Western Australia Press
• 2006 Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine (Boon NA and Colledge NR, Walker BR, Hunter JAA) 20th ed, Churchill Livingstone
• 2004 Medical Problems in Dentistry (Scully C and Cawson C), 5th ed, Elsevier Churchill-Livingstone

*Indicates Essential Reading

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Measurement and recording of data
• Identifying and interpreting data
• Communication
• Observation and organisation
• Evaluation
• Formulating different diagnoses