Oral Health Practice 3

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

This subject comprises lectures, seminars and preclinical and clinical experience in aspects of oral health therapy (dental hygiene and dental therapy) practice and student directed problem based learning. Coursework includes dental hygiene patient care covering ageing and oral care for the elderly; social and psychological aspects of ageing; medical problems of, and medication for the elderly; epidemiology of oral disease in older adults, oral health education for older people and oral health services for the elderly; aetiology and management of early childhood caries; oral health care for preschool children; treatment planning and evaluation of treatment; and advanced clinical experience in dental hygiene and dental therapy patient care.

This subject also includes clinical experience in various aspects of dental therapy and hygiene practice and field placement in general and specialist dental practices in the public and private sectors, special needs and outreach dental care programs; the philosophy of total oral care for each patient and the interaction of dental therapy and hygiene care with general and specialist oral health care in the overall treatment and care plan for the individual; a public health approach to practice and advanced clinical experience in oral health therapy patient care.

Selected patients will receive oral health care as necessary including, examination, diagnosis and treatment planning; preventive procedures (such as oral hygiene instructions, placement of fissure sealants, application of topical fluorides and diet counselling); clinical photography and clinical treatment procedures.

On completion of this subject the student should:

Comprehend:

• The philosophy of total oral health care including the interaction of oral health therapy care with general dental and specialist care as part of the overall care plan for each patient;
• The fundamental principles of quality assurance and control, including self- assessment;
• Time management concepts;
• The need for and role of continuing education in professional development;
• The role of the oral health therapist and other personnel in general and specialist practices; and
• The limitations of particular treatment modalities.

Have developed:

• The ability to manage patient records and files;

and skills in:

• Working as part of a comprehensive health team;
• Development and management of communication systems;
• Implementing workplace quality assurance;
• Taking clinical photographs and using other imaging techniques;
• Teamwork, leadership, communication; and
• Problem solving in a clinical setting.

The ability to:

• Apply techniques to monitor and maintain effective and efficient delivery of oral health services; and

• Effectively and efficiently manage time.

Appreciate:

• That dentistry is a service profession;
• Issues of safety in dental practice; and
• Legal and ethical issues in the delivery of oral health service provision.

Assessment includes:

• Continuing assessment of clinical procedures performed during the year, including written reports and practical tests (40%);
• A 25-minute viva voce examination on integrated treatment planning for dental therapy practice . Particular emphasis will be placed on the ability of a student to formulate an appropriate treatment plan after analysis of patient clinical data. The student will be presented with a patient's clinical records (e.g. history, dental charts, radiographs, study casts etc) one hour before the 25 minute viva voce examination. The student will make a written treatment plan to be taken into the oral examination and may also prepare personal notes (30%);
• A 25-minute viva voce examination on integrated treatment planning for dental hygiene practice . Particular emphasis will be placed on the ability of a student to formulate an appropriate treatment plan after analysis of patient clinical data. The student will be presented with a patient's clinical records (e.g. history, dental charts, radiographs, study casts etc) one hour before the 25 minute viva voce examination. The student will make a written treatment plan to be taken into the oral examination and may also prepare personal notes (30%).

Handbook of Paediatric Dentistry Cameron A and Widmer R (eds), Sydney: Mosby Elsevier, 2008

Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice, Darby ML and Walsh MM, 3 rd ed., Philadelphia, Pa: London: W.B. Saunders, 2010

Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, Roberson TM, Heymann HO and Swift Jr. EJ, 5 th ed., St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier, 2003.

Health Behaviour and Health Education: Theory, Research and Practice, Glanz K, Rimer BK and Viswanath K (eds) 4th ed., Jossey-Bass, San Fancisico, 2008

Dental Caries: The Disease and Its Clinical Management , Ole Fejerskov & Edwina Kidd (Eds) 2nd ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2008

Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent , McDonald RE and Avery DL (eds) St. Louis; London: Mosby, 2000.

Communication; Core Interpersonal Skills for Health Professionals, O’Toole Gjyn, Churchill Livingstone, Chatswood NSW, 2008

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed skills in:

• Planning, development and implementation of quality assurance;
• Self assessment;
• Development and management of communication systems;
• Management of records and files;
• Teamwork;
• Leadership;
• Problem solving;
• Effective and efficient management of time;
• Workplace safety; and
• Legal and ethical issues.