Clinical Dental Practice 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

63 contact hours (indicative), 96 non-contact hours (indicative)

Successful completion of 1st year Teaching Blocks 1 and 2 (Semester 1 ) DDS subjects.

None.

None.

N/A.

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 and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Teaching Block 3 of this subject will assist students to develop knowledge of safety and infection control issues in a clinical setting. Students will gain knowledge of their responsibilities under the law to provide a safe environment for their patients, staff and themselves together with knowledge of the current published standards of practice. Students will also gain knowledge of infection control strategies, practice protocols and documentation required to provide a safe clinical environment. Practical sessions will allow students to develop skills in working safely and following infection control procedures in a clinical environment.

Teaching Block 4 will assist students to develop knowledge and skills regarding clinical dental practice and allow students to practise and reinforce knowledge and skills obtained in Block 3. The clinical procedures of history taking, clinical examination, diagnosis and provision of simple treatment plans will be introduced and students will gain knowledge of dental record keeping requirements. Clinical sessions will allow students to practise and reinforce the skills in safe work practices and infection control procedures while practising the clinical skills of history taking, clinical examination, plaque index, prophylaxis and application of topical fluoride. During these clinical sessions, students will develop skills in ergonomic work practices in a clinical environment.

On completion of this subject, the student should be able to

1. comprehend their legal and ethical responsibilities as dental practitioners to provide a safe environment for their patients and members of the dental team;
2. comprehend the principles of infection control and standard and tranmission-based precautions;
3. comprehend the processes of accurate history taking, clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and record-keeping in the provision of patient care;
4. analyse the processes of oral diagnosis and treatment planning;
5. demonstrate skills in working safely and applying infection control procedures in a clinical environment;
6. demontrate knowledge of protocols to be followed in the event of an injury to the patient or staff member during a clinical procedure;
7. demonstrate skills in history taking, clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and record-keeping in the provision of patient care;
8. demonstrate skills in plaque index, prophylaxis and application of topical fluoride;
9. demonstrate skills in time management and ergonomic work practices in the clinical environment.

1. 1 x 30 minute practical examination on Infection Control in the clinic at the end of Teaching Block 3 (10%);
2. 1 x 30 minute class test on Infection Control and Block 3 seminars at the end of Teaching Block 3 (15%);
3. 1 x 90 minute written exam on Infection Control and History Taking, Clinical Examination, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning at the end of Teaching Block 4 (45%);
4. Continuing assessment of clinical practice throughout Teaching Block 4 (30%).

Australian Dental Association 2012 Standards and Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Practice

Stephanac SJ and Nesbit SP 2006 Treatment Planning in Dentistry, 2nd ed

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students should:

1. be able to access new knowledge from different sources, analyse and interpret it in a critical manner;
2. develop skills in effective communication with teaching staff and peers;
3. develop effective organisational skills and time management;
4. develop skills in team work;
5. be able to identify and address their own learning needs.