Comprehensive Dental Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

985 contact (indicative); 615 non-contact (indicative).

Successful completion of all 3rd year DDS 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 clinical learning (general dentistry) in the Melbourne Dental Clinic (MDC), the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, urban community health centres, specialist practice/hospital clinics and rural community health clinics. Students will engage in tasks that will demonstrate and further enhance their skills preparing them for the work environment in which they will participate and contribute to, on graduation as a dentist.

This year-long subject is developed as a capstone experience with a practice based learning approach. The learning tasks will enhance students’ capacity to apply theoretical knowledge gained in previous years of the course to “real world” situations. Students will integrate graduate capabilities with clinical skills that are required to practice as an independent health care professional. They will also develop skills in teamwork and communication with the wider health sector. The clinical practice sessions, especially at the community health centres, will allow students to reflect on emotional and practical issues of transition from the university learning environment to the world of independent clinical practice. They also provide the opportunity to link students to future employers. The intended learning outcomes are designed to engender the development of graduate attributes.

On completion of this subject students should:

1. demonstrate appropriate caring behaviour towards patients and maintain professional relationships between themselves and patients;
2. understand and apply the principles of culturally safe and sensitive practice and provide care in an empathic manner;
3. demonstrate competence in managing oral health issues of rural, remote communities and Indigenous communities;
4. be able to apply the ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of dental care;
5. be able to provide patient-centred care; maintain patient confidentiality, respect patients’ self-esteem and focus on the patient’s best interests at all times;
6. be able to practise evidence-based dentistry;
7. use contemporary information technology for documentation, management of information and applications related to health care;
8. have developed effective communication skills to gather necessary information from patients;
9. be able to communicate well with other members of the dental team;
10. be able to identify patients’ expectations, desires and attitudes when planning and providing treatment;
11. be able to apply the scientific principles of sterilisation, disinfection and antisepsis, and cross infection control to clinical practice;
12. understand and apply the regulations relating to the use of ionising radiation, including radiation protection and dose reduction;
13. have developed skills in gathering relevant information (obtaining a complete history) and performing an appropriate examination (of soft and hard tissues) including appropriate special investigations;
14. be able to synthesise the information collected in order to arrive at a diagnosis;
15. demonstrate skills in formulating appropriate treatment plans to suit the patient (for simple and complex general dental conditions), be able to propose treatment options (based on sound oral health care philosophies) and discuss with the patient to arrive at the treatment of choice;
16. demonstrate the process of accurate record keeping, and obtaining and recording informed consent for all forms of treatment;
17. be able to manage periodontal disease, caries and loss of tooth structure due to other factors, manage pulp and peri-radicular disease and disorders, manage loss of teeth and related disabilities through provision of removable or fixed prostheses;
18. be able to diagnose orofacial pain and TMD disorders and manage simple conditions;
19. demonstrate the ability to diagnose and manage psychological and behavioural issues arising from dental conditions and also those behavioural factors that impact on dental treatment;
20. have developed skills to safely perform a wide range of clinical procedures which are pertinent to general dental practice;
21. recognise and know when to refer patients to specialists or to seek appropriate advice from specialists;
22. be able to effectively engage in oral health promotion;
23. engage in professional development activities.

1. 1 x 2 hour OSCE (20 stations) during 1st Back-to-Base week (20%);
2. Clinical supervisor reports from 5-7 clinical placements/rotations - at the end of each rotation (Average Mark) (10%);
3. Rural rotation - 60 minute group presentation and 2,000 word report by groups of 4-6 students - at the end of each rotation (5%);
4. 1 x 30 minute computer-based viva voce examination on integrated treatment planning of standardised patient case during 2nd Back-to-Base week (15%);
5. Case presentation of a patient (with complex clinical procedures) treated throughout the year - at the end of the year (30%);
6. 1 x 2 hour OSCE (20 stations) - at the end of the year (20%);
7. Preparation of a reflective report (1000 words) of a clinical event - to be submitted mid-July (Pass/Fail)
8. Appropriate maintenance of a logbook of patients treated throughout various clinical placements (including self and staff assessment) and summary of all treatment procedures (Pass/Fail).

Hurdle Requirements:

• Sections 7 and 8 of the Assessment must be passed to pass the subject overall.
• 100% attendance at all Back-to-Base sessions & Clinical Placements (including hospital rotations, On-Call, Emergency Service & Field visits)

There are no prescribed texts; however, students will be referred to current journal papers, appropriate references and learning material throughout the year.

N/A.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of his subject students should have developed skills in the following:

1. workplace safety;
2. inter-professional team relationships;
3. independent learning;
4. communication;
5. First Aid procedures;
6. conflict resolution and management of people;
7. problem-solving abilities characterized by flexibility of approach;
8. capacity to articulate knowledge and understanding in oral and written presentations;
9. capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work;
10. capacity to engage where appropriate with issues in contemporary society.

N/A.