Intro to Professional Dental Practice (DENT90060)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, the student will be able to:

• discuss the range of oral health care needs of individuals and groups within the community and the diversity of the methods needed to provide them;
• comprehend the range of patients' socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds, together with variations in community health;
• analyse the importance of inter-professional team relationships in the provision of oral health care and be able to relate to the "patient centred" health care model;
• comprehend the dynamics of the patient/health professional relationship and the implications of behaviour in the delivery of dental care;
• identify the common clinical activities undertaken by oral health care providers and the risks and hazards to the oral health care worker;
• comprehend the biological, behavioural and ethical principles during the delivery of clinical dental services;
• demonstrate skills required for communication, counselling and patient management;
• apply epidemiological principles to solve dental public health problems.

Generic skills

Students should be able to:

1. 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. identify and address their own learning needs;
6. develop skills in professional communication.