Comprehensive Dental Practice (DENT90086)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject students should:

• demonstrate appropriate caring behaviour towards patients and maintain professional relationships between themselves and patients;
• understand and apply the principles of culturally safe and sensitive practice and provide care in an empathic manner;
• demonstrate competence in managing oral health issues of rural, remote communities and Indigenous communities;
• be able to apply the ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of dental care;
• 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;
• be able to practise evidence-based dentistry;
• use contemporary information technology for documentation, management of information and applications related to health care;
• have developed effective communication skills to gather necessary information from patients;
• be able to communicate well with other members of the dental team;
• be able to identify patients’ expectations, desires and attitudes when planning and providing treatment;
• be able to apply the scientific principles of sterilisation, disinfection and antisepsis, and cross infection control to clinical practice;
• understand and apply the regulations relating to the use of ionising radiation, including radiation protection and dose reduction;
• 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;
• be able to synthesise the information collected in order to arrive at a diagnosis;
• 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;
• demonstrate the process of accurate record keeping, and obtaining and recording informed consent for all forms of treatment;
• 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;
• be able to diagnose orofacial pain and TMD disorders and manage simple conditions;
• 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;
• have developed skills to safely perform a wide range of clinical procedures which are pertinent to general dental practice;
• recognise and know when to refer patients to specialists or to seek appropriate advice from specialists;
• be able to effectively engage in oral health promotion;
• engage in professional development activities.

Generic skills

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.