Principles of Dental Practice 1 (DENT90118)

Intended learning outcomes

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

• understand the importance of diagnosis, treatment planning and accurate record taking in total patient care; 
• understand the importance of the maintenance of oral health on the completion of a course of planned dental treatment;
• apply the concepts of total patient care and understanding the dentist's responsibility for the safe and effective management of persons in the dental situation;
• apply the principles involved in protecting oral tissues against diseases and the maintenance of oral functional integrity;
• discuss the philosophy underpinning the prevention and treatment of oral diseases; 
• understand the fundamentals of the processes of dental caries and periodontal diseases; 
• understanding the process of caries management by risk assessment;
• understand the sequelae of the loss of all or part of the dentition, and complete and partial denture therapy; 
• demonstrate a patient-centred approach to paediatric dental patient care; 
• demonstrate responsibility and safety in the dental management of young persons under their care; 
• achieve effective communication with young persons in the dental situation; 
• understand the importance of prevention, identification, assessment and treatment of oral diseases, as opposed to the episodic management of symptomatic oral problems in paediatric dental care; 
• produce accurate examination and accurate records, diagnoses and treatment plan prior to commencement of care of the young person; 
• achieve accurate production, interpretation and critique of intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs of the young patient; 
• demonstrate appreciation of the value of maintenance of oral health after treatment of child and adolescents including those with advanced or complicated problems; 
• appreciate the need for specialist referral for those young patients who cannot be successfully managed in general practice and have the knowledge to make appropriate referrals based on a clinical assessment; 
• manage the behavioural aspects of young patients in the dental setting; 
• understand the relevance of growth assessment in the clinical setting and be able to apply common terminologies related to dentofacial growth and development in orthodontics; 
• appreciate that disruption to this orderly process can lead to disorders of the dentofacial region and orthodontic problems; 
• identify various orthodontic problems and understand their prevalence and aetiology; 
• describe how to perform a comprehensive orthodontic assessment and understand the indications for treatment; 
• identify developing teeth and anomalies radiographically and perform a basic cephalometric analysis; 
• to list diagnostic factors, specifying particular problems for individual patients, and providing possible solutions in a priortised overall patient treatment plan in orthodontics; 
• discuss the principles of treatment of various malocclusions including the common interceptive, orthodontic and maxillofacial procedures involved; 
• describe the basic scope and limitations of common orthodontic treatments to enable discussion and explanation of treatment with patients and parents; 
• evaluate and critically appraise clinical research evidence as it relates to longevity of dental restorations; 
• demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to the risks and hazards of using instrumentation in the confined space of the oral cavity; 
• make evidence based decisions on when to replace missing teeth in a partially edentulous person (including knowledge of the shortened dental arch concept); 
• comprehend the relevance of collection of information (history and examination) from partially edentulous patients;
• comprehend appraisal of the patient requiring removable partial dentures; 
• comprehend basic principles of fixed prosthodontics; 
• recognise basic endodontic instruments;
• identify pulp chambers and canals using knowledge of pulpal anatomy and radiographic interpretation; 
• recognise canal systems with extreme curvatures, calcifications and other complicating anatomical features; 
• understand the modes of rotary NiTi file fracture;
• summarise the terminology and nomenclature of endodontics and fixed prosthodontics essential for basic dental science;
• comprehend appraisal of the patient requiring fixed prosthodontics for the replacement of missing teeth and/or endodontic treatment; 
• discuss and review clinical and laboratory steps involved in construction of different fixed prostheses; 
• discuss CAD/CAM dentistry and its relevance to current fixed prosthodontics. 

Generic skills

• Be able to access new knowledge from different sources, analyse and interpret it in a critical manner;
• Develop skills in effective communication with teaching staff and peers;
• Develop effective organizational skills and time management;
• Develop skills in team work and develop skills of workplace safety;
• Be able to identify and address their own learning needs;
• Develop skills in professional communication.