Oral Medicine, Surgery and Special Needs (DENT90121)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
Overview
| Availability | January |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject comprises complementary didactic and clinical components providing students with necessary skills in the disciplines of oral medicine, oral surgery and special needs. Competency in the core aspects of the Medicine and Surgery in Dentistry subject is required. Student learning will include: the part of surgery that deals with the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of disease, injuries and defects of the human jaws and associated structures; the oral health care of patients with chronic and medically related disorders; the oral health care of people with an intellectual disability, medical, physical or psychiatric conditions.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject students should be able to:
- Understand the principles of oral infections not associated with the hard tissues of the mouth; the presentation and diagnosis of chronic and recurring oral mucosal ulcers, including recurrent aphthous stomatitis; the diagnosis and management of gingival swelling and pigmented lesions; the oral manifestation of a range of dermatology conditions; the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of oral mucosal malignancy and potentially malignant lesions; aspects of haematology important to oral mucosal conditions; the oral manifestation of important connective tissue disorders; and the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic oro-facial pain and temporo-mandibular disorder.
- Comprehend the extractions, the surgical removal of teeth, surgical management of third molars, management of medically compromised patients, the surgical management of unerupted teeth, haemorrhage in a dental setting, as well as medical emergencies.
- Understand the basis of Special Needs Dentistry including gerodontics and related medical issues with aging, disease and health, developmental disabilities, neurodegenerative disorders, management of endocrine diseases, transplant medicine and dentistry as well as palliative dental care and be able to understand the complexities of managing patients with a range of these issues. They should be able to clearly understand the link between general health and oral health. Students should be comfortable when confronted by special needs patients in both clinical as well as in aged care and Institutionalised settings and have a sound understanding of consent and ethical issues as they pertain to this patient population and know the procedures involved when patients are unable to consent for themselves.
- Understand the competencies required to prescribe medicines. Health professionals who prescribe need to be equipped with competencies which enable them to make prescribing decisions which maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of using medicines to maintain the health of individuals and the community.
Generic skills
- 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 skills in effective transdiscipinary management of patients 4. develop effective organizational skills and time management 5. develop skills of workplace safety 6. be able to identify and address their own learning needs.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Successful completion of all second year DDS subjects
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
A candidate for the Melbourne DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY must have abilities and skills in the following five categories:
• observation;
• communication;
• motor;
• conceptual, integrative, and quantitative;
• behavioural and social.
I. Observation:
Practical Classes
The student must be able to observe mandatory demonstrations and experiments in the designated subjects.
Clinical Work
The student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision, hearing and somatic sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.
II. Communication:
Practical Classes
The student must be able to hear and comprehend instructions in laboratories and practical sessions and be able to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of the principles and practices of the subject during assessment tasks.
Clinical Work
A student must be able to hear, to speak, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture and perceive nonverbal communications. A student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in both oral and written modalities. The student must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in both oral and written modes with all members of the health care team, including using telephones and computers.
III. Motor:
Practical Classes
A student must be able to undertake the motor requirements for any mandatory practical sessions. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
Clinical Work
Students should have good motor function to elicit information from patients by physical examination; for example palpation, percussion, and other diagnostic manoeuvres. Students should possess sufficient manual dexterity to be able to perform procedures required as a dental practitioner. The student should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general dental care and emergency treatment to patients. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, hand eye coordination and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
IV. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities:
Practical Classes
The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem-solving skills and demonstrate this ability in practical sessions. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities.
Clinical Work
The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem-solving skills and demonstrate the ability to establish oral health care plans and priorities. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities.
V. Behavioural and Social Attributes:
Practical Classes
A student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all required tasks, and display professional behaviour at all times.
Clinical Work
A student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. A student must display professional behaviour at all times and develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and colleagues.
It is a requirement of the course that students will be expected to physically examine their peers (of all genders) in teaching settings and patients (of all genders) in clinics.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details can be found at the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
The Melbourne Dental School policy outlining requirements in relation to student disability for entry to and progression within the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY are outlined below.
Melbourne Dental School Policy in Relation to Students with Disabilities
The curriculum of the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY has been developed using 64 graduate attribute statements in six domains (professionalism, scientific knowledge, patient care, dental profession, systems of health care and the society). Students entering the Melbourne DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY must therefore have the aptitude to achieve these attributes during the course in readiness for progression to independent practice.
The Melbourne Dental School welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study. Appropriate adjustments will be made to enhance the participation of students with a disability in the dental course. A prospective student with a disability is advised to discuss with Student Equity and Disability Support any issues related to his or her ability to successfully meet all the course and subsequent registration requirements.
All students of the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence at graduation required by the faculty and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation agency.
A student with a disability may be asked to provide independent medical or other clinical assessments of the disability and its possible impact on the ability of the student to successfully complete the course, before being accepted into the course. This statement would be treated in confidence with only those on the admissions committee and the Student Equity and Disability Support having access to the document.
Deliberate misinformation about the student’s ability to successfully complete the course will be regarded as unprofessional practice and treated as such.
While the Melbourne Dental School will make reasonable adjustments to minimise the impact of a disability, all students must be able to participate in the program in an independent manner. It is not reasonable for students to use an intermediary as an adjustment to compensate for a disability impacting on any of the five categories. In the clinical environment there is a primary duty of care to the patients and the needs of students cannot compromise this. It is expected that all students will be able to participate fully in all classroom based learning activities and to successfully fulfil the self-study requirements of the course. The presence of a disability will not automatically entitle the student to preferential treatment in clinical place allocation.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
1 x on-line MCQ test on material covered in oral surgery
| To be held in March | 10% |
1 x case presentation of an oral medicine case
| Throughout February and March | 10% |
1 x case presentation on special needs
| Throughout April and May | 10% |
1 x OSCE on oral medicine, oral surgery and special needs
| During mid-year | 20% |
1 x case presentation on oral surgery
| Throughout July and August | 5% |
Reflective journal, and log of cases - to be submitted at the end of the teaching period
| End of the teaching period | N/A |
1 x oral group presentation on combined oral medicine, oral surgery and special needs dentistry
| Throughout September and October | 5% |
1 x viva voce examination on material covered in oral surgery, oral medicine and special needs dentistry
| End of the teaching period | 15% |
1 x written examination on oral surgery, oral medicine and special needs dentistry.
| End of the teaching period | 25% |
| Hurdle requirement: 75% attendance at Lectures; 100% attendance at Seminars/Tutorials, Practical Classes, Clinical Sessions, and Clinical & Case Simulations/Discussions | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- January
Time commitment details
185 contact hours (indicative), 140 non-contact hours (indicative)
Additional delivery details
This subject is delivered either partially or fully in-person in Second Half Year 2020. Please ensure you are able to attend any essential in-person requirements or speak to Stop 1 about alternative subject options.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Last updated: 3 November 2022