Medicine and Surgery in Dentistry (DENT90117)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Year Long |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject builds on knowledge gained in the 1st year of the DDS. It has the following components: general pathology, therapeutics, principles of medicine and surgery in dental practice; oral medicine; oral surgery; special needs dentistry; oral pathology; and oral radiology.
Student learning will include: the importance of pathology, medicine, therapeutic and surgical knowledge and principles and techniques in dentistry; oral pathology and the presentation of oral disease and its pathological interpretation, including histopathology; oral radiographic interpretation of pathological processes; the part of surgery that deals with the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of human jaws and associated structures; the oral health care of patients with chronic and medically related disorders of the oral and maxillofacial region and their diagnosis and nonsurgical management; the oral health care of people with an intellectual disability, medical, physical or psychiatric condition that requires special methods or techniques to prevent or treat oral health problems or where such conditions necessitate special dental treatment plans.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- understand the principles of medicine as it relates to dentistry, with particular emphasis on haematological disorders and cardiovascular diseases; liver and renal diseases; gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases; infectious diseases; stroke and epilepsy; rheumatology; diseases of the endocrine system; paediatric medicine; and metabolic disorders;
- comprehend the importance of therapeutics in dental practice. In particular, students should have an in-depth understanding of: drug classification systems; pharmacokinetics; pharmacodynamics; adverse drug rections; drug therapy of pain; anticoagulants; antimicrobials; immunosuppressants; and local anaesthetics;
- understand surgical principles and practice including surgical protocols, preoperative procedures, basic surgical techniques, as well as the principles of trauma surgery;
- understand principles and develop skills of diagnostic pathology including types of diagnostic tests available, disorders of growth and differentiation, acquired disorders of differentiation and growth, cell injury, inflammation, metabolic disorders, inherited and acquired disorders, immunopathology and neoplasia as these relate to dentistry.
- Understand the principles of oral infections not associated with the hard tissues of the mouth;
- Understand the presentation and diagnosis of chronic and recurring oral mucosal ulcers, including recurrent aphthous stomatitis;
- Understand the diagnosis and management of gingival swelling and pigmented lesions;
- Understand the oral manifestation of a range of dermatology conditions;
- Understand the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of oral mucosal malignancy and potentially malignant lesions;
- Understand aspects of haematology important to oral mucosal conditions;
- Understand the oral manifestation of important connective tissue disorders;
- Understand 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, gerodontics and related medical issues with aging, cardiovascular disease, developmental disabilities, neurodegenerative disorders, management of endocrine diseases, transplant medicine and dentistry as well as palliative dental care;
- Understand principles and develop skills of diagnostic oral pathology including types of diagnostic tests available as these relate to dentistry.
- Interpret: and critique radiographs and other non-invasively produced images of the jaws, facial skeleton and temporo-mandibular joint.
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 organisational 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.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Successful completion of all 1st 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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
One case presentation on common medical and surgical conditions and their treatment
| Before mid-year | 20% |
2 x 1-hour on-line MCQ tests ; 15% each
| To be held in March and August | 30% |
1 x written examination on principles of medicine and surgery in dental practice, oral surgery, medicine and special needs dentistry.
| End of the teaching period | 50% |
| Hurdle requirement: 75% attendance at Lectures; 100% attendance at Seminars/Tutorials, Practical Classes, and Clinical & Case Simulations/Discussions | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Year Long
Principal coordinator Antonio Celentano Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 135 contact hours (indicative), 52 non-contact hours (indicative) Total time commitment 187 hours Pre teaching start date 16 January 2025 Pre teaching requirements Attend Orientation activities. Teaching period 20 January 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 24 January 2025 Census date 2 June 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025
Time commitment details
135 contact hours (indicative), 52 non-contact hours (indicative)
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Last updated: 4 March 2025