Dental Practice 2 (DENT90120)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• understand the role and responsibilities of the general dental practitioner in the provision of comprehensive patient centred oral health care;
• identify differing oral health care needs of individuals and groups within the community; 
• implement the concepts and practice of ongoing comprehensive patient-centred care in the prevention, identification, assessment and treatment of oral diseases - as opposed to the episodic management of symptomatic oral problems; 
• perform an accurate examination, diagnosis and treatment plan prior to commencing the care for patients with simple or advanced/complicated oral health issues (high caries and complex periodontal disease); 
• apply the concepts and practice of maintaining oral health and provide a prognosis; 
• implement and apply constant evaluation of techniques, peer review processes and the application of scientific rigour and principles to the resolution of clinical problems; 
• practise correct infection control in dental practice;
• communicate professionally amongst peers and patients; 
• understand concepts related to the differential diagnoses of oral diseases and the use of special diagnostic procedures; 
• understand concepts related to the conservative management of destructive lesions of the teeth and their supporting structures; 
• understand concepts related to use of dental materials in a clinical setting;
• understand concepts related to the sequelae of the loss of all or part of the dentition, and complete and partial oral rehabilitation; 
• understand concepts related to the control and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease; 
• apply the concepts and practice of ongoing total patient care in the prevention, identification, assessment and treatment of oral diseases, even for the more complex cases; 
• evaluate and implement a maintenance program of oral health care after treatment of patients including those with advanced or complex oral health problems; 
• recognise the need for referral in those situations which cannot be successfully managed in general dental practice or require specialist advice or intervention;
• manage issues of safety in general dental practice; 
• manage behavioural aspects of patients including those with disabilities;
• recognise the diversity of clinical techniques and dental materials available to meet each individual's specific oral health needs and the limitations of particular treatment modalities; 
• ensure the provision of ethical practice, quality assurance in dentistry and life-long continuing education; 
• perform examinations in relation to endodontic treatment and formulate accurate diagnosis; 
• demonstrate skills to assess the endodontic case difficulty and be able to decide if a patient should be referred; 
• apply the knowledge and skills gained from 2nd year preclinical procedures into clinical practice; 
• demonstrate clinical skills in restoring broken down teeth with indirect restorations – full coverage porcelain fused metal crowns, all metal crowns, direct core build up and cast post cores; 
• apply the principles of osseointegration of implants;
• describe different implant components and their usage in a clinical setting;
• undertake accurate history-taking, clinical oral examination and patient management of children and adolescents;
• accurately produce, interpret and critique intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs of young patients and undertake local analgesia administration in the child patient; 
• have developed skills in diagnosis and treatment planning and management of young patients in their care; 
• effectively communicate with young persons in the dental situation; 
• perform a dental prophylaxis, place a rubber dam, place fissure sealants, issue mouthguard and perform challenging restorations including placement of stainless steel crowns;
• be responsible and safe in the dental management of young persons under your care; 
• manage the behavioural aspects of young patients in the dental setting with some assistance. 

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 teamwork and workplace safety;
• Be able to identify and address their own learning needs;
• Develop self-awareness and skills to maintain their own mental and physical wellbeing;
• Be able to develop professional attitudes and behaviour.