Oral Health Practice 3 (ORAL30002)

This subject comprises lectures, seminars, on-line modules, preclinical and clinical experience and encompasses all aspects of oral health therapy patient care utilising student directed learning and self-assessment, reflective practice and problem-based learning.

Students will engage in supported clinical practice providing the full oral health therapy scope of practice within general and specialist dental practices in the public and private sectors, in rural and metropolitan settings, special needs and outreach dental care programs.

Topics of speciality to this subject are: aetiology and management of early childhood caries; oral health care for preschool children; continued development of diagnosis and treatment planning for oral health therapy care;  further development in the provision and evaluation of preventive, periodontal and restorative treatment and orthodontic procedures; atraumatic restorative techniques; vital tooth bleaching and mouthguards; implant maintenance; advanced periodontal treatment planning and maintenance; aetiology, differential diagnosis and management of enamel defects; child protection and mandatory reporting; and advanced clinical experience in oral health therapy patient care.

This subject completes the clinical and educational preparation for full Oral Health Therapy (OHT) scope of practice including:

• care within a preventive, health promoting philosophy
• history taking and preparation of patients for oral health therapy care
• autonomous examination, diagnosis and treatment planning for patients of all ages
• intra and extra oral radiography and radiological interpretation and diagnosis
• preventive care for patients of all ages
• orthodontic procedures within scope of OHT practice
• restorative care (full dental therapy scope) for all children, adolescents and adults of all ages
• periodontal care (full dental hygiene scope) for people of all ages
• vital tooth bleaching and mouthguard construction
• management and oral health care for special needs patients
• provision of care under general anaesthesia within scope of OHT practice
• preparation for OHT practice in specialist areas of dentistry including orthodontics, prosthodontics, paedodontics, periodontics and special needs dentistry
• management of polypharmacy and administration of drugs according to regulatory frameworks
• recognition of pathological conditions requiring referral
• self- assessment and recognition of boundaries of professional competence and appropriate referral
• skills in collaborative practice and teamwork
• ethical practice
• evidence based practice
• respect for cultural social and environmental conditions that contribute to poor health
• culturally safe and sensitive practice care that considers family, carers and social conditions in the development of oral health care treatment plans