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Doctor of Dental Surgery (MC-DDENSUR) // Attributes, outcomes and skills
About this course
- Overview
- Entry and participation requirements
- Attributes, outcomes and skills
- Course structure
- Further study
- Notes
Principal Coordinator
Rebecca Wong
Contact
Melbourne Dental School
Currently enrolled students
Future students:
- Further information: Doctor of Dental Surgery Webpage
- Email: Enquiry Form
Professional accreditation
Graduates of the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) are eligible for registration with The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Intended learning outcomes
A Doctor of Dental Surgery graduate will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability, and responsibility as a dental practitioner and will:
Social responsibility and professionalism
- embody compassion, respect, and integrity in the provision of ethical, culturally safe, person-centred care
- demonstrate critical reflexivity and recognise their impact on people, communities, and the environment
- work collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities for equitable oral health outcomes
- critically reflect on their knowledge and skills as a dental practitioner and develop a plan for continued learning
Communication and leadership
- communicate and collaborate effectively with the person receiving care, their families, carers and communities, and other health and care professionals to support optimal health outcomes
- recognise people, groups, and populations at increased risk of poor oral and systemic health and advocate for optimal oral and general health outcomes
- care for their personal health and wellbeing, and that of all members of their team
Critical thinking
- identify, critique, and apply contemporary research findings and scientific methods in evidence-based dental practice
Health promotion
- integrate health education and health promotion theory and practice into the provision of oral health care from an individual to a population level
Scientific and clinical knowledge
- apply advanced knowledge of the biological, psychological, and social determinants of health to oral health care and disease prevention
- integrate established and evolving scientific knowledge in delivering person-centred oral health care
Person-centred care
- perform a history, examination, and diagnostic tests efficiently and effectively, maintaining healthcare records to the highest standards
- diagnose dental and oro-facial related conditions using knowledge of normal human oral structure and function, and patient risk factors
- collaborate with the patient and interprofessionally to develop an evidence-based, person-centred management plan including referral to other health, care, and support professionals
- provide ethical, safe, quality, person-centred oral health care within their scope of practice
- evaluate and monitor the outcomes of oral health care to achieve optimal function and prevention of disease through health behaviour change and self-management
Generic skills
On completion of the DDS, students will be able to:
- work effectively as a member of a team;
- have skills in interpersonal understanding, problem-solving, decision-making, program design and implementation, evaluation and advocacy;
- demonstrate capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life;
- demonstrate professional skills and attitudes;
- design and conduct scientific investigations;
- exhibit professional responsibility;
- critically appraise research evidence;
- demonstrate the ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner;
- apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and co-operatively, to current and future problems;
- be proficient in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies;
- have an awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities;
- value diversity of opinion within health care;
- value diversity in health beliefs, lifestyles, ethnic and cultural backgrounds;
- demonstrate a non-judgemental approach to their interactions within the health system, with other health professionals;
- ensure safe and effective care for people of diverse backgrounds.
Graduate attributes
The DDS prepares graduates for professional practice through the development of a relationship in the following six domains:
Self: In building their relationship with self, students will be expected to develop
- an understanding of the principles of empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity, altruism, resilience and lifelong curiosity; the ability to demonstrate them and a recognition of their importance in health care
- an understanding of the principles of reflective practice, the ability to apply them, and a recognition of their importance in health care
- an understanding of the principles of self-awareness, the ability to recognise when clinical problems exceed their knowledge and skill, and a willingness to seek help
- the ability to identify and address their own learning needs
- the ability to respond constructively to appraisal, performance review or assessment
- the ability to manage uncertainty
- the ability to apply effective time management and organisational skills
- the ability to recognise and manage emotion in themselves and others
- the ability to maintain their own physical, emotional, social and spiritual health and a recognition of the importance of professional support in this process
- a recognition of their own personal, spiritual, cultural or religious beliefs and an awareness that these beliefs must not prevent the provision of adequate and appropriate care to the patient
Knowledge: In building their relationship with knowledge, students will develop
- an understanding of the scientific method relevant to biological, behavioural and social science
- an understanding of research methods and their applications
- an understanding of normal structure, function and development relevant to clinical dental practice at all stages of life
- an understanding of the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that are important in maintaining the body's homeostasis
- an understanding of normal life processes across the lifecourse
- an understanding of the factors that might disturb normal structure, function and development
- an understanding of the aetiology, pathology, symptoms and signs, natural history and prognosis of oral disease
- an understanding of the management (pharmacological, physical, nutritional, behavioural and psychological) of important oral and medically related conditions
- the ability to access new knowledge from all sources, to analyse and interpret it in a critical manner, and to apply it appropriately to their provision of health care
- the ability to learn from patients, health professionals and the community in a broad range of settings
- an appreciation of the responsibility to contribute towards the generation of new knowledge.
Patients: In building their relationship with patients, students will develop
- an understanding of and respect for the rights of patients including patient choice, dignity and privacy
- the ability to communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds including the ability to listen to, respond to, inform and understand the patient's perspective
- the ability to advocate appropriately on behalf of the patient
- an understanding of factors affecting human relationships and the psychological, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of patients
- the ability to alleviate pain and provide appropriate treatment outcomes for physical comfort
- an understanding of chronic illness and disability and its impact on the patient, their carers and communities
- the ability to construct with the patient an accurate, thorough, organised, medical history and to perform an accurate oral examination
- the ability to integrate and interpret clinical findings and apply rigorous reasoning to arrive at an appropriate plan of management
- the ability to recognise serious illness
- The ability to formulate an evidence-based and cost effective management plan in collaboration with the patient
- The ability to perform relevant dental procedures effectively and safely, with due regard for the patient's comfort
Dental profession: In building their relationship with the dental profession, students will develop
- an understanding of the continuum of dental training and the various roles and expertise of different dental and oral health practitioners and their interaction
- an understanding of the potential conflicts of interest that may confront oral health practitioners and other health professionals
- an understanding of and ability to apply the principles of ethics in the provision of health care and research.
- an understanding of organisational governance, the ability to be an active participant in professional organisations, and an appreciation of the benefits of this participation
- an understanding of the principles of mentorship and the ability to apply them with colleagues
- the ability to give effective feedback to colleagues in order to help them improve their performance
- an appreciation of the responsibility to maintain standards of dental practice at the highest level throughout a professional career
Systems of Healthcare: In building a relationship with systems of health care, students will develop
- an understanding of the roles, responsibilities and expertise of all health professionals, and how they work in teams to deliver health care
- a respect for the roles and expertise of other health care professionals and the ability to communicate effectively with them
- an understanding of the principles of team work and the ability to work effectively in a team, including as a leader
- an appreciation of the responsibility to contribute to the education of all health professionals
- an understanding of the principles of quality and safety in health care systems
- the ability to work effectively as a dental practitioner within a quality and safety framework including the ability to recognise, respond to and learn from adverse events
- an understanding of the principles of effective record keeping and the ability to maintain high quality records
- an understanding of the principles of continuity and coordination of health care
- an understanding of the structure of the Australian health care system and health care systems globally
- an understanding of the principles of efficient and equitable allocation and use of finite resources in health care systems, locally and globally
- an understanding of the role of political systems in shaping health care systems locally, nationally and internationally
Society: In building their relationship with society, students will develop
- an understanding of the interactions between humans and their social and physical environment
- an understanding of the determinants of a well society and the economic, political, psychological, social and cultural factors that contribute to the development and persistence of health and illness
- an understanding of the principles of health promotion including primary and secondary prevention
- an understanding of the health of Indigenous Australians including their history, cultural development and the impact of colonisation and the ongoing health disparities of Indigenous people in this country and globally
- an understanding of the burden of oral disease in differing populations and geographic locations
- an understanding of the differing requirements of health care systems in a culturally diverse society
- the ability to respect community values, including an appreciation of a diversity of backgrounds and cultural values
- an understanding of the principles of oral health literacy and a willingness and ability to contribute to the oral health education of the community
- the ability to consider local, regional, national and global ramifications of health care issues
- the ability and a willingness to contribute to the community
- a commitment to contribute to the resolution of oral health inequities locally and globally
- an understanding of the relationship between environmental issues and the health of local communities and society
- a commitment to practise dentistry in an environmentally responsible way
Last updated: 2 March 2024