Course overview
This course consolidates and extends the foundational material covered in the first two years of the Bachelor of Oral Health program, with a strong emphasis on clinical application. Students will deepen their understanding of contemporary oral health philosophies and evidence-based practice. The course also explores oral health and disease at both individual and population levels, helping students appreciate the broader context of clinical care.
The content is closely integrated with the course Clinical Practice IIIOH, where students will apply their learning in clinical settings. Key topic areas include: paedodontics, population oral health, extended adult care, pharmacology, panoramic radiography, oral pathology, community care and special needs dentistry.
By the end of the course, students will be well prepared to translate theoretical knowledge into practical, patient-centred care.
Course learning outcomes
- Develop the principles of preventive and restorative dentistry gained in the first two years of the program and apply them to those aspects of clinical dentistry that fall within the range of duties for oral health therapists.
- Describe different methods for diagnosis of dental disease and select appropriate intervention.
- Further develop understanding of the causes, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases and the role of the oral health therapist in relation to oral diseases.
- Apply a patient-centered approach to oral health care for diverse populations, including children with early childhood caries, older patients with unique oral health needs, and individuals with special needs, by assessing risk factors, developing individualized treatment plans, and incorporating cultural and ethical considerations into their practice.
- Develop understanding of the development of normal occlusion and the role of the oral health therapists in recognising occlusal abnormalities.
- Define and describe traumatic dental injuries and the correct emergency and long-term treatment options.
- Apply appropriate methods for the reduction and control of pain in patients of all ages, and perform emergency treatment to alleviate pain and manage infection across the primary, mixed and permanent dentitions.
- Demonstrate competency with equipment preparation (including the setting of parameters), patient preparation and exposure of panoramic images.
- Develop an understanding of the major health problems (with particular reference to oral health) in Australian society, and the associated social and environmental factors, and the impact on dental services.