ORALHLTH 5001 - Dental & Health Science (Adult Therapy) IV OH

The academic program aims to provide an overview and development of comprehensive oral health examination, treatment planning, prevention and restorative care for adults. This course will involve an interdisciplinary approach to management of the ageing dentition. In addition to a cariology and root caries update, students will learn to identify and understand the nature of the forms of non-carious loss of tooth structure including erosion, attrition and abrasion. The principles of examination, diagnosis and treatment planning for periodontal disease are also covered. The course will focus on how to clinically assess patients, identify their risk factors and plan short and long-term management. Oral pathology, TMJ disorders and emergency management of oral conditions are reviewed and further developed. Additional topics covered include physiology of pain, oral and dental pain pathways, local anaesthesia, psychology, chronic pain and referral. This course will help students acquire an appreciation of reasonable treatment goals, dental management, and ethical and legal issues in relation to medically-challenged, intellectually-disabled, psychiatrically-disabled and functionally-impaired aged patients, including patients requiring hospital management.