DENT 1005AHO - Dental Science and Practice I Part 1

From a patient care focus, this stream introduces students to the practice of dentistry and provides a foundation for understanding the normal structure and function of the oral cavity, evidence-based maintenance of patients' health and dentistry as a career. By working through a series of interactive learning activities, students develop an integrated knowledge base related to evidence-based patient care and related clinical skills and professional behaviours. These integrated learning activities present various practice situations that focus on the initial phases of patient care and are supported by class meetings, laboratory, tutorial and clinical exercises. Learning is also supported by independent study and discussion of findings in class. Students work in a collaborative environment to learn to critically evaluate themselves, and plan and implement strategies for improvement. The stream emphasises the scientific basis of dentistry and integrated knowledge of the structure and function of selected body systems, including the normal appearance of oral soft and hard tissues, and main features of the masticatory system and key functions of a healthy body such as nutrient supply and waste removal, respiration, transport and movement, as a basis for the analysis of patients' oral health; reviews important ethical issues in dentistry; develops individual and group learning skills; provides clinical experiences related to the review of occupational health and safety, creation of dental records from patient histories and oral examination, the oral ecosystem in terms of balance and imbalance, preventive dentistry and maintenance of patients' oral health, at both individual and population health levels; and introduces students to behavioural sciences as applied to dentistry.