511-101 Dental Studies 1

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject covers the following areas: behavioural science - dentistry in the community and psychology; biostatistics; introductory preventive dentistry and community dental health; introductory clinical dental science; growth studies; dental materials science; and introduction to emergency medicine.

On completion of this subject, students should:

Comprehend: the principles of the aetiology of common oral diseases; the general growth and development of the skull, jaws and dentition; the principles of materials science; the concept of communities and the implications for dentistry; the relevance of psychology to health care and good dental practice; the principles of statistical theory.

Have developed: skill in identification and charting of dental plaques; ability to analyse skull and dental arch dimensional changes with age; awareness of the communities' expectations of dentistry and the delivery of dental care; skills in collating, graphing and interpreting data.

Appreciate: the wisdom of health maintenance rather than the treatment of preventable disease; the responsibility of dentists and the dental profession towards the provision of preventive care and dental treatment of oral disease at individual and community levels.

Assessment

A practical examination in First Aid during the first semester; a 2-hour written examination at the end of the first semester covering Biostatistics (10%), Introduction to Emergency Medicine (10%) and Introduction to Clinical Dental Science (10%); two 2-hour written examinations at the end of the year, one of which will cover Introductory Preventive Dentistry (10%), and Growth Studies (20%); the other will cover Dentistry in the Community (10%) and Psychology (20%); one 1-hour open-book examination at the end of the year in Dental Materials Science (10%); practical work during the year. Students who do not pass the practical examination in First Aid will be permitted to proceed with the dental course but must pass the practical examination before the end of third year.

Prescribed Texts

• Gleitman M 1991, Psychology. 3rd ed. Norton.
• Bates E & Linder-Pelz S 1987, Health Care Issues. Allen & Unwin.