Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

A graduate from the BDSc course of the School of Dentistry should have sufficient understanding, knowledge, skills and attitudes to be a caring, competent, reflective and ethical dental practitioner.

The undergraduate dental program has been developed around four main streams.

Each stream provides the framework for the achievement of learning outcomes across and within all years of the course.

The streams also provide the framework for the development of the curriculum and for the assessment of students performances.

1. Integrated science of medicine and dentistry
2. Fundamentals of clinical dentistry
3. Clinical dental practice
4. Personal and professional development

1. Integrated science of medicine and dentistry

This stream initially focuses on the normal structure and function of the human body and their relationship to general and oral health.

Later the focus changes to structural and functional abnormalities and their effects on general and oral health. A graduate should be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of normal human structure, function and behaviour.
• Evaluate and discuss disorders of human structure, function and behaviour and their effects on health.
• Appraise the implications of systemic medical conditions in the management of oral health. Formulate diagnosis of systemic medical conditions which present with oral symptoms and initiate appropriate management.
• Apply knowledge of pathological and clinical features of disease to dental practice.
• Demonstrate and apply critical thinking.
• Apply an evidenced-based approach to dental practice.
• Evaluate research and new information and apply to dental practice.

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2. Fundamentals of clinical dentistry

This stream provides opportunities to learn, practice and reflect on the skills and concepts that are fundamental to dentistry. A graduate should be able to:

• Apply appropriate diagnostic processes.
• Identify the oral health care needs of patients.
• Apply and evaluate strategies for oral disease prevention, health maintenance and health promotion for individuals and the community.
• Provide effective and appropriate patient management.
• Identify the social and behavioural nature of individuals and evaluate the associated management implications.

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3. Clinical dental practice

This stream ensures familiarity with the applicable knowledge and skills required by general dentists in the specialised areas of dentistry. A graduate should be able to:

• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the specialised areas of dentistry at a level that is appropriate for a general dentist.
• Recognise complex clinical situations and appropriately manage such situations in liaison with specialist health practitioners.
• Evaluate the current trends in the management of oral diseases.
• Recognise and interpret the health care systems in Australia and overseas and where relevant, apply this to dental practice.

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4. Personal and professional development

This stream focuses on the development of the personal and professional aspects of dental practice. A graduate should be able to:

• Use effective communication skills.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuing education in order to maintain skills and knowledge.
• Appraise and apply the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities required of a dentist.
• Identify your own intellectual and physical limitations and apply this awareness to the practice of dentistry.
• Identify and interpret the effects of multicultural society on the patterns of oral health in the community and their implications on oral health care delivery to the population.
• Have a working knowledge of the socio-cultural context of oral health care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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