Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE DNS1405

 
TITLE Health and Safety in the Dental Laboratory

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Oral Rehabilitation and Community Care

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will introduce the student to materials and machinery used in the laboratory and their proper handling so as to avoid physical hazards. Also the student will be instructed on biological and chemical hazards which might be present in the dental laboratory, as well as proper posture and laboratory techniques. The local and EU laws covering health and safety will also be discussed. The use of proper machine handling to avoid accidents will be demonstrated.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of the study-unit are:
- To present to the dental technology student the National and EU legislation pertaining to Health and Safety in the dental laboratory.
- To make the dental technology student aware of and identify physical, biological and chemical hazards in the dental laboratory.
- Instruct the dental technology student on how to take the necessary precautions when handling biological and chemical hazards in the dental laboratory.
- Instruct the dental technology student on how to eliminate contamination by proper use of disinfection techniques.
- Instruct the dental technology student on the proper use of machinery in the dental laboratory.
- Instruct the dental technology student on the proper posture and laboratory techniques in the dental laboratory.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Discuss the National and EU legislation pertaining to Health and Safety in the dental laboratory.
- Discuss physical, biological and chemical hazards in the dental laboratory.
- Discuss appropriate techniques and precautions when handling biological and chemical hazards in the dental laboratory.
- Discuss proper use of disinfection techniques to eliminate contamination of the dental laboratory.
- Discuss the proper use of machinery in the dental laboratory.
- Discuss proper ergonomic and posture training and laboratory techniques in the dental laboratory.
- Interpret emerging guidelines for infection control.
- Identify infectious disease that pose a risk of transmission in oral health-care.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Draw up a comprehensive Risk Assessment in a Dental laboratory setting.
- Perform a risk assessment of a dental laboratory in relation to the prevention and management of cross contamination.
- Handle safely biological and chemical hazards.
- Use the proper disinfecting techniques to prevent cross contamination between the dental clinic and the laboratory.
- Use all the dental laboratory machinery available with the precautions suggested and safely.
- Perform proper ergonomics and laboratory techniques in the dental laboratory.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Legislation: http://www.ohsa.org.mt
- Basic Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Dentistry (Basic Guide Dentistry Series) Caroline Pankhurst, Wil Coulter. ISBN-13: 978-1405176620.

Lecture notes and journal articles.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES A pass in this study-unit is required before registering for DSG2500, DSG2501 and ORC2800.

Attendance to scheduled sessions, inclusive of lectures/tutorials, practical, laboratory and clinical components is compulsory. Students who do not attend at least 90% of the scheduled sessions will not be allowed to sit for any of the assessment components mentioned below.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Report SEM1 Yes 20%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Mario Joseph Zarb

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit