Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ORC1009

 
TITLE Dental Specialties for Dental Assistants 9 - Preventive and Community Dentistry

 
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 focuses on the prevention of dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth surface loss, trauma and oral cancer. Emphasis is placed on the prevention of these oral diseases through understanding their determinants. The study unit focuses on the importance of diet, oral hygiene and the use of appropriate amounts of fluoride, as well as the use of fissure sealants. The link between oral health and tobacco and alcohol consumption is also discussed.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of the study-unit are to:
1. Provide basic evidence-based information on the aetiology and prevention of all dental diseases;
2. Apply to practice the principles of prevention and oral health promotion;
3. Integrate the knowledge in preventive dentistry acquired in other study units in the course;
4. Provide basic knowledge in the assessment of different preventive and health promotion approaches appropriate for the prevention of dental diseases.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Describe commonly occurring diseases of the mouth and their relevant prevention and treatment;
2. Describe in appropriate detail the health risks of substance abuse, including tobacco and alcohol, on oral health and general health;
3. Describe relevant psychological and sociological aspects of health, illness, behavioural change and disease;
4. Describe the planning of oral health care for patients to meet needs and demands;
5. Describe how the dental team can help patients improve their oral condition;
6. Discuss appropriate evidence-based oral health maintenance techniques for all dental diseases;
7. Describe how diet may affect oral health, including non-carious tooth surface loss;
8. Describe the methods/aids that can be used in maintaining oral hygiene;
9. Name pharmaceutical agents used in preventive dentistry.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Relate basic evidence-based preventive education and guidance to patients/parents/carers in order to encourage self-care and motivation;
2. Explain to patients and carers appropriate evidence-based oral health maintenance techniques for all dental diseases;
3. Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques including toothbrushing, the use of interdental aids, mouthwash rinses, disclosing agents, care and maintenance of prostheses and orthodontic appliances.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

1. Title: Essential Dental Public Health
Authors: Blanaid Daly, Richard Watt, Paul Batchelor, and Elizabeth Treasure
Edition 2nd
ISBN-10: 0199679371
ISBN-13: 978-0199679379

2. Title: Essentials of Dental Caries: The Disease and Its Management
Author: Edwina A. M. Kidd
Edition: 3rd
ISBN-10: 0198529783
ISBN-13: 978-0198529781

3. Title: Advanced Dental Nursing Paperback
Author: Robert Ireland
Edition: 2nd
ISBN-10: 1405192674
ISBN-13: 978-1405192675

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES 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, Independent Study & Practicum

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (15 Minutes) SEM1 Yes 40%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Emma Schembri
Anne-Marie Agius

 

 
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