Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE DNS1100

 
TITLE Clinical Orientation for Dental Students

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 8

 
DEPARTMENT Faculty of Dental Surgery

 
DESCRIPTION Students will be introduced to the Clinical side of Dentistry through attendance at the various Operative and Consultant clinics in the Department of Dental Surgery. They will also be instructed in basic clinical procedures.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of this unit are to familiarise the student with the layout and running of the Dental Clinics and to teach the first principles of basic dental care. By the end of this study unit the students should be familiar with the layout and administrative procedures belonging to the Mater Dei Hospital Dental Department and the University Teaching Clinic. They shall gain sufficient knowledge and understanding of dental procedures to reinforce the concurrent lectures in Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology. The Study Unit will also provide a sound basis for progression to the second year clinics.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- explain the layout and running of the Dental Department;
- describe the chairside layout;
- list the principles of chairside assistance;
- list the principles of aseptic practice;
- explain the procedures in the Dental Laboratory;
- explain the appointment booking system.
- explain the principles of:
  - History taking, charting and planning of care
  - Dental Radiography
  - Prosthodontics
  - Preventive Dentistry
  - Oral Surgery
  - Restorative Dentistry
  - Orthodontics
  - Paediatric Dentistry

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Greet patients and escort to the chair side;
- Identify basic Dental Diagnostic Instruments;
- Assist senior Dental Students in Operative Dentistry;
- Perform tooth carving exercises;
- Perform Basic Laboratory procedures.
- Apply their knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry to the Clinical situation.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Basic Guide to Infection prevention and Control in Dentistry. Pankhurst and Coulter. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-7762-0.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in all assessment components is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

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 Lectures, Clinical Practice & Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination [See Add. Notes] (1 Hour) SEM1 Yes 40%
Practical [See Add. Notes] (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Maria Luisa Gainza-Cirauqui
Anne-Marie Agius
Emad Eddin Alzoubi
Nikolai Attard
Nicolas Bezzina
Adrienne Busuttil
Dougall Nicholas Busuttil
Matthew John Cachia
Gabriella Gatt
Daniel Keir
Jeremy Lanfranco
Elizabeth Martinelli
David Paul Mifsud
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