Orientation: Pediatric Dentistry Module (Dent 5310)
This document provides an overview of the pediatric dentistry module for third-year students, building upon the foundational knowledge acquired in DMD2.
Instructional Team
The module will be led and supported by a team of experienced dental professionals:
- Module Coordinator: Dr. Lisa Bowden
- Lecturer (Online): Dr. Jillian Patel
- Clinical Tutor: Dr. Therese Kvist
- Additional Clinical Tutors: The team will be supplemented by clinicians from the Centre for Dental Service (CDS) who are training as pediatric dentists, as well as other external pediatric dentistry specialists at the Highgate clinic.
Module Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Explain Core Concepts: Articulate the etiology, clinical manifestations, and management strategies for common dental anomalies and oral health conditions in children and adolescents.
- Apply Risk Assessment: Utilize risk assessment principles, such as Caries Risk Assessment, to develop informed and effective treatment plans for pediatric dental patients.
- Demonstrate Clinical Application: Apply appropriate management techniques for pediatric patients, including examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, obtaining valid consent, and performing clinical procedures in a supervised setting.
Module Content and Timetable
The semester’s curriculum is designed to directly support the clinical activities students will undertake.
Lecture Topics
The online lectures will cover the following key areas:
- Revision of the pediatric clinic examination process
- Dental anomalies and enamel defects
- Application of antibiotics, local anesthesia (LA), and analgesics in pediatric dentistry
- Orofacial infections
- Management of trauma to the primary dentition
- Extraction of primary teeth
Workshops
Two mandatory in-person workshops are scheduled at the 6-week and 15-week marks of the semester.
- Purpose: These sessions are designed to apply the theoretical knowledge from online lectures to practical, real-life clinical scenarios using patient photos and radiographs.
- Preparation: Students may be assigned pre-reading materials. An online revision quiz will be provided before each workshop to help students review content from the preceding weeks.
Assessment
The module includes both formative and summative assessment components.
Formative Assessment
These tasks do not contribute to the final grade but are mandatory for completion to be eligible to sit the final summative exam.
- Developmental Defects of Enamel Online Interactive Quiz (part of the corresponding lecture)
- Online Revision Quiz 1 (prior to the first workshop)
- Online Revision Quiz 2 (prior to the second workshop)
All three formative assessments must be completed before the end of the semester.
Summative Assessment
- Final Exam: A 2-hour multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam that contributes 5% to the final unit grade.
- Examinable Content: The exam will cover all lecture content and materials in the “Additional Reading” folder on ULTRA.
- Assumed Knowledge: Students are expected to have a firm understanding of caries and restorative treatment planning from DMD2.
- Recommended Textbook: Cameron and Widmer’s Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry (same as the second-year textbook).
Clinical Rotations and Expectations
Pre-Clinical Competency
Students are expected to be competent and have revised the procedures and protocols learned in second-year pre-clinical courses before attending clinic. This includes all treatments that may be performed in the pediatric clinic.
Highgate Clinic
- Preparation: Before the first session, all students must review the content in the “Highgate Clinic” folder on ULTRA. This folder contains essential information on clinic orientation, operational procedures, expected treatments, and patient scheduling.
- Clinic Structure: DMD3 and DMD4 students will typically be paired, with two students assigned per dental chair.
- Patient Allocation: Two children from Highgate Primary School will be scheduled for each chair per session. It is expected that each student in the pair will see one patient.
- Collaborative Practice: The clinic operates with flexibility to maximize clinical exposure for all students. For procedures like applying fissure sealants or taking bitewing radiographs, students may be asked to perform the task on one side while their partner completes the other.
Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Observation
As part of the module, students will be rostered for clinical observation sessions at the Perth Children’s Hospital Dental Department.
- Preparation: Before attending, students must review the “PCH Clinic Observation” folder on ULTRA for critical details regarding attendance location, time, and required materials.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Students are now required to log into ULTRA and thoroughly review the content within the Highgate Clinic and PCH Clinic Observation folders.
For any questions regarding these clinical rotations or the module in general, please email the module coordinator or post on the designated discussion board for this module.