Oral Health
Unit of study descriptions
Year 1
ORHL1101 Foundations of Oral Health I
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Peta Warren Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical work; written assignments and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study introduces students to the concepts and foundational knowledge needed for the three strands of the course including Oral Health in Society, Periodontics Theory and Cariology and Prevention 1.
ORHL1102 Oral Health Clinical Practice I
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Andrew Terry Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical and Simulation work, practical and written assessment; written examinations. Mode of delivery: Clinical experience
This unit of study introduces students to tooth morphology, the practice of dental radiography, professionalism and ethics, communication and motivational behaviour change and the development of periodontal and tooth conservation knowledge and skills in the simulation clinic.
ORHL1104 Life Sciences I
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Jinlong Gao Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical work; oral presentation, written reports and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study occupies as a significant portion of learning in Year 1 and is gradually replaced by clinically focused units of study as the course progresses. As a foundational unit of study, students are introduced to the biochemical and biological processes which are fundamental to life, cells and tissues, and introduces the anatomy of the head and neck
ORHL1201 Foundations of Oral Health II
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Peta Warren Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; written assignments and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
In this unit of study students build on the theoretical knowledge of periodontics cariology and prevention and are introduced to the foundations of health and the framework for health promotion.
ORHL1202 Oral Health Clinical Practice II
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Andrew Terry Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; Simulation and pre-clinical work; practical and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Clinical experience
In this unit, students continue to develop the skills needed for Periodontal Instrumentation and Tooth Conservation in a simulation environment, and begin to apply these hygiene skills in the pre-clinical setting. Additionally, students continue to build on foundational theory and practice of dental radiography, professionalism and ethics, communication and motivational behaviour change.
ORHL1204 Life Sciences II
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Jinlong Gao/Heather Apthorpe Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; oral presentation; written reports and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study introduces the anatomy and physiology of major human organ systems, biomedical sciences and general medicine that are significant in the oral disease diagnosis and patient management, and the further builds on foundational head and neck knowledge.
Year 2
ORHL2101 Foundations of Oral Health III
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Karen Lansdowne Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical work; written assignments and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study continues to deepen the knowledge and understanding of students in periodontics and health promotion and introduce paedodontic theory, evidence based practice and research methods.
ORHL2102 Oral Health Clinical Practice III
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Rebecca Chen Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical, Simulation, pre-clinical work. Practical and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Clinical experience
In this unit of study, students are introduced to periodontic clinical practice and continue to build on radiography knowledge. Student learn the theory and practice of pain management, the application of the Caries Management System to patient care, and engage in paedodontic pre-clinical practice.
ORHL2104 Life Sciences III
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Jinlong Gao/Heather Apthorpe Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical work; Oreal presentation; written report and written examinations Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study continues to build on the knowledge of anatomy and physiology of major human organ systems, biological grounding, biomedical sciences and general medicine that are significant in the oral disease diagnosis and patient management. Case-based tutorial sessions provide the opportunity for students to integrate the basic sciences and clinical medicine, discuss the research literature, and revisit the key learning contents introduced earlier.
ORHL2201 Foundations of Oral Health IV
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Karen Lansdowne Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; oral presentation, written report and examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study continues to deepen the knowledge and understanding of students, expanding their theoretical knowledge relevant to periodontics, paedodontics, and health education and promotion.
ORHL2202 Oral Health Clinical Practice IV
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Rebecca Chen Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical, Pre-Clinical, Clinical work and assignments; practical and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Clinical experience
In this unit of study, students are introduced to paedodontic clinical practice and continue to build on periodontic and radiograpic knowledge and skills. Student learn the theory and practice of medical emergency management, the application of evidence based practice in the clinic and further investigate the ethical and professional concepts required for accepted behaviour in clinical practice.
ORHL2204 Life Sciences IV
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Jinlong Gao/Heather Apthorpe Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; oral presentation, written report and examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study introduces the complexity of host-microbial interactions and advanced physiology and pathology of the human body and in particular to the orofacial regions. Students are encouraged to identify and investigate problems related to oral health practice, gather and interpret scientific information, and deliver logical and creative summaries to peers and mock patients.
Year 3
ORHL3101 Foundations of Oral Health V
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Cathryn Forsyth Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical work, assignments; written examinations. Practical field work: 2 week student placement Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study continues to deepen knowledge and understanding in Oral Health Therapy Theory, including Dental Therapy, Dental Hygiene and Oral Health in Society. Tutorials and assessments take the form of scenarios, encouraging the integration and application of critical thinking and clinical decision-making based on evidence. Students also plan, deliver and evaluate an effective oral health education program. Includes a 2-week Student Placement.
ORHL3102 Integrated Oral Health Clinical Practice I
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Kimberly Coulton/Grace Wong Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Clinical practice; assignments Practical field work: Clinical placement - NSW Health x 4 days per week x 14 weeks Mode of delivery: Clinical experience
This unit of study continues to give students a deepening experience of clinical care in Dental Therapy and Hygiene including treatment of patients who have special needs or are medically compromised. Students are required to demonstrate evidence based practice, which plays an integral part of the clinical experience.
ORHL3103 Comprehensive Oral Health Management I
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Grace Wong/Kimberly Coulton Session: Semester 1 Assessment: Theoretical work; formative case reports; presentations; oral comprehensive examinations. Mode of delivery: Professional practice
This unit of study aims to tie together all of the clinical and theoretical knowledge gained through evidence based oral health clinical practice related to the scope of practice for Oral Health Therapists.
ORHL3201 Foundations of Oral Health VI
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Cathryn Forsyth Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; written assignments and written examinations. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
In this unit of study, students discuss, critique and defend theoretical and practical Oral Health Therapy concepts related to evidence based patient care. Assessments take the form of case study scenarios which encourage the integration of knowledge, understanding and sound decision-making.
ORHL3202 Integrated Oral Health Clinical Practice II
Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Kimberly Coulton/Grace Wong Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Clinical practice. Inter-professional learning exercise. Practical field work: Clinical placement - NSW Health x 4 days per week x 14 weeks Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
In this final unit of Oral Health Clinical Practice, students apply all of the clinical and theoretical knowledge gained thus far in the performance of evidence based oral health clinical practice related to the scope of practice for Oral Health Therapists. Students also participate in inter-professional learning exercise with other University health students.
ORHL3203 Comprehensive Oral Health Management II
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Grace Wong/Kimberly Coulton Session: Semester 2 Assessment: Theoretical work; summative case reports, presentations and oral comprehensive examinations Mode of delivery: Professional practice
The aim of this unit of study is to solidify and apply theoretical concepts, critical thinking and clinical reasoning as related to patient care within the scope of practice for Oral Health Therapists. Assessment includes the presentation of case reports and oral comprehensive examinations to demonstrate how well the student integrates their understanding of the theory and practice of patient care. External examiners assess the student's ability to provide safe and competent at graduation.