Integrated Dental Sciences

Program Overview

The Integrated Dental Sciences program provides students with a comprehensive foundation in biomedical sciences, preparing them for advanced studies in the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. It encompasses anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical dentistry, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to become registered dentists in Australia. Students engage in hands-on simulation work in dental laboratories to develop their technical operating abilities. The program emphasizes communication, research, and cultural awareness to foster well-rounded health professionals.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This extended major is only available to students who are offered an Assured Pathway to the Doctor of Dental Medicine. It draws on all biomedical scientific disciplines to understand and manage human disease and illness. It contains foundational learning about the roles of a dentist and introduces the student to pre-clinical dental training.

Objectives:

• Demonstrate sound knowledge in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, haematology, microbiology, anatomical pathology and pharmacology.
• Apply clinically relevant aspects of biomedical science and the principles of clinical reasoning to core dental and oral conditions.
• Undertake clinical dental procedures in a simulation environment.

Outline:

Level 1:

• Custom - Chemistry: Students without ATAR or WACE chemistry, are required to complete CHEM1003 in their first year.
• CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (6 points)
• Custom - Mathematics: Students without Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher, are required to complete MATH1720 in their first year.
• MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (6 points)
• Core - Year 1: Take all units (24 points):
• IMED1001 Form and Function (6 points)
• IMED1002 The Facts of Life (6 points)
• IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication (6 points)
• IMED1004 Health and Society (6 points)

Level 2:

• Core - Year 2: Take all units (24 points):
• IMED2001 Body Defences (6 points)
• IMED2002 Blood and Drugs (6 points)
• IMED2003 Medical Sciences Research Methodologies (6 points)
• IMED2004 Human Development and Genetics (6 points)

Level 3:

• Core - Year 3: Take all units (48 points):
• DENT3001 Body Systems 1 (6 points)
• DENT3002 Body Systems 2 (6 points)
• DENT3003 Anatomy and Oral Sciences (6 points)
• DENT3004 Introduction to Clinical Dentistry (6 points)
• DENT3005 General Medicine and Pharmacology (6 points)
• DENT3006 Biofilm Sciences and Cariology (6 points)
• DENT3007 Fundamentals of Clinical Dentistry 1 (6 points)

Teaching:

• Experienced and expert teachers delivering an innovative curriculum.
• Students will undertake simulation work in the Dental School's Simulation and Operative Technique Laboratories.
This involves the learning and practicing of dental procedures on various models of teeth and mouths with some exercises being performed in “phantom heads” on dental simulators.

Careers:

• This extended major will lead to the Doctor of Dental medicine degree.
• Graduates of the DMD degree will be eligible for registration as a Dentist with the Dental Board of Australia.
• They can then work as a dentist in government or hospital clinics, private dental practices, Defence Force dental clinics, or university-based dental clinics.

Other:

• The Integrated Dental Sciences extended major encompasses a wide range of disciplines within the health and medical sciences.
• It will provide students with the background knowledge across all the biomedical scientific disciplines including, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, haematology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and public health.
• These disciplines will be integrated within level 3 units, where science, clinical and professional content will be presented longitudinally and built around the core clinical conditions and presentations.
• Communication and research skills for the health professional will be presented throughout the major.
• The major will include studies on aspects of Australian society and culture, including Aboriginal health and migrant and refugee health.
• Students will also commence pre-clinical training to be a dentist.
• Students will begin to develop their technical operating skills by working in a dental simulation laboratory to learn and practice various dental procedures.
• The emphasis in 2nd Semester turns to more dental-specific subjects to provide the foundation for clinical dental practice in subsequent years of the Doctor of Dental Medicine course.
• These subjects include pharmacology, general medicine and its relationship to dental practice, cariology, preventive dentistry, periodontics, operative dentistry, dental occlusion, ergonomics in dental practice, and dental public health.
• The experiential learning is an essential part of the training of dentists.