Clinical Dental Therapy 2: Transition to Patient Care module (DS22002)

​​Dental Therapy 2 is where your clinical journey truly begins. You will start working with patients in the dental hospital, applying the knowledge and skills developed in Module 1 to real patient care. 

​You will study anatomy in greater depth, including superficial structures, osteology, and radiology. Body systems are explored in the context of dental practice, covering blood and bleeding disorders, and endocrine and gastrointestinal conditions. You will also develop your understanding of plaque-related disease, evidence-based and values-based practice, and oral health inequalities. 

​Clinical skills on patient clinics include systematic history-taking, oral examination, delivering health advice, and providing simple periodontal treatment. In simulated environments you will learn to record dental impressions and carry out sensibility tests on a peers, and will have an introduction to rotary instrumentation. You will begin interpreting dental radiographs and develop an awareness of how research informs clinical practice. Teaching combines case-based tutorials, lectures, practicals, and small group activities. 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

• ​Develop deeper knowledge of body systems in health and disease and their relevance to dental practice 
• ​Identify craniofacial and oral structures and apply this knowledge to interpreting contemporary imaging techniques 
• ​Understand the causes of oral health and disease and develop awareness of oral health inequalities 
• ​Begin direct patient care, including taking histories, examining the mouth, carrying out simple periodontal procedures, and delivering preventative advice 
• ​Develop competence in recording dental impressions, carrying out sensibility tests and using rotary instruments in a simulated environment 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• ​Apply knowledge of body systems in health and disease to the assessment and management of dental patients 
• ​Identify and describe craniofacial and oral structures and apply this to interpreting dental images 
• ​Demonstrate competence in systematic history-taking, oral examination, periodontal procedures, and delivery of health advice to a range of patients 
• ​Apply knowledge of dental materials and oral anatomy to record impressions of dentate arches 
• ​Operate effectively as a team member with awareness of own and others' roles and responsibilities​

Assignments / assessments

​​Knowledge assessment (30%) 

• ​Usually in May exam diet (week 27) 
• ​90-minute examination 
• ​Single best answer and extended matching item questions 

​Structured Clinical Viva (15%) 

• ​Usually in May exam diet (week 27) 
• ​40-minute exam 
• ​Multi-station viva assessing clinical knowledge and application of practical clinical skills.    

​Objective Structured Clinical Examination (15%) 

• ​Usually in May exam diet (week 27) 
• ​60-minute exam 
• ​Multi-station circuit examination to assess clinical or clinically related skills.   

​Coursework (30%) 

• ​Normally 3 assignments assessing communication and reasoning 

​Portfolio assessment (10%) 

• ​Enhanced Reflection 
• ​Assess reflection, personal and professional development in response to multi-source feedback on patient clinics​

Teaching methods / timetable

• ​​Case-based tutorials 
• ​ Interactive classes, lectures and practicals 
• ​ Small group activities 
• ​ Simulated clinical environments – Clinical Skills training and Early Clinical Experience in the clinical environment 
• ​Direct patient care sessions in the dental hospital​