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Unit of study_

DENT5103: Oral Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Semester 2, 2023 [Online] - Westmead, Sydney

Dental disease remains prevalent in Australia. The AIHW reports that in 2010, 55% of 6 year olds; 48% of 12 year olds in their deciduous and permanent dentitions, respectively. The burden of this disease is significant and falls inequitably on those who are the most socially disadvantaged and those least able to access expensive treatment. The most ethical and cost-effective manner of addressing oral disease is through preventative dental care.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DENT5103
Academic unit Discipline of Population Oral Health
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
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None
Corequisites
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None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Comprehensive knowledge in all aspects of General Dentistry, particularly in Restorative Dentistry and Oral Rehabilitation

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Woosung Sohn, woosung.sohn@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Arash Ghanbarzadegan, arash.ghanbarzadegan@sydney.edu.au
Woosung Sohn, woosung.sohn@sydney.edu.au
Bradley Christian, bradley.christian@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Critical Review of Evidence
Providing a critical review of a scholarly paper addressing prevention.
40% Week 06
Due date: 08 Sep 2023 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment hurdle task Health Promotion Program Planning
Development of an oral health promotion strategy in a given scenario
60% Week 11
Due date: 20 Oct 2023 at 23:59
2000-2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO2 LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Health Promotion Program Planning: This assessment requires students to use the knowledge acquired in the unit to develop a protocol that describes a health promotion intervention that addresses a population-level issue in a given community. Students may select, in conjunction with the unit coordinator, a relevant and appropriate population to design an intervention to target. Students should present a protocol that embodies the principles discussed as part of the learning sessions.

Critical Review of Evidence: Students will be asked to provide a critique on a paper that addresses the philosophy and/or practice of prevention in oral health. Students will be required to present their critique in a scholarly manner.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

 

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Students will be penalised by 5% for each 24 hour period assessments are late by. Assessments that are more than 5 days late will achieve a fail grade.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to prevention philosophies and approaches. Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 03 The use of water fluoridation as a population-level oral health preventive intervention. Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 05 Developing community-based preventive oral health strategies Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 Journal Club - Consumer engagement for oral health empowerment Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Dealing with industry influences: the commercial determinants of health Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO6
Week 09 Using healthy policy for prevention Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 11 Health promotion and social marketing - how can social marketing be used to enhance community health? Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 13 Interprofessional prevention strategies in oral health Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Attendance is a professional responsibility required of all students admitted to academic programs within the Sydney Dental School. All programs in the Sydney Dental School have a 90% attendance policy, for all compulsory components of Units of Study, as detailed in the Faculty of Dentistry Attendance Provisions 2015. This includes all clinical and practical sessions. The course requirements cannot be satisfied if more than 10% of any section of a course is missed for any reason.
  • Professionalism: Students in all Sydney Dental School programs are subject to theFaculty of Medicine and Health Professionalism Requirements 2019 and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professionalism Provisions 2019. Professionalism is an essential component of developing competency to practice. It is important for students to demonstrate professional behaviour in all contexts and environments. In accordance with these local provisions: candidates who demonstrate serious or repeated unprofessional behaviour may be required to show cause as to why their enrolment should be continued. Failure to show cause may result in exclusion from the course.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

N/A

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate understanding of how fluorides may be used in a variety of clinical and public health contexts to prevent dental caries. This includes the ability to articulate the limits of clinical prevention
  • LO2. create and present a population-level health promotion strategy for preventing dental disease in a given population
  • LO3. apply the common risk factor approach to present an interprofessional strategy to improve oral and general health outcomes
  • LO4. demonstrate knowledge of social marketing techniques and how these are applicable in the context of oral health
  • LO5. critically consider the social determinants of oral health and how these may impact upon preventative efforts against dental diseases
  • LO6. demonstrate knowledge of the principles of the commercial determinants of health through exploring the activities of industries that negatively impact oral and general health
  • LO7. critique how the dental profession itself may contribute to disparities and deficiencies in oral health

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.a. recognising the personal limitations and scope of the specialty and knowing when to refer or seek advice appropriately
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.d. understanding and applying the moral, cultural, ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of specialist dental care to individual patients, to communities and populations
2.a. identifying and understanding a patient’s, or their parent’s, guardian’s or carer’s expectations, desires and attitudes when planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.b. communicating effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers in a manner that takes into account factors such as their age, intellectual development, social and cultural background
2.e. interpreting and communicating knowledge, skills and ideas.
3.a. critically evaluating scientific research and literature, products and techniques to inform evidence-based specialist practice, and
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.1.c. development, anatomy, physiology and pathology of hard and soft tissues of the head and neck
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.1.a. applying decision-making, clinical reasoning and judgement to develop a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan by interpreting and correlating findings from the history, clinical examinations, imaging and other diagnostic tests
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
LO2
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.a. recognising the personal limitations and scope of the specialty and knowing when to refer or seek advice appropriately
1.b. practising with personal and professional integrity, honesty and trustworthiness
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.d. understanding and applying the moral, cultural, ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of specialist dental care to individual patients, to communities and populations
1.e. displaying appropriate professional behaviour and communication towards all members of the dental team and referring health practitioner/s
1.g. demonstrating specialist professional growth and development through research and learning
1.h. supporting the professional development and education for all members of the dental and/or health community, and
1.i. demonstrating leadership in the profession.
2.c. use of technological and telecommunication aids in planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.d. communicating effectively in all forms of health and legal reporting, and
2.e. interpreting and communicating knowledge, skills and ideas.
3.a. critically evaluating scientific research and literature, products and techniques to inform evidence-based specialist practice, and
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.1.c. development, anatomy, physiology and pathology of hard and soft tissues of the head and neck
4.1.d. the range of investigative, technical and clinical procedures, and
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.1.a. applying decision-making, clinical reasoning and judgement to develop a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan by interpreting and correlating findings from the history, clinical examinations, imaging and other diagnostic tests
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
5.2.b. writing reports.
LO3
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.a. recognising the personal limitations and scope of the specialty and knowing when to refer or seek advice appropriately
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.e. displaying appropriate professional behaviour and communication towards all members of the dental team and referring health practitioner/s
1.h. supporting the professional development and education for all members of the dental and/or health community, and
1.i. demonstrating leadership in the profession.
2.b. communicating effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers in a manner that takes into account factors such as their age, intellectual development, social and cultural background
2.c. use of technological and telecommunication aids in planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.d. communicating effectively in all forms of health and legal reporting, and
3.a. critically evaluating scientific research and literature, products and techniques to inform evidence-based specialist practice, and
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
5.2.b. writing reports.
LO4
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.a. recognising the personal limitations and scope of the specialty and knowing when to refer or seek advice appropriately
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.d. understanding and applying the moral, cultural, ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of specialist dental care to individual patients, to communities and populations
1.f. understanding and applying legislation including that related to record-keeping
1.i. demonstrating leadership in the profession.
2.b. communicating effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers in a manner that takes into account factors such as their age, intellectual development, social and cultural background
2.c. use of technological and telecommunication aids in planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.d. communicating effectively in all forms of health and legal reporting, and
2.e. interpreting and communicating knowledge, skills and ideas.
4.1.a. historical and contemporary literature
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
5.2.b. writing reports.
LO5
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1. Professionalism - A graduate specialist is expected to be competent in the following, as relevant to the specialty:
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.d. understanding and applying the moral, cultural, ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of specialist dental care to individual patients, to communities and populations
1.e. displaying appropriate professional behaviour and communication towards all members of the dental team and referring health practitioner/s
2.a. identifying and understanding a patient’s, or their parent’s, guardian’s or carer’s expectations, desires and attitudes when planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.b. communicating effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers in a manner that takes into account factors such as their age, intellectual development, social and cultural background
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
LO6
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.b. practising with personal and professional integrity, honesty and trustworthiness
1.e. displaying appropriate professional behaviour and communication towards all members of the dental team and referring health practitioner/s
1.h. supporting the professional development and education for all members of the dental and/or health community, and
1.i. demonstrating leadership in the profession.
2.b. communicating effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers in a manner that takes into account factors such as their age, intellectual development, social and cultural background
3.a. critically evaluating scientific research and literature, products and techniques to inform evidence-based specialist practice, and
3.b. synthesising complex information, problems, concepts and theories.
4.1.a. historical and contemporary literature
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.1.a. applying decision-making, clinical reasoning and judgement to develop a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan by interpreting and correlating findings from the history, clinical examinations, imaging and other diagnostic tests
5.1.b. managing complex cases, including compromised patients with multidisciplinary management, and
5.1.c. managing complications.
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
5.2.b. writing reports.
LO7
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.b. practising with personal and professional integrity, honesty and trustworthiness
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.d. understanding and applying the moral, cultural, ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of specialist dental care to individual patients, to communities and populations
1.e. displaying appropriate professional behaviour and communication towards all members of the dental team and referring health practitioner/s
1.f. understanding and applying legislation including that related to record-keeping
1.g. demonstrating specialist professional growth and development through research and learning
1.i. demonstrating leadership in the profession.
4.1.e. management and treatment planning with multidisciplinary engagement for complex cases, including compromised patients.
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.1.a. applying decision-making, clinical reasoning and judgement to develop a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan by interpreting and correlating findings from the history, clinical examinations, imaging and other diagnostic tests
5.1.b. managing complex cases, including compromised patients with multidisciplinary management, and
5.1.c. managing complications.
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
5.2.b. writing reports.

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

N/A

Additional costs

N/A

Site visit guidelines

N/A

Work, health and safety

Students must comply with work health and safety, infection control and dress standard policies of all laboratories, placement sites and Local Health Districts (LHDs).

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