On completion of this unit you will gain knowledge and understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of oral and systemic diseases as a foundation for clinical practice in Years 2 and 3. You will develop an understanding of the impact of systemic disease on the health of the oral cavity, dental management and treatment planning, the importance of patient medical history and the role of the oral health therapist within the dental team. You will learn the principles of intra-oral and extra-oral examination and screening for hard and soft tissue pathologies, as well as examination procedures in the detection of caries, changes in the tooth surface, pulpal and periapical tissues, and periodontal assessment. This knowledge will provide you with the foundations to recognise and describe oral pathological conditions in the clinical situation. You will learn to communicate information regarding oral health in oral and written forms and gain relevant interpersonal and team communication skills, professional attitudes and ethical behaviours.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from By email and in class.

Students who regularly sent their answers for practice questions to the unit coordinator for feedback felt that they were well prepared for the written in-class test assessments and their grades improved as a result.

It is recommended that students continue to be encouraged to seek feedback from the teaching team on the practice questions.

Feedback from Email and face to face

When working in pairs for the oral presentation assessment, some students felt that they completed the majority of work and this extra workload was detrimental to their other assessments.

It is recommended that the oral presentation group size be reviewed, and the group encouraged to share with the unit coordinator a progress report on the teams' tasks delegation and progress.

Feedback from Face to face

Many students rely on the power points, which accompany the lectures, in their revision however some students reported that it was difficult to find information they were looking for as the power points were very long.

It is recommended that the power point slides supporting the lectures be reviewed. Slides will be reorganised and displayed as short topics with clear content outlines, learning outcomes and accompanying review questions to improve the usability for revision.

Feedback from By email and face to face

Students liked the Quiz Time sessions in lectures and used the questions to help them prepare for assessments.

It is recommended that the Quiz Time in lectures be retained.