ORAL11001 - Introduction to Oral Health Therapy

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit will be the first in the Bachelor of Oral Health course to prepare you for employment as a registered dental practitioner in oral health therapy. It will introduce you to knowledge, skills and attitudes required for clinical work in a dental surgery and health promotion activities in the community. It will also provide an orientation into the oral health therapy profession itself. On completion of this unit , you should be able to identify the dentition for children and adults; features of normal occlusion, tooth structure and periodontium; understand the basic disease processes and prevention of common oral diseases; recognize dental diseases and oral pathology on radiographs; demonstrate the principles of workplace health and safety, record management and practice management; and the legislative framework for members of the dental team; communicate oral health information; identify dental instruments and equipment and develop relevant interpersonal / team communication skills and professional attitudes and ethical behaviors. You are required to complete 32 hours of clinical placement (unless you have recognition of prior learning such as a Certificate III in Dental Assisting), fulfill the Clinical Requirements Prior to Placement which include immunization for Hep B etc. and attend a compulsory residential school.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 1
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 3
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Condition: Students must be enrolled in CB29 Oral Health Course to enrol in this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School Compulsory Residential School
View Unit Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2019

Term 1 - 2019 Profile
Mixed Mode Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2020 Profile
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2021 Profile
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2022 Profile
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2023 Profile
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2024 Profile
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2025 Profile
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2026 Profile
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Presentation 20%
2. Portfolio 20%
3. On-campus Activity 0%
4. Examination 60%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

No previous feedback available

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

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.

Source: In Class
Feedback:
Students expressed concern about the expectations for their first in-class written test.

Recommendation:
It is recommended to discuss assessment expectations with the students.

Action Taken:
Students received detailed guidance on preparing for the in-class written test.
Source: Email
Feedback:
Students appreciated the prompt responses to their emails from the unit coordinator.

Recommendation:
It is recommended to maintain prompt communication by ensuring emails to the unit coordinator are answered in a timely manner.

Action Taken:
The unit coordinator prioritised prompt responses to student emails to ensure timely communication and support.
Source: In Class
Feedback:
Students enjoyed the variety of practical activities in the simulation laboratory.

Recommendation:
It is recommended to continue the variety of practical activities in the simulation laboratory.

Action Taken:
The unit continued to deliver a range of engaging practical activities designed to enhance students' skills and knowledge in Oral Health Therapy.
Source: In class
Feedback:
Students expressed concern about the expectations and requirements for the portfolio assessments.

Recommendation:
It is recommended that assessment expectations be discussed with the students, and written instructions on Moodle and in the practical activity workbooks be reviewed to ensure clarity.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Source: In class
Feedback:
Students would like to see more links to real applications. For example, invite guest speakers from dental industry representatives or practising OHTs.

Recommendation:
It is recommended that guest speakers from dental industry representatives or practising oral health therapists be invited to enhance students' understanding of real-world applications and practical skills in this unit.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Source: In class
Feedback:
Students would like more opportunities to develop hand skills in preparation for hygiene and operative preclinical practice in Term 2.

Recommendation:
It is recommended that the unit schedule to explore opportunities for incorporating additional hand skill activities in preparation for Term 2 preclinical practice.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Describe tooth structure, periodontal tissue and dentition for children and adults, and describe and recognise stages of development in occlusion and malocclusion.
  2. Examine and differentiate the pathogenesis and prevention of common oral diseases including the role of diet and nutrition.
  3. Detect and describe dental diseases and oral pathology on radiographs.
  4. Demonstrate and review the principles of workplace health and safety, record management and practice management.
  5. Categorise, assemble and demonstrate dental instruments and equipment.
  6. Explain the legislative framework for members of the dental team.
  7. Communicate information regarding oral health in oral and written forms.
  8. Satisfy the requirements of an evolving dental practitioner utilising appropriate interpersonal / team communication skills, professional attitudes and ethical behaviours.

The learning outcomes of this unit are part of the overall learning outcomes for each unit in the BOralHlth course at CQUniversity form part of the documentation which as been submitted to the Australian Dental Council for review for accreditation as a new course.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Presentation
2 - Portfolio
3 - On-campus Activity
4 - Examination
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10
1 - Presentation
2 - Portfolio
4 - Examination
3 - On-campus Activity