UWA Handbook 2027

Unit Overview

Description

This is the second-year clinical practice unit in Orthodontics in the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry course. The unit is taken over two semesters and parts 1 and 2 must be completed to fulfil the requirements of the unit. The unit involves the comprehensive examination, diagnosis and management of patients that have been referred to the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (OHCWA) specialist Orthodontics Clinic. Students are supervised during clinical sessions by specialist orthodontists. On average, five half-day sessions per week are devoted to the Orthodontics Clinic over the three years of the course. Students are required to maintain comprehensive case records which are reviewed formally during and at the completion of the course.

Professional Behaviour Requirements - Please refer to the Dental School Handbook regarding requirements and consequences of non-compliance, which can delay course progression and/or graduation, depending on circumstances.

Credit

12 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Non-standard teaching period	UWA (Perth)	On-campus

The timetable for this teaching period is not currently available. Please see the Important Dates page for the timetable release date and other key date information.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate autonomous specialist practice with personal and professional integrity, recognising the boundaries of the specialty and referring or seeking advice appropriately; (2) provide patient-centred specialist care that is compassionate and respectful of patients' best interests, dignity, and choices, incorporating awareness of moral, cultural, ethical, and legal responsibilities including the obligation to obtain and document valid informed consent.; (3) apply relevant legislation to specialist dental practice including obligations related to record-keeping; (4) demonstrate leadership in supporting the professional development of the dental team and broader health community.; (5) identify and interpret patient, parent, guardian, and carer expectations, preferences, and attitudes to inform specialist treatment planning and delivery, and support valid informed consent through clear communication of options, risks, benefits, and alternatives.; (6) communicate effectively with patients, families, and carers across a range of ages, intellectual development levels, and social and cultural backgrounds, utilising appropriate technological and telecommunication aids.; (7) produce clear and accurate health and legal reports, and interpret and communicate specialist knowledge and skills to dental and non-dental audiences.; (8) apply expert clinical reasoning and judgement to develop comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans by interpreting and correlating findings from patient history, clinical examination, imaging, and diagnostic investigations.; (9) manage complex cases, including medically compromised patients, with appropriate multidisciplinary engagement; (10) anticipate, recognise, and manage complications arising in the context of specialist dental practice.; (11) collaborate effectively with relevant dental and health professionals to foster interprofessional practice in the planning and delivery of specialist dental care; (12) integrate culturally safe practices into specialist dental care, demonstrating critical awareness, respect for and responsiveness to the oral health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other diverse patient populations.; (13) independently evaluate and formulate comprehensive, evidence-based treatment strategies for developmental and dentofacial anomalies including skeletal and dental discrepancies, integrating clinical and radiographical findings to justify and adapt orthodontic management; (14) critically appraise and formulate evidence-based management strategies for functional occlusal and temporomandibular disorders, integrating multidisciplinary perspectives to

justify treatment decisions within specialist orthodontic practice.; and (15) systematically evaluate the dental and skeletal effects of orthodontic treatment in the individual patient, synthesising findings to justify modifications to treatment strategies and retention planning..

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) clinical log book; (2) case presentation; (3) clinical assessment (ongoing); and (4) professional behaviour assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the clinical log book, case presentation, clinical assessment (ongoing), and professional behaviour assessment components.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Mithran Goonewardene

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Successful completion of

DENT6831 Orthodontics Clinical Practice I Part 1 (ID 2963)
and DENT6832 Orthodontics Clinical Practice I Part 2 (ID 2964)

Co-requisites

Enrolment in

6 points Unit(s) DENT6853 Orthodontics Research Dissertation
and 6 points Unit(s) DENT6827 Orthodontics Theory II Part 1

Approved quota: 5—every second year

Contact hours

clinics: 5 half-day sessions per week
seminars: 3 hours per week

Texts

Enlow, D. and Hans, M. Essentials of Facial Growth: Elsevier 1996

Graber, T. et al. Orthodontics: Current Principles and Techniques: Elsevier Science Health Science 2005

Nanda, R. Biomechanics and Esthetic Strategies in Clinical Orthodontics: Elsevier Science Health Science 2005

Proffit, W. R. et al. Contemporary Orthodontics: Elsevier Science Health Science 2006

Proffit, W. R. et al. Contemporary Treatment of Dentofacial Deformity: Elsevier Science Health Science 2002