UWA Handbook 2025

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	Oral Health Care Centre of WA (OHCWA)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate advanced problem-solving and diagnostic skills; (2) demonstrate advanced clinical management skills in orthodontics; (3) articulate the value of specialist orthodontic practice within the profession and community; (4) define and demonstrate the responsibility inherent in being a dental specialist; (5) integrate current knowledge with new information and research evidence, and apply this to dental practice; (6) demonstrate a respect for truth, intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship and clinical practice; (7) use effective communication skills with colleagues, patients and the broader community; (8) display professional behaviour in the educational and clinical settings,; (9) discuss challenges to professionalism and reflect on professional behaviours in the clinical setting; (10) display critical and insightful self-reflection of their own personal values, wellbeing, personal difficulties and professional performance; and (11) respond to professionalism challenges and insightful self reflection by implementing effective management strategies.

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 (failed component). 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 professional behaviour assessment (failed component) component.

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

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Mithran Goonewardene

Unit rules

Prerequisites

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

Approved quota: 4—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