Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Health Sciences and Social Services - Promotive Health and Developmental Services
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose of the Dentistry Qualification
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of the Dentistry Qualification is to equip qualifiers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competence in the field of Dentistry. Successful completion of the qualification will enable them to register as Dentists with the Dental professional board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. This qualification aims to ensure that individuals possess the required expertise to practice dentistry professionally and ethically.
Subsidiary Purpose
A subsidiary purpose of the Dentistry Qualification is to address the demand for Dentists in South Africa by providing the country with an adequate supply of qualified professionals. By producing a sufficient number of competent Dentists, the qualification aims to contribute towards meeting the healthcare needs of the population and improving overall oral health in the country.
Outcomes
- Know-how and be able to promote oral health and be competent to apply supportive methods of health education and communication skills.
- Know-how and be able to determine the prevalence of oral diseases and abnormalities and apply appropriate preventive strategies on both an individual and a community basis.
- Know-how and be competent to examine for and identify correctly all oral and dental diseases and abnormalities, the management of which falls within the permitted scope of practice of a Dentist.
- Know-how and be competent to recognise and refer clinical problems the management of which does not fall within the permitted scope of practice of a Dentist.
- Know-how and be competent to plan and implement the oral health services essential to the total care programme of the individual patient.
- Know-how and be competent to function within the structures of public Dentistry, and be able to function within the mission and mode of primary health care systems in the public health services in South Africa.
- Know-how and be competent to function within the private practice setting and understand the business, logistical and ergonomic principles of practice administration.
- Be able to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up to date techniques and procedures.
- Know the laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling the practice of the oral health professions in South Africa, with specific reference to the scope and nature of Dentistry as set out by the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
- Know how to engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
-
Oral health programmes supported: Ensure support for oral health programs, determining prevalence of oral diseases and abnormalities, and applying preventive strategies at individual and community levels.
-
Identification of diseases and abnormalities: Examine and identify oral and dental diseases within the scope of practice, referring clinical problems outside this scope to appropriate professionals.
-
Planning and implementation of oral health services: Plan and implement essential oral health services for individual patient care programs.
-
Primary health care systems: Apply the mission and mode of primary health care systems in South Africa's public health services.
-
Private practice administration principles: Understand the business, logistical, and ergonomic principles of private practice administration.
-
Laws and ethical regulations: Know and apply the laws, ethical rules, and regulations governing oral health professions in South Africa as outlined by the Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Integrated Assessment:
-
Continuous assessments: Conduct ongoing assessments including simulations, workplace assessments, clinical procedures, portfolios, written and oral tests.
-
Progression criteria: Ensure achievement of Exit-Level Outcomes each year before proceeding to the next year of study and training.
-
Clinical competence assessment: Assess mastery of relevant procedures and techniques for clinical competence.
-
Knowledge assessment: Test depth and breadth of knowledge through samples of the qualifier's knowledge.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 480
- SAQA Source
- More Information
Education Cost Calculator
This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.