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Purpose and Rationale

To empower a dedicated dental qualified learner with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude, the following process will be employed:

Data Capturing and Interpretation:
- Gather relevant data to make an accurate diagnosis and assess the patient's risk level for oral and systemic diseases.
- Identify conditions that may impact the treatment plan.
- Refer patients to specialists when necessary.
Designing a Treatment Plan:
- Develop a safe and effective treatment plan within the scope of dentistry.
Treatment Management and Implementation:
- Administer the chosen treatment plan.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.
Empowerment:
- Equip the dental learner with the skills to efficiently manage and administer the treatment process.
- Focus on promoting oral health for individual patients and the community.
- Emphasize preventive, therapeutic, curative, surgical, and rehabilitative aspects of oral health.
Business Management:
- Incorporate principles of business management in running a dental practice/clinic.
- Manage the health of patients and communities effectively within a business framework.

By focusing on these key areas, the aim is to ensure that the dental qualified learner is fully equipped to provide high-quality care, promote oral health, and efficiently manage the business aspects of a dental practice.

Outcomes

Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community.
Organising and managing oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively.
Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information.
Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes or oral and/or written persuasion.
Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
Demonstrating and understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
Computer literacy.
Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of: Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively. Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities. Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts. Exploring education and career opportunities. Developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Assessment Criteria

The Oral Health of the Individual Patient:

The final assessment is an integrated process. It is expected of the learner to examine and assess the oral health status of a wide spectrum of patients to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, implement the treatment plan, and evaluate the outcome of the treatment. In order to qualify, it is expected of the learner to enhance and promote the total health of patients through oral health management. Oral health management applies to patients with oral pathoses, patients with special needs, and patients with oral manifestations of systemic disease. It further requires the provision of ongoing oral health care management. In the course of managing patient care, a competent practitioner should recognize the limitations of his/her expertise and refer patients appropriately for treatment while coordinating the patient's oral health care plan.

The following is a list of process outcomes, related to the improvement of the patient's health, to evaluate the competence of a learner:

A motivated, satisfied, and compliant patient capable of exercising self-protective practices.
A patient who has been rendered relatively impervious(non-receptive) to disease.
A patient with correctly quantified disease profile.
A patient with a correctly diagnosed disease risk profile.
A patient with successfully reversed early disease.
A patient with successfully managed advanced disease.
A patient whose tissues have morphologically and functionally regenerated, and the recurrence of disease prevented.

The Oral Health of the Community:

The final assessment is integrated. It is expected of the learner to determine the oral health status of a community in a scientific way, to compile a community profile, and to use the information in developing strategies to improve or maintain their oral health status. To qualify, it is expected of the learner to enhance and promote the total health of a community through intersectoral cooperation within health care delivery, and by implementing and evaluating the outcome of the developed strategies. In the course of managing the development and implementation of strategies, a competent dental qualified learner should be able to develop and implement training qualifications to support such strategies.

Process outcomes to measure competence of the learner that relates to the improvement of the community's health:

A community with correctly quantified disease.
An informed motivated community with knowledge on the prevention of oral disease.
A community protected by factors that limit the risk for disease.
A community with an attitude of taking responsibility for their own health

Practice Management and Administration:

The final assessment is integrated. It is expected of the learner to create and maintain an environment conducive to effective and sustainable service delivery in order to ensure the oral health of the individual patient and that of the community, as well as the survival of the practice. To qualify, it is expected of the learner to introduce and support business principles and administration procedures in the dental office that will ensure a caring and responsible environment for ethical practice. The Dentist must be able to plan and organize limited resources for successful implementation of health promotion and specific protection strategies within the framework prescribed by the national policy of the country.

Process outcomes to measure the competence of the learner that relates to management and administration:

An effective system of oral health care delivery that provides accessibility to the individual patient and the community.
An effective system of oral health care delivery that is affordable in addressing the needs and demands of the individual patient and the community.
An effective system of oral health care delivery with a motivated workforce delivering excellent service of a high quality and standard.

Integrated Assessment:

Portfolios
Simulations
Work-place assessments
Written examinations
Oral examinations
Other: Object structure assessment, Clinical assessment, Computer-assisted assessment.

Bachelor of Dental Surgery