Undergraduate

Comprehensive Patient Care  

The philosophy of the Comprehensive Patient Care (CPC) model is to provide quality comprehensive dental care without fragmentation into separate specialties or disciplines. Students learn to focus on patients’ holistic dental needs rather than single clinical procedures. The CPC model is patient centered and emphasizes patient management by the general dental practitioner. 

The concept of comprehensive patient care is stressed, with the emphasis on the ‘whole’ patient (medical, dental, financial and social) status, which is assessed and taken into consideration when formulating the treatment plan and performing treatment. Treatment is ‘patient-oriented’ as opposed to ‘disease oriented’. Efficient time management is stressed to prepare the students for transition from being a novice to a dental practitioner. The students are encouraged to apply their own judgement in making patient care decisions guided by evidence. 

Student is responsible for comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and provision of treatment, review and revision of the treatment plan for and with a patient. 

 Integrated Dentistry  

The aim of the course is to enable students to apply critical components of all disciplines to the practice of clinical dentistry. It is designed to expand the content learning and challenge students to develop problem solving techniques, critical thinking skills, self -directed learning strategies and team participation skills beyond disciplinary knowledge. Students will be exposed to a multidisciplinary teaching team that will facilitate learning for the developing dentist with authentic exercises for real world application. 

Integrated Learning  

The aim of the course is to provide learning opportunities that allow the student to integrate all prior knowledge acquired from multidisciplinary dental and medical courses. It is designed to expand the content learning and challenge students to develop problem solving techniques, critical thinking skills, self -directed learning strategies, collaboration, analytic thinking and reflective judgement. Students work in small groups facilitated to enrich their motivation and commitment to excellence in patient care 

Maxillo-Facial and Oral Radiology 

 Maxillofacial and Oral Radiology is a branch of dentistry that is responsible for the production and interpretation of intra-oral and extra-oral radiographic images and any data produced by all modalities of radiant energy, that are intended to be used for the diagnosis of diseases and disorders of the craniofacial complex. 

This module is responsible for the undergraduate clinical sessions both at the Wits Oral Health Centre and in community-based settings, as well as lectures, tutorials, seminars, and small-group teachings for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is co-ordinated and delivered by a team of dentists and radiographers found in the Radiology unit with the use of prescribed and recommended textbooks. The main objective is to impart knowledge in the field of MFOR by empowering students with relevant and appropriate skills such as cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills. 

 Dental Practice Management 

This module offers the student a foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that underpin Dental Practice Management that will enable the participant to fulfil their role in health industry with background of business concepts. It is a comprehensive academic program that bridges the knowledge gap from “clinical dentist” to “business owner” The course is designed to facilitate the student’s transition from an academic setting to dental practice management by providing a working knowledge of the many aspects of managing and leading a dental practice as a business 

Students will have the opportunity to learn the theories and approaches to leadership and dental practice management in work-based learning settings with a view to enabling them to apply these in practice including soft skills.