Course coordinator
Dr Pingping Han
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (06/01/2025 - 01/02/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Herston
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Herston
- Coordinating unit
- Dentistry School
This course is an applied biological foundations course aimed at postgraduate dentistry students to provide them with the background knowledge required to understand key contemporary aspects of the management of oral and craniofacial disease.
The course is run externally and allows students to set their pace to explore online learning resources and engaging in interactive online workshops with experts. This course is delivered in a block over four weeks and prepares students for commencement of the Doctor of Dental Medicine program in-person the following semester.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in health, allied health, physical sciences or biological sciences, andﾠhave successfully completed university-level study in human anatomy and human physiology or cellular physiology, within the 10 years prior to program commencement.
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in the DMD program.
Course contact
Lecturer
Dr Pingping Han
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Nicole Stormon
Guest lecturer
Dr Kevan Jones
Professor Saso Ivanovski
Professor Ove Peters
Professor Peter Reher
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please refer to https://learn.uq.edu.au (the Blackboard course site) for more information.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of cells and organ systems, with a focus on their relevance to oral health and dentistry. Students will explore the structure and function of key biological systems, gaining an understanding of how they impact dental practice and patient care.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe the control, integration, and coordination mechanisms required for oral health.
LO2.
Understand intracellular and extracellular communication in tissue injury and disease of the oral cavity.
LO3.
Understand the properties of cell membranes and the application of excitable and non-excitable cells to pharmacology in dental practice.
LO4.
Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and morphology of oral and craniofacial structures, in the context of regeneration, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
LO5.
Demonstrate an understanding of homeostasis and control of major physiological systems to manage chronic inflammation and wound healing in the oral cavity.
LO6.
Apply the concepts of physiology to oral health or disease.
LO7.
Apply the pharmacological principles of drug treatments to dental practice.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Scientific Article Critical Appraisal
|
30% |
24/01/2025 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Critical Essay
|
30% |
31/01/2025 4:00 pm |
| Quiz |
Inspera Quizzes
|
40% |
31/01/2025 |
Assessment details
Scientific Article Critical Appraisal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
24/01/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L06, L07
Task description
To complete this task:
- Select a recently published scientific article with a focus on a clinical dental procedure or medicament.
- Identify the appropriate critical appraisal tool for the select article’s study design and use the critical appraisal tool as a framework or structure for your response. Consider some of the potential frameworks available CASP website (CASP CHECKLISTS - CASP - Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (casp-uk.net)).
- Prepare and submit a draft critical appraisal. Upon submission of the draft, students will receive an exemplar assessment submission and will participate in an in-class activity to review, and self-evaluate.
- Submit a final draft of your critical appraisal.
Submission guidelines
Please submit the document through ePortfolio.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Critical Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
31/01/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
In this task, you are required to compose a 1,000-1,200 words critical essay on how basic science is applied in everyday dental practice.
Below are some examples to get you started, but feel free to write about a topic of your choosing:
- Chemistry and molecular structure of elements and how this is applied in infection control, maintaining a safe environment, or procedures like root canals.
- Anatomy and physiology and how these are important for procedures involving the use of anaesthetics.
- Biological processes that occur during bleeding and healing and how knowledge of these is applied during the procedures for removing a tooth and making recommendations for ongoing care.
- Microbiology and its importance in understanding the oral microbiome and the role of microorganisms in dental diseases like caries and periodontitis.
- Genetics and its importance to understanding inherited dental conditions, such as amelogenesis imperfecta and dentinogenesis imperfecta, as well as in personalised treatment planning based on individual genetic variations and susceptibilities.
Submission guidelines
Please submit the document through ePortfolio.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Inspera Quizzes
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
31/01/2025
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Submission guidelines
Online and non-invigilated with safe exam browser mode
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of less than 20% |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 20% but less than 45% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 45% but less than 50% |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 50% but less than 65% |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 65% but less than 75% |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 75% but less than 85% |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 85% |
Additional course grading information
Overall mark will be rounded to the nearest whole number in computing score.ﾠFor example, 74.50 and above will be rounded up to 75 and 74.49 will be rounded down to 74.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 4 |
Not Timetabled |
Self-directed Learning Self-directed learning through UQExtend. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
Workshop Online workshops via Zoom Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: