Course coordinator
Dr Luna Velasco
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2025 (01/12/2025 - 14/02/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Herston
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- Herston
- Coordinating unit
- Dentistry School
This course introduces students to a range of specialist dental disciplines expanding the breadth of their clinical knowledge, skills and understanding beyond those needed for the delivery of basic general dental care. Students will acquire skills and attain competence in history taking, assessment, recognition, diagnosis, care planning and aspects of management for conditions commonly managed within general dentistry and dental specialties.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
DENT7111, DENT7112
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
DENT3070
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in the DDM program only.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Luna Velasco
Dr Jessica Zachar
Dr Sepanta Hosseinpour
Mr Richard Huynh
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to equip students with an applied knowledge of dentally significant general medical conditions, pharmacology and therapeutics, as well as the management of medical emergencies, anterior/single canal and molar endodontics, and complex dentistry. Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the care of patients under supervision in the clinics.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the scope of practice of the specialist dental disciplines.
LO2.
Apply scientific knowledge of dental disease aetiology to accurately recognise conditions commonly managed within the specialist dental disciplines.
LO3.
Explain clinical reasoning and clinical judgement skills in care planning in specialist dental disciplines.
LO4.
Design oral care plans to manage individuals diagnosed with conditions commonly managed within the specialist dental disciplines supported by supervisors.
LO5.
Demonstrate competency in clinical procedures for a range of specialist dental disciplines in a simulated environment.
LO6.
Demonstrate competency in a range of clinical procedures, incorporating feedback from supervisors.
LO7.
Defend material and medicament selection in procedures conducted in a clinical and simulated environment.
LO8.
Demonstrate emerging verbal and written communication skills, including electronic patient records, with patients, carers, clinical and supervisory staff and peers.
LO9.
Relate the principles of sterilisation, disinfection and prevention of cross-infection to maintain a safe working environment.
LO10.
Reflect critically on experiential learning and feedback applied in clinical environments.
LO11.
Recognise gaps in knowledge, understanding and clinical ability to seek advice, and to refer to other practitioners when appropriate.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/ Demonstration |
Assessment Item 1- Endodontic Practical
|
20% Must pass |
8/12/2025 - 12/12/2025 |
| Examination |
Assessment Item 2- Medical emergencies examination
|
20% |
13/01/2026 |
| Practical/ Demonstration |
Assessment Item 3- Complex restorative practical
|
30% Must pass |
23/01/2026 |
| Portfolio |
Assessment Item 4- Clinical Practice Performance Portfolio
|
Pass/Fail |
15/12/2025 - 30/01/2026
Submissions occur via ePortfolio submission links on the course Blackboard site. |
| Examination |
Assessment Item 5- End of Semester Examination
|
30% Must pass |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/02/2026 - 14/02/2026 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Assessment Item 1- Endodontic Practical
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 20% Must pass
- Due date
8/12/2025 - 12/12/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L09, L10, L11
Task description
Students are expected to complete access cavities in TWO (2) teeth during their Endodontics module.
A re-sit is available for this task, however the maximum marks awarded for the resit cannot exceed 50% of the total mark for this assessment. In order to achieve a pass, students must achieve 50% mark for each section of the assessment and in total. If a passing mark is not obtained, students will be allowed to re-sit the section after a remedial session. You may be asked to repeat only a section/tooth of the exam at the discretion of the examiner.
Hurdle requirements
This is a MUST PASS assessment item.Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Assessment Item 2- Medical emergencies examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
13/01/2026
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L07, L10, L11
Task description
This assessment item is an in-class written assessment where students will utilise their knowledge to demonstrate their understanding of medically complex patients specific to the 'General Medicine' module and medical emergencies. It will be in the format of a 90-minute in-class MCQ and SAQ-based examination.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
This will be a written in-class assessment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Assessment Item 3- Complex restorative practical
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 30% Must pass
- Due date
23/01/2026
- Learning outcomes
- L06, L07, L09, L10
Task description
In this pre-clinical assessment, you will be allocated time within your pre-clinic session under exam conditions, to complete specified tooth preparations and/or restorations on the teeth identified to you on the day of the assessment. You must bring all PPE, restorative instruments, pre-clinic lab coat and be dressed professionally in DMD navy scrubs.
A re-sit is available for this task, however the maximum marks awarded for the resit cannot exceed 50% of the total mark for this assessment. In order to achieve a pass, students must achieve 50% mark for the assessment and in total.
Hurdle requirements
Must pass.Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Assessment Item 4- Clinical Practice Performance Portfolio
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Portfolio
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
15/12/2025 - 30/01/2026
Submissions occur via ePortfolio submission links on the course Blackboard site.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11
Task description
For further information, including instructions for each part and specific due dates, please see the Blackboard Task Sheet for this assessment item. In this task, students are required to complete and submit a Clinical Practice Portfolio over the course of the semester, in order to document clinical performance within the patient clinic. Students must complete the portfolio for ALL clinical, dental assisting, fail to attend, and observational sessions.
To achieve a pass, the following conditions must be met in 3 components a, b and c:
a) Course-specific session sign-off forms
DUE: Submitted at the completion of each timetabled clinical session to the nominated Clinical Educator.
EXTENSIONS: You cannot apply for an extension for submission of the course-specific session sign-off forms.
LATE SUBMISSION: A late or non-submission will result in the session being recorded as a 0= Expectations Not Met (ENM).
TASK DESCRIPTION: These forms are essential for tracking performance and must be completed at the end of every AM or PM session where you see a patient. If no patient was seen, submit the Dental Assisting/FTA form.
Your session form is submitted to, and assessed by, your Clinical Educator and includes:
1. Clinical performance
2. Discipline-specific performance (only if you performed relevant procedures)
3. Fitness to practise (must pass)
Student marking expectations for each semester are calibrated to your year and stage in the DMD program. You are not being marked against the performance of a fully qualified dentist, but rather according to where you should be for your level of clinical training. Clinical educators will adjust their marking expectations accordingly as you progress throughout the program.
Session mark: Fitness to practise is a must pass item, assessed as EM or ENM only. If you receive an ENM in this category, you will receive an ENM as your session mark.
For example: Each session will be awarded a mark:
∙ 0 = Expectations Not Met (ENM)
∙ 2 = Developing (D)
∙ 3 = Expectations Met (EM)
∙ 4 = Above Expectations (AE)
Overall Semester Mark: The proportion of all course-specific session scores will be calculated at the end of the semester giving the ‘Overall Mark’ as a percentage. At the completion of the semester the total session scores will be added together, divided by the total number of sessions. i.e .e.g. Six sessions with Expectations met and one with Expectations not met (3+3+3+3+3+3+0) = 18, 18 divided by (4 by 7) = 64.3% overall semester grade.
Minimum performance requirement: An “Overall Semester Mark” for the Semester will be awarded using the following values:
Fail (F) = <63%
Pass (P) = 63-100%
The pass requirements are based on the DMD year level and semester level, where the average overall score must be a minimum of: ≥ 2.5/4.0 (~62.5%). Students who receive three (3) or more ENM marks for the course-specific sign off sessions will be awarded an overall fail for the assessment item.
b) Mid-semester portfolio review and case tallies
DUE: Submit the two components to your Course Coordinator by 5pm Friday prior to the mid-semester break via ePortfolio.
EXTENSIONS: An extension may be applied for this component of the assessment task.
LATE SUBMISSION: A late or non-submission will result in 100% penalty of the mark and therefore a fail for the assessment task.
TASK DESCRIPTION: This task helps to reflect on clinical progress, feedback integration, and future growth.
The component includes two parts:
1. Case tallies for the semester AND a de-identified Patient Management System Treatment Report uploaded, and
2. A Mid-semester Reflection and Feedback Form.
c) End-of-semester portfolio review and case tallies
DUE: Submit the two components to your Course Coordinator by 5pm Friday of the last week of the Semester via ePortfolio.
EXTENSIONS: An extension may be applied for this component of the assessment task.
LATE SUBMISSION: A late or non-submission will result in 100% penalty of the mark and therefore a fail for the assessment task.
TASK DESCRIPTION: This task helps to reflect on clinical progress, feedback integration, and future growth.
The component includes two parts:
1. Case tallies for the semester AND a de-identified Patient Management System Treatment Report uploaded, and
2. An End-of-semester Reflection and Feedback Form.
Minimum performance requirement: There are no minimum number of case requirements.
SUPPLEMENTARY ASSESSMENT: In accordance with PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part J, supplementary assessment will NOT be available for clinical practice performance (portfolio) as professional competencies are developed through practicums delivered over an extended number of weeks throughout the Semester. There is NO resubmission or resit option available for this assessment.
Hurdle requirements
This is a MUST PASS assessment item.Submission guidelines
via 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.
Due to the practical nature of clinical performance, deferral is not available.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Assessment Item 5- End of Semester Examination
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30% Must pass
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/02/2026 - 14/02/2026
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L07, L08, L09, L11
Task description
The end of semester examination will take place during the examination period and will consist of a range of multiple choice, short-answer questions and long-answer questions from the modules within this course.
Further guidance on this assessment item will be given in semester.
Hurdle requirements
This is a MUST PASS assessment item.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
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% OR has failed ALL hurdle requirements. |
| 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% OR has failed two hurdle requirements. |
| 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% OR Attains the overall pass mark BUT has failed one hurdle requirement. |
| 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% AND has passed all hurdle requirements. |
| 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% AND has passed all hurdle requirements. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall marks of 75% but less than 85% AND has passed all hurdle requirements. |
| 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% AND has passed all hurdle requirements. |
Additional course grading information
Percentage marks will be rounded to the nearest whole number i.e. 84.4% will round down to 84% and 84.5% will round up to 85%. This will apply to all grade cutoffs apart from a grade of 4. The minimum pass mark is 50% and a pass cannot be achieved with 49.5%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.
In accordance with PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part J, supplementary assessment will NOT be available for clinical practice performance (portfolio) as professional competencies are developed over the semester's practicum. There is NO resubmission or resit option available for this assessment.
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 8 |
Lecture |
Lectures Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07, L08, L11 |
Practical |
Pre-clinic laboratory activities A series of sessions in the pre-clinical simulation laboratory will be scheduled through the semester. Further detailed timetables will be available on the Blackboard course site. Learning outcomes: L01, L05, L06, L07, L09, L10 |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 3 To Week 8 |
Clinical Hours |
Clinical practice Provision of clinical care to patients in the UQ Herston Dental Clinic by students under supervision of qualified, registered dental practitioners and specialists. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
Multiple weeks From Week 7 To Week 8 |
Workshop |
Workshops Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07, L08, L11 |
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 for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
- Working with Children Policy
- Occupational Health and Safety in the Laboratory Guideline
- Fitness to Practise Policy
- Vaccinations and Immunisation Procedure
- Work Integrated Learning and Work Experience Policy
- Incidental Student Fees and Charges Procedure
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: