Preclinics Conservative Dentistry

Preclinics Conservative Dentistry

Educational forms and methods used in the course: lectures, practical classes, seminars, tests, discussions, slides, multimedia presentations, diagrams, models, and tests.

COURSE ANNOTATION: 
The conservative dentistry course gives the opportunity to acquire knowledge and competencies in operative dentistry and endodontics, which are necessary for organising and carrying out a successful dental procedure. 
CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY IS A DISCIPLINE that includes: surgical and restorative treatment of carious and non-carious lesions of hard dental tissues in the sense of surgical dentistry, endodontics and dental physiotherapy. 
Working in a preclinical simulation centre provides an opportunity to work in a close-to-clinical environment. Students have the opportunity to create specific cavities and obturation for caries treatment, as well as to conduct endodontic treatments (under the program, two multi-rooted teeth) in the phantom head of a simulated patient, which creates real habits for future clinical work.  
Preclinics of Conservative Dentistry is the first stage (from IV to VI semester) of the education in the field of operative dentistry and endodontics. In this stage, students earn theoretical and practical knowledge about the instruments, principles of cavity preparation, obturation with different filling materials, endodontic access preparation, and endodontic treatment procedures (shaping, cleaning, irrigation, obturation of the root canals). They also learn about the restorative procedures of endodontically treated teeth. The training is carried out through lectures with a duration of 2 academic hours /2 x 45 minutes/, seminars with a duration of up to 1 academic hour, practical exercises on a phantom with a duration of 4 academic hours per week. 
Successful graduates take semester exams.

CURRICULLUM OBJECTIVE: 
The educational program aims to introduce students to the basics of cavity preparation, medication, and obturation, as well as the field of endodontics (access, medication, preparation, and obturation of the root canals). 
The acquired competencies enable the organisation of dental care in accordance with European standards for medical service.

PROGRAM TASKS:

• isolation of the operative field;
• teaching in preparation all groups of cavity preparations according to the basic principles;
• theory education in medication of the dentine wound and pharmacodynamics;
• achieving new skills in obturation of the cavities with different materials and methods;
• The students' understanding of tooth anatomy, endodontic treatment, and the restoration of endodontically treated teeth.
• Digital skills for evaluating cavity preparation through scanning.

After the preclinical course, the students should be able to know and prepare the basic cavity configurations and correct medication of the dentine wound. They should manage successfully the different obturation methods.
Regarding endodontics, students should correctly plan the endodontic access, appropriately prepare and obturate root canals, and devise a successful approach for restoring endodontically treated teeth.

ASSESSMENT FORMS: 
Continuous assessment- seminars, tests, discussions. 
Practical exam- 1. Class II cavity preparation on a plastic tooth in a phantom head and definitive restoration with plastic material.
2. Root canal treatment on an extracted human molar.
Theoretical exam- test (on previously published questions for self-assessment of knowledge), one written and two oral questions of the Conservative dentistry synopsis -preclinical course.
Other forms- final term’s test.

PRACTICAL EXAM RULES

1. The practical examination in a Preclinics of conservative dentistry is conducted within two clinical exercises (8 academic hours) in the last two weeks of the VI semester.

2. In case of failure to complete the practical work required by the department within the time set for the practical exam, the student takes a supplementary exam.

3. Students are not allowed to work overtime in other groups, including in the absence of extracted human teeth or time to catch up.

4. In case of two poor marks for stages of cavity preparation or endodontic treatment, the examination is repeated.

5. All students with marks lower than 4.00 have to repeat the practical examination in case of failure on their theoretical exam.

THEMATIC PROGRAM OF THE DISCIPLINE: 
Cavity preparation principles.  
Metal alloys are used for direct and indirect restorations in conservative dentistry. 
Aesthetic restorative materials.
Self-threading pins.
Cast restorations.
Composite and ceramic inlays.
The second basic principle of caries treatment.
Third basic principle of operative caries treatment.
Pulp chamber and root canal (endodontium).
Root canal preparation.
Obturation of the root canal system.
Disinfection and sterilisation. 
Dental caries aetiology and pathogenesis.   
Anatomy and physiology of the dental pulp and periodontium.
Examinations and tests in diagnosis and treatment planning of dental pulp and periodontium diseases.