Unit information: Full Denture Prosthetics in 2018/19

Unit name	Full Denture Prosthetics
Unit code	ORDSM0014
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Puryer
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	n/a
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	Bristol Dental School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This Unit of Teaching will be offered as an Optional Unit as part of a modular distance learning programme. The programme will allow students to build Certificate, Diploma or Masters level qualifications by combining optional 20 credit units. The Prosthetics Unit has the following three Elements and their general aims are: - Element 1. Complete denture problems and solution. Firstly to refine the student’s diagnostic skills and management of problems commonly encountered by patients wearing complete dentures. Secondly to assist students to acquire skills useful in finding solutions to clinical problems by using electronic library searches and to evaluate the quality of evidence in the literature. Element 2. Reconstructing an authentic smile. • to review the emotional importance of teeth to our sense of wellbeing. • to review the guidelines which have been suggested in the dental literature on positioning dental arches in their original positions and in setting teeth which have some features of natural arrangements. • to present a clinical technique which will allow the reconstruction of the lower face to be authentic and based on evidence from pre-extraction records, biometric guidelines and validated by the patient’s own input.

Element 3. Occlusal stability in partial and complete dentures • To analyse the reasons for instability in partial and complete dentures and to suggest techniques which may solve these problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Students should be able to :

• describe the most common problems associated with complete and removable partial dentures and the epidemiology of the denture success in the denture wearing public.
• discover the strategies for finding reliable clinical solutions by using literature searches.
• describe the psychological consequences of tooth loss.
• discuss the physiology of arch and tooth stability and the influence of occlusion.
• explain the influence of cusp angle and compensating curves on occlusal contacts during function.

Skills The student should be able to:

• explain the restorative options to the patient including risks and benefits in order to fulfill the requirements of informed consent.
• obtain accurate impressions of edentulous mouths.
• demonstrate the fitting and adjusting dentures and correcting errors of the denture base and occlusion.
• plan and recommend to the dental technician occlusal schemes appropriate to the management of Class II cases.
• make appropriate clinical records to allow the use of a semi-adjustable articulator.
• assess and correct where necessary tooth settings aimed at achieving a balanced occlusion.
• produce aesthetic arrangements of teeth with the participation of the patient.

Teaching Information

Study of selected literature on website Reflective writing Problem solving using self-directed lit research Website videos and reflective questionnaire Tutorial and Seminar Design sessions Hands on practical sessions

Assessment Information

This Unit will have the following four summative assessments: - 1. Element 1. Online assignment (15%) 2. Element 2. Reflective case study (15%) 3. Element 3. Online assignment (15%) 4. A final written examination comprising Multiple Short Answer questions of 2 hours’ duration (55%)

The balance of assessment in all of the elements will be the same.

Formative assessment • Online activities and study day activities will provide formative assessment

Reading and References

• van Waas J. (1990) Determinants of dissatisfaction with dentures; A multpile regression analysis. J Prosthet Dent 64, 569-72.

• Lechner S.K. Lechner S.(1995) Complete denture problem solving:; A survey Aust Dent J, 40,377-80.

• Fiske J, Davis, D.M., Frances C., and Gelbier S. “ The emotional effects of tooth loss in edentulous people” B Dent J. 1998; 184, 90-93.

• Watt D.M “Tooth positions on complete dentures” J Dentistry, 1978; 6, 147-160.

• Sutherland SE. “Evidence-based dentistry: Part IV. Research design and levels of evidence.” J Can Dent Assoc. 2001 Jul-Aug;67(7):375-8.

• Curtis A, Langer, Curtis D, Carpenter R, Occlusal considerations for partially or completely edentulous skeletal class II patients. JPD 1988 60, 202-211.
• McCord & Grant, A Clinical Guide to Complete Denture Prosthetics. BDJ Books 2000