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Bachelor of Oral Health

About the BOH Program 

The Bachelor of Oral Health (BOralHlth) curriculum is based on a problem-based learning philosophy with early exposure of students to clinical practice. There are around 30-35 students in each of the three years of the program, comprising both Australian and International students. The oral health profession is entering an exciting and challenging new era where the role of oral health professionals is changing. The Bachelor of Oral Health educates dental professionals for the future oral health environment.

There are four highly integrated streams in each year of the The Bachelor of Oral Health, which continue through the three years of the program. The Dental and Health Science stream includes topics on communication, dental public health, developmental psychology, diagnosis and the treatment of disease, health promotion, nutrition, radiographic anatomy and sociology of health. Human Biology involves body chemistry, cell structure and function, anatomy and oral anatomy. Topics on the principles of clinical examinations, x-rays, orthodontics, periodontal disease and restorative dentistry are introduced in Clinical Practice. General Studies includes basic science, bio-statistics and computing. In year 3 students have the opportunity to undertake an Oral Health Elective to broaden their experience in preferred areas. Some classes are delivered in a team context with Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

Aspects of the program in Years 1and 2 will use a problem-based learning (PBL) approach, which increases throughout the program to Year 3 where the full year is taught in the PBL philosophy. PBL is a learning approach, which develops problem solving strategies, disciplinary knowledge base  and skills. PBL places students in the active role of problemsolvers confronted with an issue/patient scenario, which mirrors real-world situations. In many examples the cases students study are real-life cases.

The following objectives have formed the foundation of the University of Adelaide’s Bachelor of Oral Health curriculum:

• to develop a flexible curriculum structure that can respond rapidly to, and reflect developments in the science and practice of oral health
• to facilitate greater opportunities for contextual learning
• to utilize problem-based learning throughout the program so that students (and later graduates) are able to better integrate material and apply their knowledge
• to make greater use of developments in computer-aided instruction and audio-visual material
• to develop a program that is stimulating and enjoyable and one that develops the skills and attitude to continue learning after graduation, ie to become life-long learners.