Division of Community Dentistry
Community Dentistry is included in the Final Part 1 course during the third year of the BDS programme. The teaching programme includes a comprehensive course of lectures covering basic topics in dental public health, clerkship/appointment of 4 weeks duration and supervised project work.
An important aim of the course is to imbue a sense of social responsibility and a strong community perspective on health and disease and in the provision of health care. The limitations of clinical dentistry and professional interventions and the need to view oral health and oral health care in the broader context of general health and medical services are important themes. The dominant role of broad socio-economic determinants including human development and human rights on health is stressed. The course covers a consideration of environment health and alternative systems and strategies in the provision of oral health care. Students are encouraged to see local problems and their solutions in the context of global trends in dental epidemiology and oral health care.
The Community Dentistry clerkship/appointment includes a large range of field experiences enabling students to obtain a sound understanding of oral health care provision in Sri Lanka. During the appointment the students also receive a practical introduction to oral epidemiological methods and clinical prevention of oral disease.
In the project work component students divide into small groups and carry out limited investigations inquiring into and reporting on interesting questions pertaining to community health.
The topics covered during the course includes: oral epidemiology including oral disease patterns both local and global, basic survey methodology including screening for disease, basic statistics, environmental health, social and economic aspects of health, prevention, health communication, health manpower, primary health care and organization of oral health care services.
Division of Peadodontics
The Division of Paedodontics consists of 3 staff cubicles, 18 clinic cubicles and Health Education Room which can accommodate 20 students.
The students in the 3rd year are instructed primarily through group discussions and are required to follow a 4 week block appointment. The students in the final year are given lectures and discussions. They are also required to follow a 4 week rotational block appointment and a rotational clinical appointment of 30 sessions.
During the 3rd year programme emphasis is given to behavior management techniques in child patients. Although special investigation techniques are taught at this level, the student is expected to arrive at a definitive diagnosis, which follows the treatment plan and its implementation, only in the final year. Students are also encouraged to inculcate the importance of preventive procedures in dentistry for child patients and their parents. At the end of the final year course, the student should have a knowledge of all aspects of diseases and conditions of the teeth and its surrounding structures in children, and should be able to manage each of these conditions.
Division of Orthodontics
The Division of Paedodontics consists of 3 staff cubicles, 18 clinic cubicles and Health Education Room which can accommodate 20 students.
The students in the 3rd year are instructed primarily through group discussions and are required to follow a 4 week block appointment. The students in the final year are given lectures and discussions. They are also required to follow a 4 week rotational block appointment and a rotational clinical appointment of 30 sessions.
During the 3rd year programme emphasis is given to behavior management techniques in child patients. Although special investigation techniques are taught at this level, the student is expected to arrive at a definitive diagnosis, which follows the treatment plan and its implementation, only in the final year. Students are also encouraged to inculcate the importance of preventive procedures in dentistry for child patients and their parents. At the end of the final year course, the student should have a knowledge of all aspects of diseases and conditions of the teeth and its surrounding structures in children, and should be able to manage each of these conditions.
