TANNPRAINN1A Practice in Fixed Prosthetics Course description

Supervised practical education/training in enterprise is an important part of the programme. The external supervised practice for exchange students is organized with 1 day per week throughout the semester as a separate course (10 ECTS). The training period take place in a laboratory for dental technology. Working in dental technology laboratories gives students an opportunity to develop their skills in an actual laboratory under the supervision of an authorised dental technologist. In external laboratory practice, students will produce metal ceramic- and full ceramic crowns.

The student must have passed all topics in their first year of the Bachelor of Dental Technology as a minimum.

After completing the external practice, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student should be able to:

• select suitable materials for the particular case based on knowledge of materials, technology and manufacturing techniques
• explain the importance of good cooperation in dental laboratory and the dental team

Skills

The student should be able to:

• plan structures and justify the choice of the design, materials, and techniques in terms of clinical conditions and preparation in given cases
• apply the appropriate materials so that the material properties are maintained through the fabrication process in specific cases
• fabricate sub-structures in metal to metal-ceramic crowns with the conventional technique and/or CAD/CAM with clinical acceptable quality regarding fit and function
• fabricate full ceramic crowns and small bridges with CAD/CAM or press ceramic, either full anatomical, with the cut-back and/or ceramic core with clinical acceptable quality regarding fit, function and aesthetics in a given case
• fabricate fused porcelain to sub-constructions in metal and ceramic core in a way that safeguards the clinical quality regarding function, morphology and optical properties in a given case
• plan your own work day and organize the work allocation and work processes appropriately

General competence

The student should be able to:

• show willingness and ability to utilize guidance and constructive feedback
• demonstrate the will and ability of results-oriented collaboration and communication in a professional context
• document and reflect critically on the quality of their own work

Skills training

The study programme places great emphasis on supervised skills training. Through practical exercises and reflection, students shall acquire manual skills and learn dental technology procedures.

Portfolios

During TANNPRAINN1A, the students collect their practical work, and written reflections in individual portfolios. The portfolio describes how to produce the practical work, it¿s theory basis and reviews. The portfolio will demonstrate the student's progress, and forms part of the coursework.

Self-study

The learning outcomes demand a considerable amount of individual initiative and self-study if the student is to achieve a satisfactory result. Self-study entails both individual work and cooperation with fellow students. The individual work is related to the study of literature, participation in the digital course connected to TANN2300 and independent skills training.

Practice

The periods of practical training is 16 weeks. Students shall participate as much as possible in the day-to-day production of tooth replacements. Students will have one main supervisor with overall responsibility for the period of practical training, but other supervisors may also be involved in the day-to-day guidance. The feed-back will be based on professional criteria. The student is entitled to regular supervision and feedback during the training period.

About halfway through the period of external practical training, the student will receive a midway assessment that summarises his/her progress and adaptability in relation to achieving the desired learning outcomes by the end of the placement. The assessment shall be based on the submitted portfolio and the tutors assessment. This assessment can be given orally or in writing.

If there is any doubt about whether the student will pass the period of practical training, he/she shall be invited to a meeting attended by the student, the main supervisor from the laboratory and a representative of the University/Dental technology program. In this meeting, the student shall be given written notification or warning that there is doubt about whether he/she will be able to achieve the learning outcomes and pass the period of practical training.

The meeting also forms the basis for preparing a plan or contract for how the student can manage to achieve the learning outcomes before the end for the training period. The meeting must be held no later than 7 weeks before the final day of the period of practical training, halfway through the period.

Attendance is compulsory for all parts of the programme where the students cannot achieve the learning outcomes on their own. Attendance is necessary in order for the students to acquire the specialist knowledge, skills and general competence required to safeguard patient safety and quality assure dental technology products.

The requirements are:

• at least 80% attendance for external practical training, skills training, patient-oriented work, scheduled compulsory academic supervision
• portfolio with complete production and process log from external practice

Assessment Content: Learning Outcome Descriptions

Coursework: Assessment during practical training

Should a student exceed the maximum limit for absence, extra assignments will be required to compensate for his/her absence as far as possible. If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence during a period of practical training, it will be considered whether the period can be extended. If it is not possible to compensate for the absence or extend the period of practical training, the student will risk to fail the course, and the whole period must be repeated in her/his homeland.

Pass/fail

Both the tutor and course leader assess the students.