Dentistry

To extend knowledge, understanding and clinical skills in general dentistry​.

Objectives: Upon completion of the posting, Dental Officers should have gained experience, knowledge and skills and be competent in:

• Taking detailed clinical history and conducting clinical examination and diagnosis of dental diseases and anomalies
• Executing accurate charting, recording and documentation of findings, advice and treatment rendered etc
• Applying evidence-based dentistry in their clinical practice-Identifying high dental caries risk patients
• Implementing preventive care programme-Communicating with patients, parents, guardians, caregivers etc.
• Rendering emergency treatment in patients with oro-dental trauma
• The following basic dental procedures:

1. Scaling and polishing and simple root planning
2. Simple fillings which include amalgams and tooth-coloured restorations
3. Pulpectomy and other endodontic emergencies
4. Simple extractions
5. Orthodontic emergencies and to be able to identify when to refer for orthodontic management

• Recognising procedures in which he or she is not experienced, indicate awareness of how and where appropriate further treatment can be obtained

Crowns, bridges, dentures, endodontics and orthodontics (optional)

Objectives:

Crowns

• To be supervised for at least one crown case by a prosthodontist
• To be able to recognise cases that will require specialist treatment (e.g. full mouth rehabilitation, severe deep bites, severe mal-alignments) and refer accordingly

Bridges

• To be supervised for at least one conventional three unit bridge case

Dentures

• To be supervised by a prosthodontist for at least one simple denture case (one to five teeth replacement) and at least one simple complete denture case
• To be able to perform at least two cases of simple denture repairs
• To be able to indicate and manage for immediate denture treatment
• To be able to recognise cases that requires specialist treatment (e.g. severe maxillary/mandibular prognathism, very flat or spiny edentulous alveolar ridges) and refer accordingly

Endodontics

• To be supervised by an endodontist for at least one endodontic case (either anterior or premolar)
• To observe specialist treatment of a molar endodontic case
• To be able to recognise cases that requires specialist treatment (e.g. retreatment, retrieval of intra-canal instruments) and to refer accordingly

Orthodontics (Optional)

• To be supervised by an orthodontist for management of orthodontic emergencies (e.g. placement of separators', re-cementation of bands, management of soft tissue trauma due to orthodontic appliances etc.)

The Dental Officers are still expected to carry out general dental work i.e. scaling and polishing, fillings, pulpects, etc. as part of total patient care.

To manage the delivery of dental care to the primary and secondary school children so as to achieve a high standard of oral care and dental fitness.

Objectives:

• Manage a school dental clinic or a mobile dental clinic-Provide basic dental treatment to preschoolers, primary or secondary school children
• Attend to referred cases and provide dental treatment beyond the scope of the dental therapists (DT) such as dentures, trauma cases, root canal treatment of single rooted permanent tooth, dentures
• Provide clinical supervision to DTs
• Carry out clinical audit on DTs-Provide reports on DTs and Dental Surgery Assistants
• Conduct oral health promotion programmes, deliver health talks
• Participate in community service; provide treatment to the needy and the elderly
• Participate in dental research (optional)

To extend knowledge, understanding and clinical skills in the field of paediatric dentistry.

To provide an environment that enhances interest in paediatric dentistry.

Objectives: Upon completion of the posting in paediatric dentistry, Dental Officers should have gained experience, knowledge and skills and be competent in:

• Taking detailed clinical history and conducting clinical examination and diagnosis of dental diseases and anomalies in infants, children and adolescents and children with special needs
• Executing accurate charting, recording and documentation of findings, advice and treatment rendered etc.
• Applying evidence-based dentistry in their clinical practice
• Recognising clinical features of most common relevant systemic disorders in children
• Identifying high dental caries risk patients
• Implementing preventive care programme
• Managing children with dental diseases especially dental caries
• Promoting knowledge to the patients, parents and community in the prevention of dental diseases in children
• Communicating with patients, parents, guardians, caregivers etc.
• Utilising behaviour management techniques in children
• Rendering care and treatment in infants, children and adolescents with oro-dental trauma
• Carrying out simple prosthodontic, orthodontic (early interventions to correct malocclusion) and endodontic treatment or, in the case of procedures in which he or she is not experienced, indicate awareness of how and where appropriate further treatment can be obtained

To gain exposure to the various facets of oral surgery, acquire a good working knowledge of basic oral surgical principles, undertake minor procedures and to identify cases that require referral to a specialist.

Objectives:

• Develop history-taking and examination skills--Acquire knowledge of the appropriate investigation tools to aid diagnosis
• Attain ability to treatment plan
• Gain ability to manage medically compromised patients
• Hone skills in delivery of teeth/roots, recognise the possible complications and their management
• Understand and manage oral infections
• Participate in the management of dentoalveolar trauma
• Acquire knowledge of oral lesions, orofacial pain, and their management
• Develop familiarity with the management of dentofacial deformities and edentulism

• To be able to put in place postings which are currently unavailable. These postings will be proposed to the Committee with guidelines for the postings by the training centre offering such a posting
• The Committee will then review and give approval for such postings accordingly
• Dental Officers who are allowed to do such elective postings would have had at least done three different postings before they are eligible
• Such postings will be offered and given to Dental Officers by the discretion of the Committee and will be based on manpower needs and exigencies of services