Denturist Diploma Program Description

Students are trained within the guidelines of the Denturist’s scope of practice. This includes: treatment planning, design, fabrication and fitting of complete, partial, immediate and implant-supported and retained dentures. Curriculum topics also include the study of mouth guards, anti-snoring devices, teeth whitening and implants. The program consists of a challenging curriculum including academic, clinical and “hands-on” laboratory skills. The students will study science, dental sciences, health promotion and Denturist practice management. All areas of study will observe the International Baseline Competencies Profile for Denturist Education, The Denturist Association of Canada Competencies and Learning Outcomes, United Kingdom General Dental Council Preparing for Practice Learning Outcomes, and Oregon Board of Dental Technology Denture Technology Curriculum Objectives. Graduates of this program must successfully complete the written and practical licensing examinations in the jurisdiction where they intend to practice to be eligible to practice as a Denturist in states or countries where the Diploma is recognized. In unregulated states, graduates have increased knowledge and skill in the denture technology field.

Program Outcomes

The following are program outcomes that the student who completes the Denturist Diploma Program achieve competency in as defined by the International Federation of Denturists:

KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES

The newly qualified denturist should understand those aspects of the following topics that relate to their framework of professional responsibilities:

1. The engineering and scientific basis of dentistry related to the provision of removable dental prosthetic devices, including the mechanisms of knowledge acquisition, applied medical devices methodology and the evaluation of evidence;

2. Common oral problems treated by removable dental prosthetic devices; the techniques for their diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment; and the maintenance of stable treatment results;

3. Problems presented by patients that are either directly related to the wearing of removable dental prostheses or could affect the wearing of them;

4. The scope and perspective of contemporary removable prosthetic dentistry and its clinical, mechanical and biological basis;

5. Behavioral science and communication;

6. Principles of health promotion and disease prevention;

7. Organization and provision of health care in the community and in hospital;

8. The relevance of business and management skills;

9. The broader issues of professional practice, including ethics, medico-legal considerations,

10. Health and safety legislation and the maintenance of a safe working environment;

11. Ways in which medical emergencies and physical and mental illness may affect patients and the psychological response to normal physical and social processes.

SKILL OBJECTIVES

The newly qualified denturist should be able to:

12. Demonstrate a wide range of transferable skills, including investigative, analytical, problem solving, planning, communication, presentation and team skills.

13. Communicate effectively with patients, their families and associates, members of the dental team and other health professionals involved in patient care, and with the public.

14. Obtain and record a relevant history, interpret a care plan or prescription, and carry out an appropriate examination of the patient as part of the necessary procedures leading to the provision of removable dental prosthetic devices.

15. Detect the presence of diseases of the oral and related structures, including abnormalities that may require further investigation and, if appropriate, make arrangements for the referral of affected patients.

16. Evaluate and apply evidence-based treatment and techniques relating to the provision of removable dental prosthetic devices.

17. Devise and record a comprehensive contract review, perform appropriate visual and tactile assessments, interpret the findings obtained from information available and make provision for further assessment and review.

18. Interpret and interact with a developed treatment plan for a removable dental prosthetic device and monitor treatment progress, identify problems arising during a course of treatment and propose further treatment options, including preventative and adjunctive treatment

19. Undertake, to the highest possible standards, those clinical and dental technology procedures that are within his or her required area of competence, including techniques for prevention of future problems and the ability to enhance the oral health care of individuals.

ATTITUDINAL Objectives

The newly qualified denturist should have:
20. An approach to teaching and learning that are based on curiosity and exploration of knowledge rather than its passive acquisition;

21. A desire to seek and act on evidence, a capacity for self-audit and an appreciation of the need to participate in peer review

22. An awareness of personal limitations, a willingness to seek help as necessary, and an ability to work effectively as a member of the team

23. Respect for patients and colleagues that encompasses without prejudice diversity of background and opportunity, language and culture;

24. An understanding of patients’ rights, particularly with regard to confidentiality and informed consent;

25. An awareness of moral and ethical responsibilities involved in the provision of care to individual patients and to populations;

26. An appreciation of the importance of honesty and trustworthiness;

27. An understanding of audit and clinical governance;

28. An awareness that denturists should strive to provide or support the highest quality of patient care at all times;

29. An awareness of the importance of one’s own health and its impact on the ability to practice as a denturist;

30. An awareness of the need for continuing professional development allied to the process of their continuing education, in order to ensure that high levels of clinical competence and knowledge are maintained.

OUTCOME 1: The newly qualified Denturist will apply a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the human body in the assessment and design of dental prosthetics.

Foundation – The newly qualified Denturist must be able to relate the integration of the entire anatomy and physiology of the patient. From general body systems to specific blood supply, musculature and enervation of the areas to be fitted to, the Denturist must be able to synthesize the manner in which all are interconnected and relevant to the assessment, diagnosing, designing, and fitting of a removable prosthetic devise.

OUTCOME 2: The newly qualified denturist will operate a dental practice that adheres to best practices in the day-to-day operations that take into account the interest of employees and patients.

Foundation – The ability of a newly qualified Denturist to oversee the direction of a business or practice, integrating legal, liability, human resources, and patient best practices is crucial to the ability to deliver professional services to patient in need of removable prosthetics.

OUTCOME 3: The newly qualified Denturist will apply a thorough understanding of the effects and reason for prescribed drugs, along with classification and contraindications related to the design, and fitting of dental prosthetics, in both the short and long term.

Foundation – The effect that pharmaceuticals and over the counter herbs and supplements has a profound effect on the outcomes and ultimate success of the prosthetics in the newly qualified Denturist’s practice. The ability to manage symptoms, coordinate care, and manage patient expectations to provide for a successful outcome require significant insight into the medications of patients today.

OUTCOME 4: The newly qualified Denturist will apply a thorough understanding of the unique dental and oral diseases and disorders in elderly patients, as well as the presentation of psychological and social factors that are involved with this growing demographic.

Foundation – The edentulous or partially edentulous patient presents an age range from sixteen to over 100 years of age and comes from a variety of socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. The ability to assess and integrate both oral and systemic disease and relate the physiological and psychological effects of the disease, aging, as well as the loss of teeth is an integral part of the day-to-day Denturist practice.

OUTCOME 5: The newly qualified Denturist will apply a comprehensive understanding of the classification and progress of edentulism and demonstrate that understanding by delivering a dental prosthetic to a patient.
Foundation – Whereas the trend in the past has been for the edentulous or partially edentulous patient to trend to be older, the rise of the cost of dental care has put more and more younger people in a position for removable prosthetics. The ability for the Denturist to be able to distinguish where a patient is currently at and determine the appropriate treatment plan is crucial in-patient success.

Denturist Diploma Program Timelines

The Denturist Diploma Program is a three-year program. Students must complete the program within 150% of the program length, not to exceed 4.5 years. The externship must be completed within 1 year of acceptance of your Externship Documents and enrollment into the externship, normally at the completion of the didactic portion of the program. Students can accelerate the program as long as prerequisites are met for the courses and they remain in good academic standing.

The Denturist Diploma Program is comprised of 122 quarter credit hours (3660 clock hours) of distance education and 16 quarter credit hours (400 clock hours) of externship. The program is designed to take three years to complete.

If an ADC course is discontinued, the ADC guarantees that all students enrolled in the course will be allowed to complete their instruction.

Tuition & Fees

Description

Amount

Date Due

Application Fee

$50.00

At Application

Admission Exam Fee (per time)

$50.00

At Application

English Language Proficiency Test Fee – If applicable

Student responsible

At Application

Registration Fee

$150.00

One Time at Enrollment

Technology Fee

$300

    One Time at Enrollment
Tuition:

$40,020.00

Lab Supplies:

Covered by Tuition Fees
Estimated fees for non-provided supplies

$3,000.00

Books: Estimated cost from third party provider

Structure & Function of the Body (14th Edition), Author Thibodeau & Patton, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-07722-4

$24

Infection Control and Management of Hazardous, Materials for the Dental Team (5th Edition), Author Chris H. Miller & Charles John Palenik, ISBN-13: 978-032-308257-0

$25

Anatomy of Orofacial Structures (7th Edition), Author Brand & Isselhard, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-22784-1

$97

Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy-Illustrated (3rd Edition), Author Mary Bath-Balogh & Margaret J. Fehrenbach, ISBN-13: 978-1-4377-1730-3

$87

Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist (6th Edition), Author Olga Ibsen & Joan Phelan, ISBN-13: 978-1-4557-0370-8

$68

Prosthetic Treatment of the Edentulous Patient (5thEdition), Author R.M. Basker, J.C. Davenport & J.M. Thomason, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-9261-3

$82

Prosthodontic Treatment for Edentulous Patients (13th Edition), Author Zarb, Hobkirk, Eckert & Jacob, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-07844-3

$135

Thinking Critically (10th Edition), Author John Chaffee, ISBN-13: 978-0-495-90881-4

$18

Periodontology for the Dental Hygienist- (3rd edition), Author Dorothy A. Perry & Phyliss L. Beemsterboer, ISBN- 13: 978-1-4160-0175-1

$22

Dental Materials:  Properties and Manipulation (10th Edition), Author John M. Powers & John C. Wataha, ISBN-13:978-0-323-07836-8

$79

Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist (6th Edition), Author Elena Bablenis Haveles, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-06558-0

$70

Communication Skills for the Healthcare Professional, Author Laurie Kelly McCorry & Jeff Mason, ISBN-13: 978-1-58255-814-1

$42

Behavioral Sciences for Dentistry, Author Gerry Humphris & Margaret S. Ling, ISBN-13: 0-443-051090-9

$57

Dental Radiography Principles and Techniques (6th Edition), Author Joen M. Iannucci & Laura Jansen Howerton, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0323695503

$87

Seeing Sociology: An Introduction (Second Edition), Author Joan Ferrante, ISBN-13: 978-1-13393523-0

$174

Toward Healthy Aging-Human Needs & Nursing Response (8th Edition), Author Theris A. Touhy & Kathleen Jett, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-07316-5

$17

Prosthodontic Treatment for Edentulous Patients (13th Edition), Author Zarb, Hobkirk, Eckert and Jacob, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-07844-3

$135

Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office (6th Edition), Author Stanley F. Malamed, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-04235-2

$107

Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Occupations (2nd Edition), Author Tonia Dandry Aiken, ISBN-13: 978-1-4160-2262-6

$64

Small Business Management –Entrepreneurship and Beyond (5thEdition), Author Timothy S. Hatten, ISBN-13: 978-0-538-45314-1

$132

Practice Management for the Dental Team (7th Edition), Author Betty Ladley Finkbeiner & Charles Allan Finkbeiner, ISBN-13:978-0-323-06536-8

$10

Community Oral Health Practice for the Dental Hygienist (3rdEdition), Author Kathy Voigt Geurink, ISBN-13: 978-1-4377-1351-0

$74

The Dental Hygienist’s Guide to Nutritional Care (4thEdition), Author Cynthia A. Stageman & Judi Ratliff Davis, ISBN-13: 978-1-4557-3765-9

$69

Removable Partial Prosthodontics (12th Edition), Author Alan B. Carr & David T. Brown, ISBN-13:  978-0-323-06990-8

$232

Dental Implant Prosthetics (2nd Edition), Author Carl E. Misch, ISBN-13: 978-0-323-07845-0

$175

** All books must be purchased by the Student. If the student needs assistance, please contact the ADC. **