Welcome to the Bachelor of Oral Health

Further information regarding details of your orientation can be accessed below. All students within the Bachelor of Oral Health must satisfy the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences Clinical Placement Compliance Policy prior to commencing clinical practice.

Please Note: The Orientation timetable may change as updates and availability of Staff or Presenters are confirmed. Students are encouraged to regularly check for updates, especially closer to the date.

As part of the course requirements students will also be expected to purchase specific instruments that they will use throughout their degree, beginning from first year orientation with a cost of approximately $5,000.

The Melbourne Dental School does not use the central University timetabling system, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Oral Health Program will be provided with a personal timetable during Orientation

Welcome to the Doctor of Dental Surgery

Further information regarding details of your orientation can be accessed below. All students within the Doctor of Dental Surgery must satisfy the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences Clinical Placement Compliance Policy prior to commencing clinical practice.

Please Note: The Orientation timetable may change as updates and availability of Staff or Presenters are confirmed. Students are encouraged to regularly check for updates, especially closer to the date.

As part of the course requirements students will also be expected to purchase specific instruments that they will use throughout their degree.

Welcome to the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Implants)

Further information regarding details of your orientation can be accessed below. All students within the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Implants) must satisfy the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences Clinical Placement Compliance Policy prior to commencing clinical practice.

Please Note: The Orientation timetable may change as updates and availability of Staff or Presenters are confirmed. Students are encouraged to regularly check for updates, especially closer to the date.

Students undertaking the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Implants) are also required to fill out the following Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) and Melbourne Dental Clinical (MDC) Credentialing forms, in order to be set up in both work places as a practitioner to commence seeing patients. This is both a course requirement as well as clinical requirement and students will not be allowed into the clinics without having submitted these forms.

Once students have completed all the relevant information they may submit it to Melbourne Dental School in the link below. All students must make every effort to submit these forms prior to the commencement of Orientation.

Welcome to Honours in Oral Health

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Oral Health (Degree with Honours) can learn advanced techniques in the following disciplines of Dental Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Oral Health Therapy and Health Promotion/ public health depending on your research project.

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) within the field of Oral Health are provided with opportunities for increasing depth of knowledge and expanding the theoretical basis on which research projects are developed. Students will be provided with opportunities to apply knowledge and technical skills in a supervised research environment as well as developing communication, problem-solving and critical thinking capacities, appropriate risk assessment and ethical approval processes.

Honours students will have a tailored orientation program based on the stream they apply for, and more information will be provided once selection is complete.

Welcome to the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry

Further information regarding details of your orientation can be accessed below. All students within the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry must satisfy the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences Clinical Placement Compliance Policy prior to commencing clinical practice.

Please Note: The Orientation timetable may change as updates and availability of Staff or Presenters are confirmed. Students are encouraged to regularly check for updates, especially closer to the date.

Students undertaking the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry are also required to fill out the following Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) and Melbourne Dental Clinical (MDC) Credentialing forms, in order to be set up in both work places as a practitioner to commence seeing patients. This is both a course requirement as well as clinical requirement and students will not be allowed into the clinics without having submitted these forms.

Once students have completed all the relevant information they may submit it to Melbourne Dental School in the link below. All students must make every effort to submit these forms prior to the commencement of Orientation.

Welcome to the Research Higher Degree program

Research Candidates can undertake extensive and exciting research within various fields including but not limited to Oral Infection and Immunity, Dental Materials, Forensic Bone Biology, Population Oral Health and Clinical Research.

The many valued members of staff, partners and collaborators support the desire to transform health systems and healthcare delivery, reduce the costs of those systems, and improve the lives of individuals and communities locally and globally.

RHD students will meet with their supervisors upon commencement and will complete the required induction processes. They will need to contact their supervisors for more information.

Student Identification

University of Melbourne Students will be issued a University of Melbourne student card, which is required for administrative transactions, proof of identification for examinations, access to study spaces and library account. This ID card includes a photo, Student ID Number, Name and Barcode, as well as requiring a signature. Student cards should always be accessible and carried on campus.

To organise a Student Card please visit Manage my admin.

As a Melbourne Dental School Student, a UoM ID must be carried visibly at all times within the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, as well as other clinics Students attend. This must be worn so as to identify Students clearly to patients, staff and security.

Occupational Health & Safety

All Students require an Occupational Health and Safety Induction from the University of Melbourne and Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV). Most Students will receive a thorough induction as part of their Orientation Programs when they commence their degree. All other students are advised to make an appointment with the OHS Advisor for their induction session.

Make an Appointment

General Policies

All Students will be guided by certain policies relevant to their discipline. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they adhere to UoM policy guidelines, especially in relation to clinical practice. It is advised that all students familiarise themselves with the Student policies which can be viewed at the following link Melbourne Policy Library.

Key policy documents relevant to Melbourne Dental School students can be found below.

Privileged Information Accessed Through Study Procedure

Student Travel and Transport Policy

Responsible Conduct and Expectations of Students Procedure

Building Access

The Melbourne Dental School is located over three sites at 720 Swanston Street in the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne building, at 30 Flemington Road, Parkville in the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute and the Melbourne Dental Clinic: Melbourne Oral Health Training and Education Centre (MOHTEC) at 723 Swanston Street.

All commencing coursework Students will be provided with a DHSV Proximity Card for access within the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne within their first week. Students will also be provided access on their University of Melbourne Student Card for access to Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute and Melbourne Dental Clinic: Melbourne Oral Health Training and Education Centre (MOHTEC), if required as part of their course.

All RHD Students must consult with their supervisor and complete the Key and Proximity Card Request Form and submit it to the Melbourne Dental School Office.

Study Space & Lockable Storage

Bachelor of Oral Health and Doctor of Dental Surgery Students will all be allocated a locker and padlock to use during their enrolled study periods, located in the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne building. This locker is provided to students for the use and storage of items that cannot be and not allowed to be taken into clinics.

Doctor of Clinical Dentistry, Graduation Diploma of Clinical Dentistry (Implants), and Oral Health Honours Students will be allocated a desk with storage cupboards/drawers located in either the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne building or Melbourne Dental Clinic: Melbourne Oral Health Training and Education Centre (MOHTEC), depending on Speciality.

All full-time RHD students will be allocated a desk with storage and a computer, located in either the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne building, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute or Melbourne Dental Clinic: Melbourne Oral Health Training and Education Centre (MOHTEC) depending on their Research area and supervisor.

Students are not to keep perishables, leave items in their locker/desks/cupboards that may cause discomfort others, odours or be at risk to the health of others. Locker/desks/cupboards are University of Melbourne property and the Melbourne Dental School reserves the right to open, inspect or remove items that may be deemed a potential risk, or not allowed to be stored within them. Students are not entitled to swap lockers, desks or storage cupboards without consulting with the Melbourne Dental School Office. Breaches of any rules adhering to the use of the lockers may result in confiscation of use of storage or a study space.

Research Students & Oral Health CRC

Students are required to check with their Supervisor whether their research project is part of an Oral Health CRC research project. If this is the case, students are advised to contact the Communications Manager for the CRC to discuss requirements and potential scholarships.

Become familiar with the services and facilities provided by the University of Melbourne. The University’s Students website is a great resource for all Students, and the Graduate Research Hub is useful to all Graduate Research Students Graduate Research Hub.

Dental School/Hospital Rules

• Student ID must be worn at all times and in all areas of the School/Hospital, visibly identifying them as a student. Students may be asked to leave by Hospital Security if not carrying identification.
• Students must not congregate around, or block, the entrances, exits or stairwells within and around the Hospital, and must make way or move to another area if directed by either Hospital or University staff.
• Students need to be mindful and respectful of patients, Hospital staff and University staff whilst inside and around the buildings ensuring that noise is kept to a minimum so as to not distract others, especially whilst waiting for classes or coming in and out of rooms.
• Alcohol cannot be brought into, nor consumed in, the Dental School/Hospital building.
• No food or drink can be brought into, nor consumed in, the lecture theatres, seminar rooms or preclinical laboratories.
• Smoking is not permitted at any time in the Dental School/Hospital building, or any University of Melbourne campuses.
• No drugs, materials or instruments can be brought into the School/Hospital for use in either the clinics or laboratories unless approved by the School/Hospital. Students wasting drugs or materials will be required to make up the deficiency.
• All dental technicians' laboratories in the Hospital are out of bounds to students, except for direct communication on specific clinical problems.
• Students must vacate the Dental School/Hospital building by 6.00pm.
• Students are required to observe the detailed regulations governing conduct in the pre-clinical laboratories.

Any action that results in a breach of the above rules and requires Hospital Staff to escort students from the premises will not be taken into account as a vaild reason for not having attended any classes/sessions that have an attendance hurdle.

Clinic Rules

• Students must be on time for all sessions and remain in attendance for the entire duration. Students are only excused or permitted to leave early with permission from their relevant supervisors/ demonstrators.
• In the event that a student is unable to attend a clinical session, it is a requirement to contact the student absence hotline ph: 9341 1500 as well as contacting the Clinical Supervisor to warn in advance of non-attendance. Students will then receive an email noting the absence with a link to the student absence form which must be filled out and submitted online HANDS Form.
• Students are permitted to carry out clinical work only on registered patients of Dental Health Services Victoria. This work must be approved and carried out under supervision and with the authority of the clinician* in charge of the patient.
• Clinical records, radiographs or any material relating to a patient's treatment or history are confidential and must not be removed from clinics by students.
• Patient records must be managed such that no other patient or student involved in direct treatment of that patient has access to the records.
• If using a patient record for assessment (e.g. patient presentation), permission must be obtained from the Clinical Manager to copy any part of the record and MUST ensure that all means of identifying the patient has been removed on that copy.
• Patient records and information are controlled by strict Privacy Legislation Laws which incur severe penalties if breached.
• Instruments and clinical/laboratory materials associated with patient treatment or laboratory exercises (finished or unfinished) must not be taken out of pre-clinical or clinical areas without the permission of the appropriate staff in charge.
• Clinical record books, schedules of requirements or other records of a student's work must not be removed from the location of storage.
• Students may enter the theatre and ward areas of the Hospital only when rostered to do so or with the express permission of the duty clinician.

*Clinician means any full or part-time member of the clinical staff of the Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, the RDHM clinics or a Community Health Centre.

Dress and Behaviour

The dress code as detailed below must be adhered to at all times.

• The following clothing/footwear must not be worn in any clinic: jeans, faded, frayed or dirty clothing, brief tops/skirts/shorts, excessively low cut trousers, sporting attire, sneakers, suede shoes, thongs, sandals or any open-toe shoe.
• A minimal standard of personal hygiene and grooming is expected. Hair may be long or short, but must be neat. Men should be freshly shaved or ensure that their moustaches/beards are neatly groomed.
• A long, white laboratory coat must be worn by the first, second and third year DDS students and the first year BOH students for various practical classes, e.g. Microbiology, Histology, Chemistry.
• Laboratory gowns (supplied by the students) and a Student ID must be worn by all students when undertaking practical work in the School laboratories.
• Hospital gowns and other protective wear such as facemasks and gloves (supplied by the Hospital) and a Student ID must be worn by ALL students when undertaking work in the clinics. Hospital gowns must not be worn outside the clinical treatment areas, including the reception area/patient waiting room and when you are escorting patients to and from the clinic. When the clinical work has finished, students must dispose of these gowns in the “dirty linen bags” located throughout these areas.
• Students should also note that the Royal Melbourne and Austin Hospitals and Private Oral Medicine and Surgery rooms require dental students to maintain the same standard of dress as medical students, which includes a tie for male students.

The following additional points should be observed during clinical work when in close proximity to patients:

→ Long hair must be tied back (long pony tails must be placed in a bun) so that it does not obscure your vision or fall onto the patient’s face. Fringe must be pushed back with a hair band or clipped back.

→ It is essential to use an effective deodorant.

→ If a smoker, ensure any smoking odour is masked.

→ Halitosis is a problem associated with smoking as well with some foods. These foods must be avoided prior to clinical work.

→ Alcohol and drugs must NOT be consumed prior to any clinical session.

→ Fingers and fingernails should be short and clean, and nails MUST NOT be painted with a coloured lacquer.

→ No jewellery or accessories should be worn from elbow to finger tips (this includes bracelets, watches, fitness bands and rings (including wedding rings).

→ Long sleeves should be pushed back or folded back to elbow.

Infection Control Guidelines

Use of common sense should result in hygienic practices being carried out in the clinical environment. However, observation of work undertaken in clinics has proven that infection control protocols often are NOT being followed.

Please read the following information thoroughly. Claimed ignorance of infection control procedures will NOT be an acceptable reason for failure to observe them.

Infection Control