The course focuses on understanding and on changing human behaviours. Three of the four hours per week are devoted to general education topics such as conditioning, learning, human development and cross-cultural communications. Special emphasis is placed on the management of stress and on the preparation for special events. During the remaining hour, role-play studios facilitate the acquisition of interpersonal skills appropriate to the dental environment. This course introduces students to basic oral histology and pathology including embryology and microscopic anatomy.
Students also learn the manifestations of oral disease processes.
Principles of pharmacology are introduced and agents commonly used which affect dental practice are studied. The latter part of the course stresses the importance of a complete health history and its implications in the delivery of dental care. Students gain skill in performing the practical aspects of the basic laboratory procedures employed in many dental treatment facilities. This laboratory course teaches students to apply radiography theory to the production of diagnostically useful periapical and bite wing intra-oral radiographs. Paralleling and bisecting angle exposure techniques are practised.