This course comprises a combination of online lectures and practical work incorporating supported clinical experience and small group work. The course aims to develop basic orthodontic skills in dental therapists, hygienists and oral health therapists that will meet the needs of orthodontic practice and the standards required by the Dental Board of Australia. The course objectives are to provide a course of education and training that will enable dental therapists and hygienists to assist an orthodontist in the provision of treatment and preventive services.

It also includes placement in private orthodontic practices which utilise a dental therapists, hygienists and oral health therapists prior to commencement and on completion of treatment. These two private practice days are to be organised by the participants at times agreeable to both the attending practice and the therapist/hygienist. They are for participants who have no prior experience in orthodontics. Their purpose is to enable an understanding of the role and scope of practice for OHTs in orthodontic practices. If you are currently employed in an orthodontic practice and have past and current experience with day-to-day orthodontic activities that are part of the scope of practice for an oral health therapist, you may not need to undertake these placements.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participating dental therapists, hygienists and oral health therapists should be able to:

• discuss the role of the Dental Hygienist or Therapist in an orthodontic practice and the Codes of Practice governing their work
• identify centric occlusions, centric relations and malocclusions, and describe the causes of malocclusion
• discuss the rationale for orthodontic treatment
• explain the indications and contraindications for orthodontic treatment
• describe the stages involved in fixed and removable orthodontic therapy
• identify and name instruments and equipment used in orthodontics

Demonstrate a basic ability to:

• identify the information required by patients undergoing orthodontic treatment
• appropriately use orthodontic instruments and equipment
• take impressions for orthodontic purposes
• take clinical photographs and other records for orthodontic purposes
• place and remove separators
• remove brackets and other appliances and related accessory materials used in orthodontic treatment/therapy
• place and fix arch wires
• select and prepare bands for cementation
• re-cement loose bands and brackets
• remove orthodontic cement and materials after band and bracket removal

Demonstrate the ability to:

• provide patients with accurate information relating to the care and maintenance of teeth and fixed and/or removable appliances
• promote the oral health of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment
• identify and refer conditions requiring management by an orthodontist or other dental professional
• Pre-reading material will be supplied including refresher material on occlusion and malocclusion and their classifications

Program Delivery – Online Blended Learning and Hands-on Pre-clinical session

• Online web lectures via Learning Management System, Canvas.
• A short MCQ (multiple choice questions) to cement your knowledge on the lecture topics. An additional

one hour of Scientific CPD is awarded.

• Online Live Q&A Session for follow up questions and interaction with the presenters.
• Hands-on Clinic session – demonstrations and hands-on exercises on Impression taking, Separator
• Placement, Photography, Typodonts: Arch wire fixation and removal, Re-bonding of brackets (2 teeth) Complete Impressions, Placement and removal of bonded retainer, Removal of separators, De-bonding brackets and cement removal, Fitting of orthodontic bands.

For enquiries, contact: mds-cpd@unimelb.edu.au

Course Presenters

Check out a full profile on the presenters.

Dr Samar Amari

Associate Professor Julie Satur

Dr Hong Jin Chan

Dr Braydon Patterson