UMelb UMelb Dentistry: Entry Questions and Discussion

[theillestill]

Well, I asked the folks at the Biomed and Health Sciences info desk about admissions into graduate entry dental surgery- and he just straight up said that my offer would be withdrawn on account of not qualifying with the degree. No deferral granted.

So I think I have it worst off. And that is really a frustrating slap to the face- because although I am aware that I am not deserving the offer on account of how I messed up last semester, I don't think I should be put through a grind-wheel of hope and anxiety on discrepancies they ought to have picked up- especially since I had given up hope on health sciences due to my results.
I even called up the to double check that my offer was legitimate.

Thank you for the help, regardless. *sigh* I guess I should roll my dice again and see how the outlook is next year..
I hope there is some way of redeeming oneself for admission again next year?

People make mistakes. The important thing is to 1) learn from them and 2) move on from there.

If you think it's something you pursue - what's 1 more year going to be costing you?

Good luck.

 

[Nemmy]

To be honest, my neurosis really stems from the fact that I thought my admission this year was some sort of miraculous thing to occur.
I have a fear that my chances next year won't be so good- especially considering that this is the 'transitioning' period, and more people will be competing for spots next year.

But in the end, I suppose all I can do is work harder, have more faith, and try to keep myself together for next year.
=)

 

[horseben]

How often do you see people drop out/fail through the years?
Thanks!!

 

[theillestill]

We've had a couple of people fail in 2nd year and one person in first year - but really no one I know of has dropped out completely.

 

[polarfizz]

Dental Caries - The Disease and its Clinical Management
Clinical periodontology and implant dentistry
Prosthodontic treatment for edentulous patients: complete dentures and implant-supported prosthese

Just wondering if anyone knows that the above books are worth getting?
Thanks in advance

 

[vincent168]

Hi,

I want to ask what is the difference between doctor of dental surgery and doctor of clinical dentistry?

Thanks

 

[Hutcherson]

Doctor of Dental Surgery is the 4 year post graduate course to become a registered Dentist.
Doctor of Clinical Dentistry is a 3 year post graduate course that you can done once you have become a Dentist. This clinical degree will let you specialize into any specific field. Melbourne offers the following: Endodontics, Oral Medicine, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Special Needs Dentistry.

Correct me If I'm wrong anyone. I'm adjusting to Melbourne's new degrees.

 

[HYM]

where can you specialise in oral surgery?

 

[Hutcherson]

Do you mean 'Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery'? (OMS)

Thats BDS + MBBS + doing a Fellowship (Training) at the Royal College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS)

 

[HYM]

no I wasnt talking about OMS. My understanding is that there is oral surgery as a seperate speciality where they do mostly extractions etc. while max facs deal with trauma and also do some extractions.

On the college website, however, there is no oral surgery as a speciality so I dont know where I got that from. Just a misunderstanding I guess.

 

[add]

there is a slight difference between oral surgey and OMS, as of the 1st of july this year with the new dental board of australia. they classify them as separate specialties. OMS requires BDS + MBBS as Hutcherson said above. Oral surgery is different, my understanding is that there isn't any formal postgraduate qualification/training for it (i.e. a D.ClinDent), just a bunch of dentists, who aren't actually maxfacs, but enjoy oral surgery calling themselves oral surgeons. this may change in the future.

 

[miss_universe]

just a bunch of dentists, who aren't actually maxfacs, but enjoy oral surgery calling themselves oral surgeons. this may change in the future.

jeez. that sounds like us so much ey? hahaa

 

[Hutcherson]

Oral Surgery (OS) would still be done by the RACDS I rekon, because I haven't heard of any university providing that training before. If someone does, let us know ^_^. But yes there has been some debate over the years between an oral surgeon and a om surgeon/ their tittles. Because in different countries those names have different or the same meanings.

 

[add]

According to the australian dental board (https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Dental-Practitioner-Registration.aspx, click on the specialist registration link) there is a difference between an oral surgeon and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Oral Surgeon: "The branch of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis and surgical management of conditions affecting the oral and dento-alveolar tissues".

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: "The part of surgery that deals with the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of human jaws and associated structures".

so there is a difference technically between the two, but regard to training for an oral surgeon compared with an OMS i have no idea.

 

[Hutcherson]

Thanks for that add. That clears a few things up actually. I shall investigate. Ive had an interest in OMS for a while. OS looks awesome aswell ^_^.

 

[polarfizz]

Melbourne Uni textbooks

Just wondering which textbooks are worth getting?

 

[Hutcherson]

I would wait until the first week of uni and ask your lecturers, which ones they recommend the most to buy. I noticed that unis tend to list some textbooks that aren't ever required or rarely used. Borrowing from the library for those never used books tend to be the better option.

 

[theillestill]

Oral Surgery is a specialty but no one specializes in it since it isn't accredited. Extractions belong to a part of oral surgery - but maxillofacial surgery entails much more than oral surgery and hence requires more training.

Only in Europe is there an actual distinction between Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery pathways.

 

[theillestill]

P.S - There are not pathways that i'm aware of to train as an "oral surgeon" in Australia. Training would mostly entail possibly the unaccredited years of Maxillofacial Surgery training that people undergo whilst waiting to take their BSTs

 

[jtdds]

Hey guys, anyone know if there's a fb group for the incoming DDS class...anyone care/know how to create one?