Lesson 1Patient counselling and shared decision-making: discussing alternatives, risks, benefits, and obtaining informed consentThis section explains how to counsel patients on diagnosis, alternatives, risks, benefits, and postoperative expectations, and how to document shared decisions and obtain legally sound, ethically robust informed consent, tailored to South African legal standards.
Explaining diagnosis in patient-friendly termsDiscussing alternatives and no-treatment optionPresenting risks, benefits, and uncertaintiesChecking understanding and patient preferencesDocumenting consent and refusal properlyLesson 2Comprehensive extraoral examination: facial symmetry, lymph nodes, TMJ, range of motion, trismus assessmentThis section details extraoral examination steps, including facial symmetry, lymph node palpation, TMJ evaluation, range of motion, and trismus assessment, linking findings to possible pathology and surgical access limitations relevant to diverse South African populations.
Inspection of facial symmetry and swellingPalpation of regional lymph node chainsTMJ palpation, sounds, and tendernessMeasuring mandibular range of motionTrismus assessment and surgical accessLesson 3CBCT indications and interpretation: assessing tooth position, relation to inferior alveolar nerve, cortical bone, lesion extent, and surgical planningThis section explains when CBCT is indicated, how to interpret three-dimensional images for tooth position, nerve proximity, cortical bone, and lesion extent, and how to integrate findings into precise surgical planning for South African patients.
Clinical indications and radiation justificationLocating tooth position in three dimensionsAssessing relation to inferior alveolar nerveEvaluating cortical plates and bone volumeMeasuring lesion size and invasion limitsLesson 4Risk identification and documentation: nerve injury risk, fracture, infection, sinus communication, bleeding, anaesthesia risksThis section explains how to identify, quantify, and document surgical risks, including nerve injury, fracture, infection, sinus communication, bleeding, and anaesthesia complications, using standardised forms and clear patient records compliant with South African regulations.
Mapping inferior alveolar and lingual nerve riskAssessing fracture and bone integrity riskEvaluating infection and sinus communication riskBleeding risk, anticoagulants, and haemostasisAnaesthesia-related and airway risk factorsLesson 5Preoperative laboratory and medical clearance: when to request blood tests, cardiac evaluation, and specialist referralThis section outlines indications for preoperative laboratory tests, cardiac evaluation, and medical clearance, emphasising collaboration with physicians, interpretation of key results, and timing of surgery in medically complex patients in South Africa.
Indications for CBC, coagulation, and chemistryCardiac risk stratification and ECG referralEndocrine and metabolic status considerationsCoordinating care with primary physiciansTiming surgery after medical optimisationLesson 6Medical history review: ASA classification, medications, allergies, bleeding disorders, smoking, systemic conditions affecting wound healingThis section focuses on structured medical history taking, ASA classification, medications, allergies, bleeding disorders, smoking, and systemic diseases that alter wound healing, infection risk, and anaesthetic or drug selection in South African contexts.
Applying ASA physical status classificationDocumenting medications and interactionsIdentifying allergies and adverse reactionsBleeding disorders and anticoagulant useSystemic diseases affecting wound healingLesson 7Anxiety and psychological assessment: validated questionnaires, brief CBT techniques, communication and informed consent strategiesThis section addresses anxiety and psychological assessment using validated tools, brief chairside CBT techniques, communication strategies, and how these inform anaesthesia choice, consent quality, and perioperative management for South African patients.
Screening tools for dental anxiety levelsIdentifying red flags for severe phobiaBrief CBT and relaxation chairside methodsCommunication strategies to build trustTailoring anaesthesia to anxiety profileLesson 8Diagnostic differential for pericoronal radiolucency: dentigerous cyst vs odontogenic keratocyst vs radicular cyst vs ameloblastoma featuresThis section reviews radiographic features of pericoronal radiolucencies, differentiating dentigerous cyst, odontogenic keratocyst, radicular cyst, and ameloblastoma, and outlines when to biopsy or refer for specialist management in South Africa.
Radiographic hallmarks of dentigerous cystsFeatures suggestive of odontogenic keratocystDistinguishing radicular cyst from othersPatterns raising suspicion of ameloblastomaIndications for biopsy and specialist referralLesson 9Intraoral examination: soft tissue inspection, periodontal status, tooth vitality tests, probing, occlusion and adjacent tooth evaluationThis section covers structured intraoral examination, including soft tissue and periodontal assessment, vitality testing, occlusal analysis, and evaluation of adjacent teeth to identify pathology and factors influencing surgical planning in diverse populations.
Soft tissue and mucosal inspection protocolPeriodontal charting and probing techniquesPulp vitality and sensibility testing methodsOcclusal analysis and functional contactsAssessment of adjacent and opposing teethLesson 10Radiographic evaluation basics: interpreting panoramic radiographs for impactions and pathologyThis section introduces principles of panoramic radiograph interpretation, focusing on image quality, anatomic landmarks, impacted teeth, and detection of pathology relevant to surgical planning and complication avoidance in South African dentistry.
Evaluating panoramic image quality and errorsIdentifying key maxillofacial landmarksLocating and classifying impacted teethRecognising common radiographic pathologiesCorrelating radiographic and clinical findings
