Course Title: Design digital dental restorations and appliances using computer-aided design (CAD)

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: DENT5879C

Course Title: Design digital dental restorations and appliances using computer-aided design (CAD)

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5387 - Diploma of Dental Technology

Course Contact: Luke Scarica

Course Contact Phone: 03 9925 0312

Course Contact Email: luke.scarica@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to design digital dental restorations and appliances using computer-aided design (CAD).

This unit applies to work in dental technology


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTDET016 Design digital dental restorations and appliances using computer-aided design (CAD)

Element:

1. Determine restoration or appliance requirements

Performance Criteria:

  • 1.1 Access and interpret work order.
  • 1.2 Apply standard infection control precautions when receiving, handling and working on dental materials.
  • 1.3 Ensure accuracy of work order and seek additional information as required.
  • 1.4 Assess quality of impression, model or intraoral scan and seek any required adjustments.
  • 1.5 Scan physical impression, model or download intraoral scan and create digital representation of impression.
  • 1.6 Identify technologies and computer-aided design (CAD) software required to complete digital design of restoration or appliance, and ensure availability.

Element:

2. Design restoration or appliance using computer-aided design (CAD)

Performance Criteria:

  • 2.1 Access required technologies and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  • 2.2 Follow workplace policies and procedures to access and import digital impression files into computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  • 2.3 Create 3-D images by manipulating 3-D shapes.
  • 2.4 Establish coordinate system and orientation according to work order.
  • 2.5 Manipulate computer-aided design (CAD) software features and functions to create digital design of restoration or appliance.
  • 2.6 Apply rendering techniques to digital design of restoration or appliance.

Element:

3. Finalise digital design for manufacturing

Performance Criteria:

  • 3.1 Ensure digital design of restoration or appliance accurately reflects requirements of work order.
  • 3.2 Make any final adjustments to ensure integrity and accuracy of digital design.
  • 3.3 Ensure digital design is available in format required for manufacturing.
  • 3.4 Finalise digital design for production and store according to workplace requirements.

Learning Outcomes


By the end of this course, you will be able to;

  1. Determine restoration or appliance requirements
  2. Design restoration or appliance using computer-aided design (CAD)
  3. Finalise digital design for manufacturing


Details of Learning Activities

Theory: Knowledge material required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. 

This includes knowledge of:

  • Australian/New Zealand Standards, workplace health and safety (WHS) policies, Dental Board of Australia guidelines on infection control, Commonwealth legislation and State/Territory legislation, and organisational policies relating to dental laboratory work
  • requirements and organisational policies relating to dental laboratory work including:
    • use of standard infection control precautions
    • use of personal protective equipment
    • requirements for the use of technologies and computer-aided design (CAD) software
    • requirements for storage of digital designs
    • work health and safety
  • benefits and limitations of computer-aided design (CAD) in digital dentistry
  • commonly used types of computer-aided design (CAD) technologies used the in dental industry
  • digital design processes and procedures
  • digital design file types
  • digital and physical impressions and properties
  • types of digital restorations and appliances
  • properties of restoration and appliance material applicable to computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and the applicability of each material
  • computer-aided manufacturing types and processes commonly used in digital dentistry
  • fundamentals of oral anatomy:
    • dentition – arrangement of teeth, naming and coding of teeth
    • structures of the oral cavity – hard and soft palate, lateral and posterior borders of the oral cavity, tongue and floor of mouth
    • teeth form and function.

 

Practical: Dental Laboratory exercises/activities.

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

  • read and correctly interpreted four work orders
  • used computer-aided design (CAD) software and technologies to prepare four digitally designed restorations or appliances, one of which must be a unit of crown and bridge work. The remaining three must be selected from two of the following categories:
    • prosthetics
    • chrome casting
    • orthodontics
    • splints
  • applied infection control precautions and safe work practices to prepare the above four digital restoration or appliance designs
  • critically evaluated the above four digital restoration or appliance designs to meet requirements of the work order.


Teaching Schedule

Please refer to Syllabus in CANVAS.

The course will be delivered across your two years of enrolment. It will begin with some theory followed by full day practical sessions where you will construct a combination and variety of computer aided designed and manufactured appliances and restorations. 

These lessons and Practical Assessments will be delivered in conjunction with the below units:

Construct Custom Impression Trays

Construct Oral Splints

Construct Cast Removable Alloy Partial Denture Framework

Construct Crown and Bridge


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

You must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that you have:

  • read and correctly interpreted four work orders
  • used computer-aided design (CAD) software and technologies to prepare four digitally designed restorations or appliances, one of which must be a unit of crown and bridge work. The remaining three must be selected from two of the following categories:
    • prosthetics
    • chrome casting
    • orthodontics
    • splints
  • applied infection control precautions and safe work practices to prepare the above four digital restoration or appliance designs
  • critically evaluated the above four digital restoration or appliance designs to meet requirements of the work order.

To be deemed competent you must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects required of the competency.   

Regular attendance is necessary. 

Assessment methods have been designed to measure your achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks and consist of theory and practical based tasks.


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace.

To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.

Assessment Task 1: Knowledge Assessment
The theory assessment will include short answer questions and diagrams as required.

Assessment Task 2: Practical Assessment
Due:
During your practical assessment you will be required to construct and critically evaluate four digitally designed restorations or appliances.

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved

NYC: Not Yet Competent


Assessment Matrix

The assessment tasks listed in this course guide addresses all the elements and criteria of the requirements of this course.

Other Information

Attendance: Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussions, demonstrations and practical exercises. It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

 

Information about your studies: You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas, etc.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students

 

Assessment: Information on assessment including Special Consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment

 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity

 

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning: Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit

Course Overview: Access Course Overview