Conservative Dentistry and Preventive Dentistry

Code:

MIMD050102

Acronym:

MDCMDP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Dental Medicine

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Gestão Académica
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Dental Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMD	70	Official Plan from the academic year 2020/2021	5	-	6	108	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Learning Objectives

• Consolidate previously acquired knowledge in operative dentistry, endodontics, dental anatomy, and oral pathophysiology.
• Enable students to diagnose, prevent, plan, and carry out restorative and endodontic treatments.
• Develop the ability to manage complex clinical situations, including trauma, hypersensitivity, discoloration, and carious and non-carious lesions.
• Promote the integration of scientific evidence into clinical practice.
• Foster ethical behaviour and patient communication skills.

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of the course unit, the student should be able to:

• Diagnose hard tissue and pulp pathologies based on clinical and imaging data;
• Plan and perform direct and indirect restorative treatments appropriate to the clinical case;
• Carry out endodontic treatments using both manual and mechanical instruments;
• Apply primary and secondary prevention measures;
• Manage dental emergencies and trauma cases;
• Propose and implement therapeutic options for tooth discoloration;
• Communicate effectively with patients;
• Integrate ethical principles into clinical decision-making;
•  Critically reflect on clinical practice.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

This curricular unit aims to consolidate and apply the scientific knowledge acquired in the preceding courses (namely MDCI and MDCII), promoting integrated clinical training in the treatment of hard dental tissue pathologies.”

Program

The course unit is delivered in a face-to-face format, primarily involving clinical care of patients, and includes the following components:

1. Integration and Application of Scientific Knowledge

• Consolidation of knowledge acquired in previous course units, enabling an integrated clinical approach based on scientific evidence.
• Development of critical analysis skills regarding the scientific literature relevant to clinical decision-making.

2. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

• Training for accurate diagnosis of hard dental tissue pathologies (carious and non-carious lesions) and pulp and periapical diseases.
• Planning and execution of treatment plans tailored to each patient, based on risk assessment, individual needs, and case complexity.

3. Prevention and Oral Health Promotion

• Identification of etiological and risk factors associated with dental lesions and pulp pathologies.
• Training in the implementation of primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive measures, promoting oral health across various population groups.

4. Restorative Treatments

• Execution of modern techniques for direct and indirect restorations, involving different adhesion strategies, biomechanics, and aesthetic principles.
• Promotion of proficiency in various restorative materials, including their indications and limitations.
• Instruction on criteria for selecting restorative techniques based on longevity, function, and aesthetics.

5. Endodontic Treatments

• Performance of endodontic treatments on teeth with varying anatomical and clinical complexity.
• Use of modern technologies and instruments (apex locators, rotary systems, active irrigation techniques, etc.).
• Development of skills for differential diagnosis of orofacial pain and management of endodontic emergencies.

6. Dental Trauma Management

• Clinical management of dental trauma cases, with a focus on preserving tooth vitality and structure.

7. Tooth Discoloration and Aesthetics

• Understanding the causes of tooth discoloration and proposing appropriate therapeutic options (bleaching, aesthetic restorations, veneers, etc.).

8. Communication and Ethics

• Development of communication skills with patients and the oral healthcare team.
• Reinforcement of ethical and responsible decision-making at all stages of treatment.

9. Working in a Clinical Environment

• Promotion of progressive autonomy in the execution of treatments under supervision, preparing students for independent clinical practice.
•  Encouragement of critical reflection and continuous self-assessment through clinical case discussions, seminars, and clinical portfolios.

Mandatory literature

José Mondelli; Dentística. ISBN: 85-86067-01-6
Luíz Narciso Baratieri; Odontologia restauradora. ISBN: 978-85-7288-822-6
WilliamJ. O.Brien; Dental materials and their selection. ISBN: 0-86715-406-3
Kenneth J. Anusavice; Phillips. science of dental materials. ISBN: 0-7216-9387-3
John M. Powers; Craig.s restorative dental materials. ISBN: 0-323-03606-6
John I. Ingle,; Endodontics. ISBN: 1-55009-188-3
Stephen Cohen; Pathways of the pulp. ISBN: 0-323-03067-X

Teaching methods and learning activities

• 
  

   Supervised clinical activity

  
  


• 
  

   Thematic seminars with case discussions

  
  


• 
  

   Presentation and analysis of clinical cases

  
  

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	85,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	85,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment of this curricular unit is continuous, with no final exam.

The final grade results from the weighted average of the two clinical components:

• Operative/Preventive Dentistry: 50%

• Endodontics: 50%

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🔹 Operative and Preventive Dentistry Component

• 15% – Individual Clinical Report/Assignment
  (Includes case presentations, critical discussion, photographic documentation, and other elements defined at the beginning of the semester)

• 85% – Clinical work with patients during practical classes, based on pre-established observation grids (technical performance, clinical reasoning, communication, punctuality, compliance with clinical and ethical standards, professional attitude, and attendance).
  Assessment will include the SCOT (Structured Clinical Objective Test), which will be carried out throughout the course, allowing for a practical evaluation of the student’s technical skills, clinical reasoning, and communication abilities.

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🔹 Endodontics Component

The evaluation of the Endodontics component will follow specific criteria defined by the teaching team, including continuous assessment in the clinical setting and, when applicable, technical assignments and/or reports.

The endodontic clinical evaluation sheet remains with the Endodontics instructors. The instructor present in the clinic assigns a grade for each of the parameters listed in the sheet. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the instructor is present for evaluation at each stage (for example, before beginning the treatment, the student must ask the Endodontics instructor present in the clinic to validate and assess the diagnosis).

When the endodontic treatment is completed, students must upload to Moodle the radiographs of the entire treatment, along with the following information: name of the student who performed the clinical procedure, patient code, and dates of the appointments. Dedicated folders will be created in Moodle for this purpose, one per instructor. In some cases, students may also be required to submit a written report to accompany the above documentation.

Classification improvement

Observations

This course has a strong practical and clinical focus, fostering progressive student autonomy and the integration of technical, scientific, and human skills acquired in the preceding courses, essential for the responsible professional practice of dentistry.

 

As this is a continuous assessment system without a final exam, there is no assessment during the resit period.