POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

10850NAT Graduate Diploma of Aesthetic Orthodontics

(Sequential Aligner Therapy) Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Have the skills and knowledge?

You may be eligible to Graduate by RPL, in as little as 4 months*

Course Description

The Postgraduate School of Dentistry’s 10850NAT Graduate Diploma of Aesthetic Orthodontics (Sequential Aligner Therapy) qualification will provide you with an armamentarium of practical skills and experience to produce world class facial aesthetic and orthodontic outcomes.

Written and assessed by Dr David Penn, (who has taught sequential aligner therapy to more than 1000 students since 2008) students will learn to treat patients with sequential aligner therapy and to utilise a range of innovative orthodontic and aesthetic techniques and devices. Students are personally mentored and supervised to ensure a meaningful educational experience that transcends into outstanding clinical skills.

This new and innovative course is 100% deliverable and assessable online. It has been designed to be fully flexible, self-paced and delivered through interactive and entertaining multi-media training units that can be completed in your own surgery, with your own patients and at your own speed!

Successful completion of the course qualifies students with the post nominals GradDipAesthOrtho(SAT) (Level 8 qualification on the AQF).

Fast track your government accredited qualification in as little as 4 months*

The Graduate Diploma of Aesthetic Orthodontics (SAT) qualification can be attained through a number of different pathways, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The RPL process is an assessment of the evidence of your existing knowledge and skills in lieu of the standard training and assessment activities. A successful RPL application may result in credit towards part of, or the full GDAO qualification, with the Postgraduate School of Dentistry. This Australian Government Accredited Qualification can be obtained in as little as 4 months*.

RPL is a suitable pathway for general dentists or orthodontists with extensive clinical experience in sequential (clear) aligner therapy and/or prior qualifications (both formal and informal). In order for an RPL application to be successful, applicants must be able to provide substantial evidence of their clinical experience and/or prior education.

This Graduate Diploma has 8 units of study: we need you to provide sufficient evidence that you have knowledge, experience and clinical skills in any of these units to gain credit by RPL. If you have significant evidence but do not quite reach the benchmark, gap training activities can be offered to assist you to reach the standards.

To attain your qualification using RPL, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence in at least 4 units of study (you can of course apply for up to all 8 units by RPL). The other units can be studied in a classical manner (training and assessment) and can be done concurrently with your RPL application.  This allows you to complete the Graduate Diploma in as little as 4 months*.

Each RPL Assessment is unique and our Assessors will work with you to ensure that you understand the process and assist you to gather sufficient evidence to support your application.

Take the Free Skills Assessment today to see if you are a suitable candidate for RPL!

Key Learning Outcomes

Summary
Graduates of this course will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional delivery of aesthetic orthodontics using sequential aligners.

Knowledge
Graduates of this course will have advanced clinical, theoretical and technical knowledge in the disciplines of aesthetics, orthodontics, practice management (relevant to sequential aligner therapy) which is principally delivered by sequential aligners.

Skills
Graduates of this course will have advanced clinical, cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply clinical treatments, methods and technologies to:

  • analyse critically, evaluate and transform information to complete a range of clinical activities; and
  • analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex clinical problems; and
  • transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others including patients, staff and other dental healthcare professionals.
Process and Timeline
  1. Free Skill Assessment: Students can take the Free Skills Assessment to determine their suitability for the RPL Pathway;
  2. Enrolment: Once deemed suitable, student enrols online into the 10850NAT Graduate Diploma of Aesthetic Orthodontics (Sequential Aligner Therapy) – by RPL & pays the enrolment fee;
  3. Application: Student will be provided with login details to the online RPL Application, Case Study Presentations and Knowledge Questions for completion;
  4. Document Review: by an Assessor to determine an gaps in Training;
  5. Learner Remediation Meeting: will take place to confirm all required skills and knowledge are in place;
  6. Results: Confirmation of Results communicated to the Student.
UNITS OF STUDY

UNIT:     NAT10850001

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Apply principles of orthodontics in initial patient exam
 
HOURS: 100
 

This unit provides dentists with knowledge of the fundamentals of sequential aligner therapy and the examination process in orthodontics in order to determine patient needs and to plan and monitor treatments. Areas include occlusion, malocclusion, aesthetics, the biology of tooth movement, case analysis, aetiology of orthodontic problems, how Sequential aligner therapy works, extra-oral and intraoral examination protocols and techniques as well as patient history and record taking.

UNIT:    NAT10850002

TYPE:    Core

NAME:  Take patient records for orthodontic therapy

HOURS: 125
 
This unit provides dentists with the ability to take comprehensive diagnostic and treatment planning records for sequential aligner therapy). It includes applying knowledge of impression materials and techniques for sequential aligner therapy, tray selection and troubleshooting, taking digital impressions, photography and radiography and case submission.

UNIT:     NAT10850003

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Diagnose patient eligibility for orthodontic therapy and develop a treatment plan
 
HOURS: 160

This unit provides dentists with the knowledge in diagnosis and treatment planning for sequential aligner therapies. Dentists will be able to manage patient expectations, diagnose and treatment plan for patient cases ranging in complexity such as Class I and Class II malocclusions. Upon completion of this unit dentists will know what cases are unsuitable for sequential aligner therapy and when to refer cases.

UNIT:     NAT10850004

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Fit aligners and place attachments
 
HOURS: 110

This unit provides dentists with the knowledge and skills in aligner fit and attachments for sequential aligner therapy enabling them to deliver safe and effective Sequential Aligner Therapy (SAT) treatment. This includes the science and development of attachments, attachment types, clinical technique for attachments and troubleshooting during attachment placement. It also includes how to deliver aligners to the patient and educate them in aligner use and care.

UNIT:     NAT10850005

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Apply methods of space formation
 
HOURS: 100

This unit provides dentists with knowledge and skills in the methods of space formation during sequential aligner therapy. This includes rationale, calculations and modes of space formation, expansion with sequential aligners, interproximal reduction, dental proclination and distalisation, patient cases with extractions, alternative space forming methods and selection of the correct space creation method for various patient cases.

UNIT:     NAT10850006

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Monitor treatment progress to identify and respond to arising issues
 
HOURS: 85

This unit provides dentists with the skills and knowledge to monitor sequential aligner therapy throughout the duration of treatment and to deal with any issues that arise. This includes protocols for monitoring treatment, dealing with poor patient compliance, failure of tooth movement, changing patient expectations, attachment failure, aligner failure and identification of cases that need to be restarted.

UNIT:     NAT10850007

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Complete tooth movement and apply retention techniqes
 
HOURS: 100

This unit provides dentists with knowledge and skills in providing patients with retention upon completion of sequential aligner therapy and dealing with cases of relapse of dentition. This includes the theory and development of orthodontic retention, fixed and removable retention, establishing retention protocols within the dental practice, dealing with relapse and the predictability of sequential aligner therapy.

UNIT:     NAT10850008

TYPE:     Core

NAME:   Apply advanced aesthetics and accelerated options to sequential aligner treatment planning
 
HOURS: 120

This unit provides dentists with thorough knowledge of facial and dental aesthetics allowing them to provide patients with comprehensive aesthetic treatment plans for sequential aligner therapy. This includes an overview of aesthetics, facial analysis, normal and ideals, facial aesthetics, dental aesthetics, the history of sequential aligner therapies and variations in therapies

  • Admission Requirements

    To undertake the 10850NAT Graduate Diploma of Aesthetic Orthodontics (Sequential Aligner Therapy) individuals must have completed a dental undergraduate degree and be registered as a general dental practitioner or orthodontic specialist in the country in which they practice.

  • Fee Structure

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) offers an accelerated and more cost effective process for practitioners who can clearly demonstrate their skills and knowledge in Sequential Aligner Therapy.
    .
    If you have significant evidence but do not quite reach the benchmark for RPL in any unit, gap training activities will be offered to assist you to reach the standards. If you feel that you have insufficient experience in some units and would like to study on-line in a traditional manner (training and assessment), these can be completed concurrently with your RPL application.
    .
    Fees are applicable for our assessment of your RPL evidence. No additional fees are applicable for gap training.
    .
    Fees for traditional study for any unit where RPL could not be attained (due to lack of experience, evidence or by choice) are invoiced separately.

  • How to Pay US$

    RPL total fee payment US$8,000
    Initial deposit of US$2,000, then pay by bimonthly instalments of US$2,000 (x 3 payments every 2 months).

  • How to Pay AU$

    RPL total fee payment A$12,000
    Initial deposit of A$3,000, then pay by bimonthly instalments of A$3,000 (x 3 payments every 2 months).

  • Student Handbook

    Please refer to the Student Handbook for further information and our Policies.

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