DENT 207: ORAL PHYSIOLOGY

(1 credit hour: 1 theory)

Jordan University of Science and Technology
Faculty of dentistry
Department of Oral Medicine and Surgery
Second Semester
Course Syllabus

Course Information
Course Title Oral Physiology
Course Code Dent 207
Prerequisites N-A
Course Website N-A
Course coordinator Dr. Ashraf Shaweesh
Instructor Dr. Ashraf Shaweesh
Office Location D1 L0 (top floor)
Office Phone N-A
Office Hours
E-mail ashrafis@just.edu.jo

Course Description
This course is designed to provide the students with the needed knowledge in oral
physiology needed to be applied at a later stage during their clinical training. The
lecture topics include saliva, mechanisms of taste and olfaction, nociception,
mechanosensation, dynamics of mastication and swallowing, mechanism of speech,
calcification, dynamics of temporomandibular joint and occlusion and some applied
comparative orofacial physiology in addition to sensory physiology and pain, motor
neurophysiology and the control of mandibular movement, and healing of oral
structures.

Text Book 1
Title Oral Bioscience
Author(s) Ferguson, D. B.
Publisher Churchill Livingstone
Year 2006
Edition 2nd
Book Website
References

Assessment Policy
Assessment Type Theoretical exams (online)
Theoretical midterm exam 40%
Practical midterm exam N-A
Practical duties N-A
Theoretical final exam 60%
Practical final exam N-A

Course Objectives Weights

 Acquire core knowledge in how oral and facial structures  5%
  5%
function and integrate to establish the craniofacial well-being.
 Learn that some oral and facial disorders develop in relation to  5%
malfunction in any of the orofacial organs.
 Recognize how dental and orofacial pain develops and how local  10
anaethesia functions. %
 Learn the physiology of dentinal pain and the other forms of
orofacial sensation.  5%
 Learn the details of physiology of taste perception.
 25
 Learn the dynamicity of the temporomandibular joint, mastication %
and mandibular movements in detail.
 Analyze the interactive relationship between the masticatory  10
muscles, temporomandibular joints and teeth and their supporting %
structures.
 Understand the relationship between form and function by  5%
applying comparative craniofacial physiology in understanding
the dynamicity of the craniofacial complex
 Know the relevance of swallowing and speech to oral structures  15
and how they are affected by oral and facial malformations. %
 Learn the mechanism of synthesis of saliva and its general and
specific functions.  10
 Know the physiology of tooth movement, re-implantation of %
avulsed teeth and prosthetic dental implants (if time allows).
 Know the physiology of calcification (if time allows).  5%

 Learn the basic concepts of craniofacial growth (if time allows).  5%

 5%

Teaching & Learning Methods

 Classroom lectures
 Tests and exams
 Review for exams
 Textbook reading assignments

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be

able to
Related Objective(s) Reference
Acquire core knowledge in how oral and facial
1 structures function and integrate to establish Lecture notes
the craniofacial well-being.
Learn that some oral and facial disorders
2 develop in relation to malfunction in any of the Lecture notes
orofacial organs.
Recognize how dental and orofacial pain
3 Lecture notes
develops and how local anaethesia functions.
4 Learn the physiology of dentinal pain and the Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
 other forms of orofacial sensation. Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Learn the details of physiology of taste Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
5
perception. Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Learn the dynamicity of the Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
6 temporomandibular joint, mastication and Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
mandibular movements in detail. Lecture notes
Analyze the interactive relationship between Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
7 the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
joints and teeth and their supporting structures. Lecture notes
Understand the relationship between form and Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
function by applying comparative craniofacial Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
physiology in understanding the dynamicity of Lecture notes
8
the craniofacial complex. Craig, P. (2005) The
teeth and jaws of
Animals.
Know the relevance of swallowing and speech Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
9 to oral structures and how they are affected by Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
oral and facial malformations. Lecture notes
Learn the mechanism of synthesis of saliva Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
10
and its general and specific functions. Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Know the physiology of tooth movement, Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
11
implants, and calcification. Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.

Useful Resources
 Bradley, R. M. (1995) Essentials of ORAL PHYSIOLOGY. Mosby.

 Harris, M. Edgar, M & Meghji S. (1998) Clinical Oral Science. Wright.

 Lavelle, C. L. B. (1988) Applied Oral Physiology. 2nd Edition. Wright.

 Craig, P (2005). The Teeth and Jaws of Animals (Comparative Oral
Anatomy). The University of Melbourne. (To be handed).

Course Content: Lectures to be held in Science Hall 2 Wed 4.15 – 5.15 pm

Date
Week 1 Guidelines & introduction to oral physiology
Week 2 Neurophysiology of pain & local anesthesia
Week 3 Dental pulp & dental pain
Week 4 General sensation in the oral cavity
Week 5 Temporomandibular joint
Week 6 Mastication and dynamics of occlusion I
Week 7 Mastication and dynamics of occlusion II
Week 8 Swallowing
Week 9 Midterm exam (to be determined)
Week 10 Saliva I
Week 11 Saliva II
Week 12 Speech
Week 13 Calcification, tooth movement and physiology of implant dentistry
Week 14 Comparative oral physiology – form vs. function
Week 15 Catch up
Week 16-17 Final exam period – to be determined by Reg.

Additional Notes
Student instructor relationship:
 Students are instructed to frequently access the uploaded handouts,
recourses and extra learning materials on the e-learning link on the
University's website.
 e-learning will also allow for mentor-student interaction through online
evaluation in the form of tutorials, assignments and quizzes.
 Students will be able to view the outcomes of their evaluation uploaded on
e-learning. This includes the results the quizzes and the midterm practical
exams.
 It is strongly recommended that the instructor is contacted either personally
in his office within the frames of the office hours provided or through
email / e-learning. Contacting the instructors on their private mobile phones
is prohibited and will unintentionally ruin the lecturer-student relationship.

Professionalism  Gross violations of the formal codes are governed by

University laws, which delineate the procedures to
determine whether a violation of the code of ethics
occurred and, if so, what remedies should be
imposed.
 We encourage students to abide with the more
sensitive approach to this by allowing the practice of
a high Morality (or proper behavior), which defines
right and wrong by the society, philosophy, religion,
and individual conscience.
 Students and their instructors often make ethical
choices reflexively/ But ethically sensitive situations,
where time, emotions and marks are pressured, it
becomes all too easy to be blind-sided by temptation/
The best antidote to ethical lapses is to commit in
advance to a set of ethical principles - your personal
ethical code that follows or grows to it.
 Any difficulty or concern during the course should be
passed directly to the course coordinator.
Makeup Exams  It is applicable when an acceptable and valid excuse
is presented at the applicable time
Drop Dat  N/A
Cheating  It is unethical and illegal by any means
 JUST regulations will be applicable
Attendance  It is mandatory for all lectures
 Students must attend all scheduled classes and labs.
Absenteeism  To receive course credit, a student should attend a
minimum of 90% of the contact hours of the class.
 Students who are absent for the lecture must contact
the course coordinator prior to the class.
 If absent from lectures, then the course coordinator
 will refer to related guidelines set by the university.
 Any student who is absent on a test day, will have to
demonstrate an acceptable medical or social statement
explaining the illness or personal crisis as instructed
by their faculty.
 Individual instructors may accommodate by
arrangements for a make-up test only when a written
request is sent to and approved by the Dean.
 Late arrivals to class are unexcused absences
Students with  Any student who feels that s/he may need
Special needs accommodation for any type of disability is
encouraged to contact the course coordinator who
will be happy to help in any way.
 Accommodations to the course plan can be tailored to
the needs of specific individuals after consultations
with the dean.
Participation  All students are highly encouraged to participate in
the classes.
Individual  The course coordinator is always available to talk
conferencing with the student when problems arise.
and  If you have any problems that require the attention of
consultations an instructor, do not wait until the problem is
insurmountable.
 If a student must talk with the course coordinator
after office hours, an appointment can be made for
that time.
 Do not allow tension to build-up to unsolvable
proportions.
Course changes  Information contained in this course outline is correct
at the time of publication.
 Content of the courses is revised on an ongoing basis
to ensure relevance to changing educational,
employment needs.
 The course coordinator reserves the right to add or
delete material from courses and will endeavor to
provide notice of changes to students as soon as
possible.
 The timetable may also be revised accommodating to
holidays and unexpected off days.