Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to take a range of impressions for patients who are dentate or edentulous.
This unit applies to work in dental prosthetics.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Assess the patient | 1.1 Confirm the patient’s medical history 1.2 Provide full details of the procedure to the patient or where appropriate to their carer 1.3 Obtain and document consent following ethical and legal requirements 1.4 Select the equipment and instruments for the impression 1.5 Prepare personal protective equipment for the patient and members of the dental team 1.6 Adjust the dental clinic set-up to accommodate the patient’s needs |
2. Select impression tray and modify if required | 2.1 Select an appropriate impression tray for the technique and the patient 2.2 Modify the impression tray where necessary to ensure comfort and accuracy |
3. Select and prepare impression materials | 3.1 Select impression materials in accordance with desired outcome 3.2 Consider the patient’s comfort and the indications for use of particular materials 3.3 Prepare the correct materials and medicaments using the correct technique, to the correct consistency and quantity required 3.4 Modify materials where indicated |
4. Perform impression taking procedure | 4.1 Position and prepare the patient for the procedure 4.2 Instruct the patient on participation during the procedure 4.3 Place impression tray and mixed material in the patient’s mouth 4.4 Carry out muscle trimming 4.5 Monitor and reassure the patient throughout the procedure and provide first aid support if required 4.6 Remove the impression when set 4.7 Examine the patient’s mouth for injury and impression material debris following removal of the impression 4.8 Restore the patient’s comfort and appearance 4.9 Document details of the procedure in accordance with organisation policies and procedures and relevant guidelines 4.10 Assess the quality of the impression for the required prosthetic appliance |
Evidence of Performance
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 completed the following tasks:
• performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 240 hours of work in a clinical dental workplace environment
• prepared 4 different patients for impression procedures ensuring patient safety, including:
- patients who are partially dentate
- patients who are fully edentulous
• taken at least 1 impression for each of the following types of procedures, which may include using of stock and custom trays:
- relining or rebasing
- complete dentures
- partial dentures
- removable flexible mouthguard used for sporting activities immediate dentures
- additions or repairs to existing denture.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
• the effects of disability, medical conditions and medications on the impression taking procedure
• physical and chemical properties of dental impression materials
• principles of quality assurance and work effectiveness
• rationale and objectives for the taking of impressions
• rationale, criteria for selection and use of dental impression materials
• ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of dental care
• dental practice or organisation policy and procedures, including registration standards and guidelines.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the dental workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
- gas burner
- custom made impression tray
- examination mirrors
- existing dentures
- mixing bowl and/or mixing pad
- spatula
- stock impression tray
- storage container for transportation
- Dental Board of Australia guidelines on infection control on which the candidate bases the planning process
• modelling of industry operating conditions including access to real people for simulations and scenarios of prosthetic procedures.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |