Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to construct models from impressions of the patient’s maxillary or mandibular jaws.
This unit applies to work in dental technology.
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. Verify integrity of impressions | 1.1 Apply standard precautions when receiving, handling and working on dental materials 1.2 Decontaminate impressions according to infection control guidelines 1.3 Examine impressions for defects 1.4 Check impressions to ensure they meet the specifications of the work order 1.5 Handle impressions with care to avoid damage or distortion 1.6 Ensure accompanying models are intact with no defects or adjustments required 1.7 Prepare a range of impressions for pouring |
2. Select and prepare model materials | 2.1 Select appropriate model materials 2.2 Ensure all equipment used for mixing materials is clean 2.3 Prepare model materials in accordance with desired outcomes 2.4 Maintain and store model materials in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions |
3. Pour impressions | 3.1 Pour model materials into impressions in accordance with accepted techniques 3.2 Allow required setting time |
4. Finish model | 4.1 Separate intact model from the impression. 4.2 Inspect the model for defects 4.3 Trim the model in accordance with requirements 4.4 Duplicate the master model to create a working model where required by work order |
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:
• used standard precautions and safe work practices to prepare models, using a range of materials specifically prepared against written instructions and manufacturers’ instructions, for at least 4 different types of impressions (must be a combination of maxillary and mandibular arches):
- dentate
- partially dentate
- edentulous
• critically evaluated the 4 different types of models produced to meet technical laboratory and clinician requirements.
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 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 organisation policies relating to dental laboratory work
• requirements and organisation policies relating to dental laboratory work including:
- use of standard precautions to minimise risk
- use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including disposable gloves, laboratory coat and eye protection
- decontamination of impressions
- minimising hazardous manual tasks
- requirements for storage of model material
- safe disposal of packaging materials
• fundamental oral anatomy, including:
- dentition – arrangement of the 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 the mouth
- teeth form and function
• properties of elastic impression materials including:
- alginate impression material
- polyether impression material
- polysulphide impression material
- polyvinyl siloxane impression material
• properties of rigid impression materials including:
- impression compound
- zinc oxide-eugenol impression pastes
• desirable properties of model materials including:
- accurate reproduction of all details of the impression
- colour contrast with other materials used on them
- ease of manipulation
- sufficient strength and hardness
- suitability for use with all types of impression materials
• significance of study models for:
- dentate and partially dentate mouths
- edentulous mouths.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in a dental laboratory workplace or in a simulated dental laboratory environment that reflects workplace laboratory conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
- use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources including
- access to work order
- Dental Board of Australia guidelines on infection control on which the candidate bases the planning process
- impression materials
- laboratory safety manuals and procedures in line with relevant Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation
- PPE
- simulation models on which to construct impression models
- WHS policies on which the candidate bases the planning process.
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. |