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
Course Code
Prerequisites
Course Website
Course coordinator
Instructor
Office Location
Office Phone
Office Hours
E-mail
Oral Physiology
Dent 207
N-A
N-A
Dr. Ashraf Shaweesh
Dr. Ashraf Shaweesh
D1 L0 (top floor)
N-A
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
Author(s)
Publisher
Year
Edition
Book Website
References
Assessment Policy
Assessment Type
Theoretical midterm exam
Practical midterm exam
Practical duties
Theoretical final exam
Practical final exam
Oral Bioscience
Ferguson, D. B.
Churchill Livingstone
2006
2nd
Theoretical exams (online)
40%
N-A
N-A
60%
N-A
Course Objectives
 Acquire core knowledge in how oral and facial structures function
Weights
 5%
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and integrate to establish the craniofacial well-being.
Learn that some oral and facial disorders develop in relation to
malfunction in any of the orofacial organs.
Recognize how dental and orofacial pain develops and how local
anaethesia functions.
Learn the physiology of dentinal pain and the other forms of
orofacial sensation.
Learn the details of physiology of taste perception.

Learn the dynamicity of the temporomandibular joint, mastication
and mandibular movements in detail.
Analyze the interactive relationship between the masticatory
muscles, temporomandibular joints and teeth and their supporting
structures.
Understand the relationship between form and function by applying
comparative craniofacial physiology in understanding the
dynamicity of the craniofacial complex
Know the relevance of swallowing and speech to oral structures and
how they are affected by oral and facial malformations.
Learn the mechanism of synthesis of saliva and its general and
specific functions.
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).
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Learn the basic concepts of craniofacial growth (if time allows).
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5%
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5%
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10%
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5%
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25%

10%

5%

15%

10%

5%

5%
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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 the
Lecture notes
craniofacial well-being.
Learn that some oral and facial disorders develop
2
in relation to malfunction in any of the orofacial Lecture notes
organs.
Recognize how dental and orofacial pain
3
Lecture notes
develops and how local anaethesia functions.
Learn the physiology of dentinal pain and the
Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
4
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.
6
Learn the dynamicity of the temporomandibular Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
7
8
9
10
11
joint, mastication and mandibular movements in
detail.
Analyze the interactive relationship between the
masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints
and teeth and their supporting structures.
Understand the relationship between form and
function by applying comparative craniofacial
physiology in understanding the dynamicity of
the craniofacial complex.
Know the relevance of swallowing and speech to
oral structures and how they are affected by oral
and facial malformations.
Learn the mechanism of synthesis of saliva and
its general and specific functions.
Know the physiology of tooth movement,
implants, and calcification.
Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Lecture notes
Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Lecture notes
Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Lecture notes
Craig, P. (2005) The teeth
and jaws of Animals.
Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Lecture notes
Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
Oral Bioscience. 2nd ed.
Ferguson, D. B. (2006)
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.
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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 elearning. 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 / elearning. Contacting the instructors on their private mobile phones is prohibited
and will unintentionally ruin the lecturer-student relationship.
Professionalism
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Makeup Exams
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Drop Dat
Cheating
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Attendance
Absenteeism
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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.
It is applicable when an acceptable and valid excuse is
presented at the applicable time
N/A
It is unethical and illegal by any means
JUST regulations will be applicable
It is mandatory for all lectures
Students must attend all scheduled classes and labs.
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
Special needs
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Participation
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Individual
conferencing and
consultations
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Course changes
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Any student who feels that s/he may need
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.
All students are highly encouraged to participate in the
classes.
The course coordinator is always available to talk with
the student when problems arise.
If you have any problems that require the attention of 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.
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.