MSc Pediatric Dentistry

Course details

Course Summary

Paediatric Dentistry is the practice, teaching and research into the provision of dental care to infants, children and adolescents including those with special health care needs.

The Master of Science in Paediatric Dentistry is intended to prepare a specialist who is proficient in providing both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs, in institutional, private or public health settings.

The programme is also intended to prepare students for future roles in the areas of clinical research in stimulating and encouraging development of a critical and inquiring attitude that is necessary for the advancement of practice, research and teaching in Paediatric dentistry.

During their programme, students will provide high quality Paediatric dentistry care. The students will become involved in service to their profession and to the community at large

Duration of the Programme

The Master of Science degree taught postgraduate three-year programme incorporates clinical training at the level of Specialist Trainee and appropriate preparation for the Membership Examination of The Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh (UK).

Programme Aims and Context

1. Provide the appropriate knowledge, understanding, practical skills and attitude to practice Paediatric dentistry at a specialist level.
2. Enable critical evaluation, problem solving and sound judgment for clinical problems.
3. Provide skill in critical appraisal of the scientific literature and knowledge and understanding of research design and medical statistics.
4. Provide the skills to plan, undertake and complete a research project demonstrating initiative and personal responsibility.

Content and Design of Programme Curriculum

The Master of Science programme consists of three components undertaken over three years. Each of these components has a course and each course is credit bearing. The largest component is Patient Care.

1. Patient Care Component
2. Research Training Component                          
3. Research Thesis Component

Teaching and Learning Methods

The majority of the knowledge base of the curriculum is delivered through a blend of learning styles including lectures and small group enquiry-based learning. Students are expected to prepare in advance for small group teaching that will then be used to put knowledge into context of the clinical experience of teachers and learners and current research evidence. Communication skills are important in clinical disciplines and small group teaching encourages students to express themselves. Other teaching methods are described below.

• Lectures
• Small Group Seminars
• Rehearsal of Procedures in the Clinical Skills Facility
• Clinical Care of Patients and Case-Based Learning
• Multidisciplinary Clinics
• Journal clubs
• Reflective and Self-Directed Learning
• Supervised Research Thesis