Dental Surgery B.D.S

Course description
Our course is divided into nine integrated themes. Throughout the course we aim to teach you theory alongside clinical practice so you'll develop an understanding of dental science and its clinical application. You'll learn the value of evidence-based dentistry and how to apply it to clinical practice.

We believe in training the whole dental team together, so you'll learn with dental hygiene and dental therapy students in a way that prepares you for practice.

Year 1
The Human Body and The Oral Cavity in Health and Disease

These themes introduce you to the structure and function of the human body and of a healthy mouth. You will learn about the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the nervous and renal systems. You will be introduced to some of the common diseases affecting the head, neck, teeth and mouth. You will also visit dental clinics and start to learn about your role as a healthcare professional in the dental team.

Year 2
Growth, Development, Ageing and Nutrition and Basic Oral and Dental Care

Year two introduces the basic biological principles governing different stages during life with emphasis on the challenges of providing comprehensive care for both young and elderly patients.
You'll also learn more about diseases of the teeth and mouth and undertake basic dental procedures in our Simulation Suite, using virtual reality machines, and in our Clinical Skills Learning Environment. Following satisfactory completion of these courses, you begin to treat patients.

Year 3
Intermediate Oral and Dental Care and Integrated Human Disease

From the third year you gain the skills and knowledge to treat patients holistically, with great attention to detail. In the Integrated Human Disease theme you learn how to identify clinical signs and symptoms of systemic disease and how this affects the clinical practice of dentistry. You will also learn how to undertake clinical procedures requiring high levels of manual dexterity.

Years 4 and 5
Integrated Clinical Practice, Oral Disease, Outreach and Elective

During the final two years you will learn how to treat patients of all ages with increasingly complex care needs. You'll learn more about oral diseases, their causes, how they develop and how to recognise, diagnose and prevent them. You will take part in clinical placements as part of our outreach programme in Sheffield or the surrounding region. These placements are in primary care practices so they provide you with real work environments to sharpen your skills. You'll also have the opportunity to undertake an elective placement which could
take you anywhere in the world.

The teaching year in years 2 to 5 consists of around 42 weeks enabling you to increase your clinical skills and knowledge through in-depth learning while developing a patient-centred approach through your clinical placements. Dental Public Health teaching helps you to understand dentistry in the wider context. As you approach the end of the programme there are lectures about your responsibilities as a dentist and sessions to help you prepare for your first job.

Accreditation

The General Dental Council quality assures and approves qualifications for registration, for the following registrant groups: Dentists; dental hygienists; dental therapists; dental nurses; clinical dental technicians; dental technicians; and orthodontic therapists.