Dental Public Health

Course detail Description

The course consists of six modules with assignments and written examinations, and a research project module in dental public health assessed by dissertation. It includes opportunities to work and learn with a multidisciplinary team, practical experience in some dental public health activities, and involvement in high quality research. The programme is also recognised for the Royal College of Surgeons of England Diploma in Dental Public Health examination.

The MSc in Dental Public Health is especially for people, not just dentists, who intend to become planners, managers of services, epidemiologists, health promoters and teachers of public health dental subjects.

The course aims to produce a highly knowledgeable individual, proficient and skilful in dental public health with an appreciation of the need for lifelong learning and the need for application of advances in relevant knowledge.

A graduate handbook, which includes a preliminary reading list, is available on request from the department at

Teaching

In a typical year you will study as follows:

Lectures, seminars and feedback: 600 hours

Self-study: 1200 hours

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

You are assessed through a combination of coursework (40%) and examinations (60%).

The dissertation is assessed as a written research report, including a research protocol and a scientific manuscript ready for submission to a peer-reviewed indexed dental journal.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.

If you are applying from overseas, you must have a good command of English and be able to apply this in an academic environment to complete the programme successfully. You can apply without submitting evidence of your English proficiency, but you will be required to provide certificated proof of your competence in English before being offered an unconditional place. Strong candidates may be given a conditional offer, which will be subject to providing an English proficiency certificate within a specific timeframe. Therefore, we advise all candidates to make early arrangements to take an English proficiency test and preferably submit a copy with their application.

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Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required modules

You are required to take:

• Introduction to Dental Public Health (20 credits)
• Principles of Epidemiology (20 credits)
• Research Methods (20 credits)
• Oral Health Promotion & Oral Disease Prevention (20 credits)
• Planning & Evaluation for Oral Health (20 credits)
• Dental Public Health Research Project (60 credits)

Optional modules

You are required to take one of two 20 credit optional modules:

• Basic Statistics for Dental Public Health (20 credits)
• Social & Behavioural Sciences as Applied to Medicine & Dentistry (20 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Introduction to Dental Public Health: Module code: 7NPHPH01: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims to provide students with an overview of the principles, philosophy and strategies underpinning the practice of Dental Public Health and to provide students with an understanding of the structure of health care systems and the drivers of change within a system. At the end of the module, you will be able to: demonstrate a detailed systematic knowledge, critical awareness and application of the main principles and strategies in dental public health; and discuss the principles of the primary health care approach, how they are evidenced in practice and their use as a strategy for the organisation of oral health care services. Assessment is by coursework and written examination.

Principles of Epidemiology: Module code: 7NPHPH02: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims to provide students with basic epidemiological tools for the design, analysis and interpretation of oral health studies, and comprehensive knowledge of the epidemiological aspects related to common oral diseases (indices, examination protocols and disease patterns). At the end of the module, you will be able to: describe and apply the basic principles and methods of epidemiology; design epidemiological studies to address research questions in clinical and public health dentistry; and develop a protocol for the implementation of an oral health survey in a given population. Assessment is by coursework and written examination.

Research Methods: Module code: 7NPHPH03: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims to equip students with practical skills for the appraisal of research evidence, for the design and conduct of research using quantitative and qualitative methods, and for the management, analysis and interpretation of data using statistical computing software. At the end of the modules, you will be able to: find existing evidence relevant to research questions in clinical and public health dentistry; become a critical reader of dental literature by analysing the appropriateness of study design, quality of data, methodological strategies, and interpretation of results; and produce a scientifically valid, ethical and feasible research proposal. Assessment is by coursework and written examination.

Oral Health Promotion & Oral Disease Prevention: Module code: 7NPHPH05: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims to provide an understanding of the issues which relate to formulating a preventive or health promoting dental strategy. At the end of the module, you will be able to: discuss the different theories and models underpinning the practice of health promotion; plan and evaluate disease prevention and health promoting strategies; and develop appropriate evidence-based approaches to prevention of oral diseases. Assessment is by coursework and written examination.

Planning and Evaluation for Oral Health: Module code: 7NPHPH06: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims for students to develop the ability to plan for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of oral health programmes and services. At the end of the module, you will be able to: differentiate between normative and perceived approaches to assessing dental care needs; elaborate a situation analysis for a defined population for a specific purpose; and prepare a plan to address the oral health needs of a particular population, including goals and objectives, intervention activities, budget, timeline and evaluation plan. Assessment is by coursework and written examination.

Dental Public Health Research Project: Module code: 7NPHPH07: Credit level: 7

This 60 credit module aims to enable students to investigate in great depth a topic within the field of dental public health and to write it up in a dissertation. At the end of the module you will be able to: design and undertake a research project; demonstrate an ability to critically review the literature and evaluate scientific data and research; Apply and interpret common statistical techniques to a variety of estimation and hypothesis testing situations, in accordance with underlying assumptions and type of study design; reflect on your own academic work; write in a scientific manner; and be familiar with use of information technology. Students will be encouraged to present their work at relevant scientific conferences. Assessment is by dissertation.

Social and Behavioural Sciences as Applied to Medicine and Dentistry: Module code: 7NPHPH04: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims to provide students with an introduction to psychology and sociology and their application to medicine and dentistry. At the end of the module, you will be able to: identify ways in which changes in behaviour and social structures may affect the health of populations; discuss theories underlying health behaviour in dental settings; and apply social and behavioural sciences theories to dental public health practices. Assessment is by coursework and written examination.

Basic Statistics for Dental Public Health: Module code: 7NPHPH08: Credit level: 7

This 20 credit module aims to equip students with practical skills for the management, analysis and interpretation of data using statistical computing software. By the end of the module you will be able to: design a database and manipulate variables using appropriate software; summarise and present raw data and interpret descriptive findings; apply and interpret common statistical techniques to a variety of estimation and hypothesis testing situations, in accordance with underlying assumptions and type of study design.