Dentistry

1st Year

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.

After a one-week introductory course, you will spend the remainder of year one studying biomedical sciences and topics relevant to the practice of dentistry.

Throughout the year, you will be introduced to the clinical aspects of dentistry and dental technology and shown the relevance of basic science.

The following topics comprise the year one module (120 credits):

• BDS Communication in Dentistry
• BDS Management and Leadership
• BDS Professionalism in Health Care
• BDS Social and Behavioural Sciences
• BDS Dental Public Health
• BDS Radiology
• BDS Care of the Dental Patient
• BDS Science - Biomedical Sciences
• BDS Conservative and Minimum Intervention Dentistry
• BDS Science - Oral and Craniofacial Biology

Year two concentrates on the introduction and development of basic dental clinical skills. You will treat patients with minor problems and progress to start the restorative care of your own patients.

Linked to the practical clinical courses will be biomedical science subjects, such as anatomy of the head and neck and oral biology. You will also develop an understanding of all aspects of the nervous system relevant to dentistry. During this year, you will begin to learn about human disease and this strand of learning will continue for the remainder of your time on our course by studying topics such as pathology, microbiology and immunology.

The following topics comprise the year two module (150 credits):

• BDS Communication in Dentistry
• BDS Management and Leadership
• BDS Professionalism in Health Care
• BDS Social and Behavioural Sciences
• BDS Dental Public Health
• BDS Oral Surgery
• BDS Radiology
• BDS Dental Material Science
• BDS Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
• BDS Care of the Dental Patient
• BDS Conservative and Minimum Intervention Dentistry
• BDS Science -Oral and Craniofacial Biology
• BDS Periodontology
• BDS Prosthodontics
• BDS Human Disease

In year three, you will continue to learn about all aspects of human disease and study the replacement of missing teeth. You will learn about fixed and removable prostheses, such as dental implants. There is also a technical component to these courses to ensure you understand how prostheses are constructed and how to deal with problems associated with their fit and function. You will devote significant time each week to the clinical care of patients including tuition in conservative dentistry and prosthodontics. You will also begin to learn about and perform the extraction of teeth and minor oral surgery.

At the end of year three, you will have the opportunity to take an intercalated year for a BSc degree which allows you to pursue a subject of your choice in greater depth.

The following topics comprise the year three module (180 credits):

• BDS Communication in Dentistry
• BDS Management and Leadership
• BDS Professionalism in Health Care
• BDS Social and Behavioural Sciences
• BDS Dental Public Health
• BDS Oral Surgery
• BDS Radiology
• BDS Dental Material Science
• BDS Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
• BDS Conservative and Minimum Intervention Dentistry
• BDS Periodontology
• BDS Prosthodontics
• BDS Human Disease

In year four, you will spend most of the week providing dental care for patients. You will continue to learn about and perform more advanced procedures in restorative dentistry. During this year, you will gain a strong foundation in periodontology, child dental healthcare and orthodontics.

As you become more proficient at dentistry, you will treat patients under conscious sedation. Learning continues in the human disease strand of the curriculum and you are introduced to an ongoing course in oral disease that will incorporate pathology and medicine relevant to disease in and around the mouth. Under the supervision of specialist teachers, you will be able to treat patients with more complex dental problems.

The following topics comprise the year four module (165 credits):

• BDS Communication in Dentistry
• BDS Professionalism in Health Care
• BDS Social and Behavioural Sciences
• BDS Dental Public Health
• BDS Oral Disease
• BDS Oral Surgery
• BDS Radiology
• BDS Conservative and Minimum Intervention Dentistry
• BDS Periodontology
• BDS Prosthodontics
• BDS Orthodontics
• BDS Paediatric Dentistry
• BDS Outreach (clinical placements)

The final year consolidates all you have learned up to this point. You will continue to provide comprehensive dental care for adult and child patients. A specific feature of our programme, our structured placements enable you to work on a regular basis at purpose-built clinics away from the main campus amongst diverse patient populations. There, you will gain valuable experience working in a dental team with dental nurses, hygienists and therapists to prepare yourself effectively for Dental Foundation Training and future practice.

The following topics comprise the year five module (180 credits):

• BDS Communication in Dentistry
• BDS Professionalism in Health Care
• BDS Social and Behavioural Sciences
• BDS Dental Public Health
• BDS Oral Disease
• BDS Oral Surgery
• BDS Radiology
• BDS Special Care Dentistry
• BDS Conservative and Minimum Intervention Dentistry
• BDS Periodontology
• BDS Prosthodontics
• BDS Orthodontics
• BDS Paediatric Dentistry
• BDS Outreach (clinical placements)