Dentistry

Course detail Description

Teaching

The integrated nature of our course means that basic science teaching will relate to clinical practice and clinical teaching will be underpinned by scientific understanding. Our course emphasises whole patient care, which requires consideration of the patients’ total dental and medical needs, rather than just the provision of individual items of treatment.

Our course has three main components. The first consists of subjects common to medicine and dentistry, progressing from biomedical sciences including behavioural sciences, epidemiology, pathology and microbiology to human disease. The second includes oral and dental aspects of the biological sciences leading to an understanding of the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral and dental diseases and disorders, and the effects of systemic disease on the oral and dental tissues. The third covers the clinical and technical aspects of dentistry with the provision of comprehensive oral and dental healthcare for patients of all ages.

Our curriculum enables students to assist in the dental care of patients from year one and assume an appropriate level of responsibility for patient care at an early stage. Throughout your degree, the balance of teaching will shift from theoretical and academic science to practical and clinical experience. The final three years of the course are designed to give students extensive clinical exposure with structured placements for practice in the community, as part of a dental team, providing care in diverse settings.

Our working environment is structured into cross-year undergraduate teams so that students benefit from working and studying with the same group of teachers and peers throughout their time at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences.

Course stage

Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities

Percentage of time in guided independent study

Percentage of time on clinic

Year 1

30%

66%

4%

Year 2

34%

56%

10%

Year 3

11%

34%

55%

Year 4

16%

27%

57%

Year 5

31%

7%

62%

Assessment

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include written (short answer) examination, online (MCQ) examination, poster presentation, OSCE (objective structured clinical examination), structured clinical reasoning examination, special projects and reports which must be successfully completed to progress through the course.

Whilst there is ongoing in-course assessment throughout the programme which must be passed, the written and clinical examinations contribute 100% to your final mark.

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Structure

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3
• Year 4
• Year 5

Year 1

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 this website for updates.

Year one

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.

Required Modules

Year one comprises modules totaling 120 credits which include the following topics:

Biomedicine in Relation to Dentistry 1

Biochemistry, Physiology, Tissues & Organs

Biomedicine in Relation to Dentistry 2

Head & Neck Anatomy, Oral & Craniofacial Biology

Clinical Humanities & Wellbeing

Dentistry in Society

Person-centred communication, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Dental Public Health, professionalism, management & leadership

Introduction to Clinical Skills

Radiology

Student Selected Component

Optional Modules There are no optional modules.

Year 2

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.

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.

Required Modules

Year two comprises modules totaling 120 credits which include the following topics:

Clinical Humanities & Wellbeing

Care of the Dental Patient, Professionalism in Healthcare

Clinical Skills – the foundations

Conservative & Minimal Intervention, Oral Surgery, Periodontology, Prosthodontics, Radiology

Dentistry in Society

Person-centred communication, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Dental Public Health, professionalism, management & leadership

Human Health & Disease

Human Disease, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology

Student Selected Component Optional Modules There are no optional modules.

Year 3

In year three, you will develop your restorative skills including 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 develop your minor oral surgery skills. 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.

Required Modules

Year three comprises modules totaling 180 credits which include the following topics:

Biomedicine in Relation to Dentistry 3

Dental Materials

Clinical Skills for Practice

Clinical Humanities and Well Being

Dentistry in Society

Person-centred communication, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Dental Public Health, professionalism, management & leadership

Maintenance and Restoration of Adult Oral Health

Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry

Maintenance and Restoration of Child and Vulnerable Adults Oral Health

Orthodontics, Paediatrics, Special Care Dentistry

Student Selected Component

Optional Modules There are no optional modules.

Year 4

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 and vulnerable adults oral 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.

Required Modules

Year four comprises modules totaling 180 credits which include the following topics:

Clinical Humanities and Wellbeing

Clinical Skills for Practice

Dentistry in Society

Person-centred communication, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Dental Public Health, professionalism, management & leadership

Human Health & Disease

Microbiology, Oral Medicine, Pathology, Radiology

Maintenance and Restoration of Adult Oral Health

Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry

Maintenance and Restoration of Child and Vulnerable Oral Health

Orthodontics, Paediatrics, Special Care Dentistry Optional Modules There are no optional modules.

Year 5

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.

Year five comprises modules totaling 180 credits which include the following topics:

Clinical Humanities & Wellbeing

Clinical Skills for Practice

Dentistry in Society

Person-centred communication, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Dental Public Health, professionalism, management & leadership

Integrated Practice

Maintenance and Restoration of Adult Oral Health

Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry

Maintenance and Restoration of Child/Vulnerable Groups Oral Health

Orthodontics, Paediatrics, Special Care Dentistry

Student Selected Component (Elective)

There are no optional modules.