Program Overview

Dental Technology, DipHE

Overview

Our Dental Technology programme provides trainee dental technicians with the theoretical knowledge and technical experience to enable them to manufacture, repair and provide advice on custom-made dental appliances.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: Blended Learning
• Degree Qualification: DipHE
• Duration: 36 months
• Study Mode: Part Time
• Start Month: September
• Location of Study: Aberdeen

What You'll Study

• Year 1:
  • Primary Dental Laboratory Skills
  • Professional Practice
  • Removable Partial Dentures
  • Oral Anatomy and Physiology
• Year 2:
  • Dental Alloy Techniques
  • Removable Dental Prosthodontics 2
  • Design Principles and Processes
  • Dental Public Health, Leadership and Management
• Year 3:
  • Fixed Dental Prosthodontics 1
  • Fixed Dental Prosthodontics 2
  • Orthodontic Technology
  • Fixed Dental Prosthodontics 3

Compulsory Courses

• Year 1:
  • Primary Dental Laboratory Skills (DE1001)
  • Professional Practice (DE1002)
  • Dental Technology OSPE 1 (DE10E1)
  • Oral Anatomy and Physiology (DE1502)
  • Removable Partial Dentures (1) (DE1501)
  • Dental Technology Ospe 2 (DE15E1)
• Year 2:
  • Dental Technology OSPE 3 (DE10E2)
  • Dental Technology OSPE 4 (DE25E1)
  • Dental Alloy Techniques (DE1003)
  • Removable Dental Prosthodontics (2) Complete Dentures (DE1004)
  • Design Principles and Processes (DE2503)
  • Dental Public Health, Leadership and Management (DE2504)
• Year 3:
  • Dental Technology OSPE 5 (DE20E1)
  • Fixed Dental Prosthodontics 1 (DE2017)
  • Orthodontic Technology (DE2505)
  • Fixed Dental Prosthodontics (3) (DE2506)
  • Fixed Dental Prosthodontics (2) (DE2018)

How You'll Study

A broad range of teaching methods is used throughout the course both online, on campus and within the student’s working environment.

• Regular supervised practical laboratory sessions held at the Institute of Dentistry
• Supervised laboratory work completed within the student’s own dental laboratory and reviewed by programme staff and students workplace supervisor
• Regular online lectures and seminars to attend
• Distance learning materials and tasks to complete at home and in the workplace

Learning Methods

• Clinical Learning
• E-learning
• Lab Work
• Lectures
• Peer Learning
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops

Assessment Methods

Each course is assessed and must be passed and there is no compensation between courses. Formative and summative assessment are used throughout the three years of the course. The latter tend to be the practical elements and relate to particular practical procedures.

Assessments are in the form of Observed Structured Practical Exams (OSPE), oral presentations, essay and short answer questions.

Why Study Dental Technology?

• You will gain a professional qualification that will provide opportunities for career progression
• You will be able to immediately put into practice the aspects of dental technology you have learnt
• You will have the opportunity for hands-on practice, under supervision, helping you to build confidence and gain practical knowledge of what is possible within a clinical laboratory
• Evidence-based content will give you the confidence to know that you are doing the best for your patients
• You will have networking opportunities with others on the programme and in the institute building as well as the opportunity to learn from other dental professionals’ experience
• The programme is delivered via a combination of in-practice and on-campus learning
• Teaching takes place in a purpose-built, modern facility with easy access to specialist laboratory equipment

Entry Requirements

• Academic Requirements:
  • Two SQA Highers at grade C or better, one in a science subject (NB Maths is a science subject), OR equivalent qualifications at SCQF level 6 or above
  • Qualification in English at Nat 5 level or above OR, equivalent qualification at SCQF Level 5 or above OR, IELTS 6.0 overall or above including 5.5 in reading and 6.0 in writing or equivalent
• Employment & Experience:
  • Candidates must be employed for a minimum of 80% of full-time in an MHRA registered dental laboratory for a minimum of 6 months by the programme start date
  • Normally candidates should be employed in a dental laboratory offering all three dental technology disciplines (Dentures, Crown and Bridge and Orthodontics) or have access to a secondary MHRA laboratory at which cases in additional disciplines may be undertaken under the supervision of a qualified, GDC-registered Workplace Supervisor
  • Candidates must have access to suitable IT
• Employer:
  • Workplace Supervisors who supervise trainees must be GDC-registered and should be employed for at least 80% of full-time equivalent hours
  • In addition to any other conditions of admission, conditional offers of admission will be subject to a satisfactory workplace visit
  • Workplace Supervisors must have access to suitable IT

Fees and Funding

• Students Domiciled in Scotland: £1,390
• Students Domiciled Outside Scotland: £6,600

Careers

• Dental technicians work either in commercial dental laboratories or the community or hospital dental service
• Dental technicians usually specialise in one discipline within dental technology:
  • Orthodontics - creating plastic or metal devices, such as braces to straighten teeth
  • Crown and bridge work - making crowns to restore extensively damaged teeth or to replace a number of teeth with a fixed bridge supported by teeth or dental implants
  • Prosthetics - producing plastic or metal-based removable dentures which replace either some or all of the teeth

Industry Links

• Dental Technologists Assocation (DTA)

Our Experts

• Programme Coordinator: Mr James Mackie

Facilities

• Foresterhill Health Campus
• Library facilities

Scholarships and Funding

• UK Scholarship
• Aberdeen Global Scholarship
• Funding Database

International Applicants

• Additional details for international applicants, including information specific to your country or territory, are available here.