Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Endodontology MSc
Overview
The Endodontology MSc program is designed to provide in-depth training in the latest endodontic techniques and skills, demonstrating both classic and contemporary ideas that are immediately useful in dental clinics. The course is delivered by a University of Chester approved partner organisation, simplyendo, who have been delivering the programme for nearly 15 years.
Course Details
- Duration: 3 years
- Location: Various
- Start date: September 2025, September 2026
- UK fees: Fees are processed by simplyendo (research methods module only) (2025/26)
- International fees: N/A
Course Contents
- Course Summary
- Learn the latest endodontic techniques and skills, demonstrating both classic and contemporary ideas that are immediately useful in dental clinics.
- Increase confidence in cleaning, shaping, and filling root canals.
- What You'll Study
- Year 1/2/3: Modules cover all aspects of endodontology, from biology, through diagnosis, to different treatment modalities, including the use of contemporary techniques and equipment such as the operating dental microscope.
- Dissertation
- Module content includes:
- Literature review, knowledge of databases and other sources, searching, locating, reading, summarising, critically appraising, organising, and synthesising themes.
- Identification of potential issues/problems, finding connections, formulation and testing of hypotheses, research designs, research methods, sampling, reliability, and validity.
- Philosophical and methodological underpinnings, critical thinking, problem-solving, logical development, data analysis, research design, strengths, and limitations.
- Ethical frameworks, constraints, data protection, ethical approval, human rights, Helsinki declaration.
- Logical structure, research process, project planning with time frames. Alignment of research design and processes to research question.
- Interpretation of data, developing insights, validity and reliability, limitations of study. Critical reflection on process, critical thinking skills. Project management and review.
- Knowledge transfer, justification of recommendations and conclusions based on findings, strengths and limitations of study, dissemination e.g. seminars, workshops, conferences. Writing for publication.
- Module aims:
- To provide the student with an opportunity to investigate systematically and in depth a topic of direct relevance to his or her chosen area of application.
- To enable the student to draw on and contribute to the development of the growing body of applied knowledge and evidence-based practice.
- Module content includes:
- Research Methods
- Module content includes:
- Research and professional practice: evidence-based practice, being a critical consumer of research, practice development and research.
- Key concepts and issues in social research: research topics and research questions, answering questions with data, validity and reliability of data, qualitative and quantitative data, description, exploration, finding connections, formulating and testing hypotheses, populations and sampling, interpretivism and positivism.
- Research traditions and designs: ethnography, survey, experiment, mixed method, research process.
- Gathering and analysing data: Observation, questionnaires, interviews. Data analysis and drawing conclusions.
- Literature review: searching, locating, reading and summarising, reviewing and critiquing, organising, synthesising, and using the literature.
- Preparing the research proposal: Identifying research questions or hypothesis for chosen topic. Designing a study to address the question(s). Data gathering and recording, data analysis. Considering alternative approaches: critical analysis of alternative methods of research to the chosen approach. Knowledge transfer and strategies for dissemination.
- Ethical frameworks, constraints, data protection, confidentiality and human rights.
- Preparing an application for ethical approval.
- Module aims:
- To provide a comprehensive introduction to social research with regard to key concepts, approaches, and techniques.
- To facilitate the preparation of a research proposal for the dissertation.
- To enable students to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to their research topic.
- Module content includes:
- Principles of Endodontics
- Module content includes:
- Biology and aetiology of endodontic disease, underpinning evidence and research, critical appraisal and evaluation of evidence, statistical outcomes.
- History taking, diagnostic techniques, differential diagnosis, treatment planning with patient to obtain valid consent. The use of magnification in diagnosis.
- Likely outcomes from different pre-operative statuses. Appropriate treatment regimes, referral strategies, the use of published flow charts to assess case complexity.
- Techniques of filing curved canals using a variety of files, the limitations of these techniques. Technique of balanced force filing to keep instruments centred in the canal, the use of balanced force filing in developing a ‘glide path' in curved canal preparation; efficacy of crown down technique with NiTi versus coronal flaring/glide path and NiTi as finishing instruments, concepts of neutral and positive rake angles in instrument design to vary cutting efficacy; the use of magnification.
- Tapers and the limitations of producing a tapered preparation with instruments that are not tapered.
- Roles of irrigants and lubricants in canal preparation, use of disinfectants in the management of infections.
- Module aims:
- To explore the historical influences on contemporary root canal techniques.
- To review the biology of endodontic disease and the evidence base for treatment.
- To review the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of endodontic cases.
- To introduce different filing techniques.
- Module content includes:
- Endodontic Treatment
- Module content includes:
- Prevention of endodontic disease.
- Local anaesthesia, antibiotics and analgesics in endodontics - their roles in controlling pain. Different causes of pain; management of failure of analgesia.
- The role of intra-canal medicaments and inter-appointment dressings where indicated for different diagnoses. The indications and roles of various root canal irrigants and disinfectants.
- Anatomy of the apical third of the root canal, vertical and horizontal aspects of canal preparation.
- Techniques and protocols to produce consistent tapered root canal preparations with various rotary NiTi instruments. Contemporary thermal obturation techniques, including warm vertical condensation, injectable thermo-plasticised technique and thermo-mechanical compaction.
- Reasons for and methods of obturating the root canal; advantages and disadvantages of different methods.
- Module aims:
- To further develop practitioners' endodontic techniques.
- To analyse the role of medication in endodontic therapy.
- Module content includes:
- Referral Endodontics
- Module content includes:
- Criteria for success and failure of endodontic treatment, review intervals, future treatment options, tactics to overcome failure.
- Techniques to include placement amalgam Nayaar cores, techniques that allow for placement of gold posts, gold sectional posts and cores.
- Techniques and materials needed to remove gutta percha and cements from the root canal system, the potential complexities that retreatment entails when compared with endodontic treatments on virgin teeth.
- Treatment protocols for tooth bleaching (lightening).
- Internal and external resorption and its relationship to trauma. Management of trauma and techniques to manage incomplete root formation. Techniques to prevent and/or minimise root resorption.
- Various techniques of tooth lightening in endodontics.
- The interrelationship between the endodontic and periodontal apparatus. Contemporary techniques and methods for pulp capping and pulpotomies. The use of ultrasonics for the removal of instruments and posts from root canals, other methods of removing fractured posts from teeth.
- How to avoid iatrogenic damage and how to repair root canal systems that have suffered procedural misadventures, methods for removal of instruments and posts from root canals, including the use of ultrasonics. Methods of removing fractured posts from teeth.
- Module aims:
- To understand the concept of success and failure in endodontics.
- To highlight the concept of the restoration of the endodontically treated tooth and coronal seal.
- To highlight the relationship between endodontic and periodontal disease.
- To understand risk factors for iatrogenic damage and how this can be repaired.
- Module content includes:
- Innovations in Endodontics
- Module content includes:
- Evaluation of quality of evidence for innovations in endodontics.
- Exploration and evaluation of a range of new techniques and/or materials for use in endodontics.
- Critical review of comparative outcomes.
- Module aims:
- To offer students the opportunity to explore and evaluate a range of new techniques and/or materials for use in endodontics.
- To question the evidence base for innovations in endodontics.
- Module content includes:
- Endodontic Microscopy
- Module content includes:
- Evaluation of the history of the dental operating microscope, the indications for use of the operating microscope in endodontology. The importance of illumination and magnification in the successful and predictable management of endodontic cases.
- Inflammation and immunity; a critical review of acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, host immunity and how these processes relate to the endodontic disease process.
- MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate): its biology and indications for its clinical use in compromised cases. Manipulation of the material in the root canal using the operating microscope.
- Resorption; a critical appraisal of the processes that lead to the various presentations of root resorption. Its clinical management using MTA and calcium hydroxide.
- Pulp chamber anatomy; use of the microscope to explore natural pulp chamber anatomy and the application of this knowledge in the prevention of iatrogenic damage.
- Practical use of the operating microscope including ergonomics of microscope use, siting of microscopes and the use of the microscope in a working team.
- Module aims:
- To provide an in-depth evaluation of the history of the dental microscope in endodontology, its indications for use, its advantages and disadvantages.
- To make recommendations on current best practice for its clinical use.
- Module content includes:
How You'll Learn
- Teaching is through seminars and practical sessions
- Assessment is through coursework and exams
- This course is designed around in-person study
- There may be some online learning activities
Entry Requirements
- Home Students
- To have completed the simplyendo 10-day foundation training programme.
- Be qualified as a Dental Surgeon and have a licence to practise dentistry.
- Be registered with the General Dental Council and have a current annual practice certificate.
- Be in professional practice or have a hospital appointment for the duration of the programme.
- Be registered with a Defence Union and possess indemnity insurance with cover at an appropriate level.
- Be qualified at IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent (if English is not first language).
Fees and Funding
- Home Students
- Please note for the MSc Endondotology programme fees are processed by our partner organisation, simplyendo.com
Your Future Career
- Job Prospects
- Many Endodontology MSc delegates have gone on to:
- Become a provider of level 2 complex endodontic treatments on the NHS.
- Accept external endodontic referrals that require complex treatment.
- Become a Dentist with enhanced skills and limit work to endodontic treatments.
- Lecture in an endodontic field.
- Many Endodontology MSc delegates have gone on to:
- Careers service
- The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.
University of Chester
Overview:
The University of Chester is a public university located in Chester, England. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. The university is known for its modern learning facilities and its historic city setting.
Services Offered:
The university provides a comprehensive range of services to its students, including:
Accommodation:
On-campus and off-campus housing options are available.Student Support:
A dedicated team provides academic, personal, and financial support.Fees and Finance:
Information on tuition fees, scholarships, and financial aid is available.Careers and Employability:
Services include career guidance, job search assistance, and internship opportunities.Sport and Active Lifestyle:
The university offers a variety of sports clubs and facilities.Student Life and Campus Experience:
Students at the University of Chester can expect a vibrant and engaging campus experience. The university is located in a historic city with a rich cultural heritage, offering numerous opportunities for exploration and leisure. The university also boasts a strong student community with a variety of clubs, societies, and events.
Key Reasons to Study There:
Award-Winning University:
The University of Chester has received numerous awards for its student experience, including being ranked 1st in the UK for its international student experience.Modern Learning Facilities:
The university offers state-of-the-art facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and computer labs.Historic City Setting:
Chester is a charming city with a rich history and culture, providing a unique and enriching learning environment.Strong Student Community:
The university has a vibrant student community with a wide range of clubs, societies, and events.Academic Programs:
The University of Chester offers a wide range of academic programs, including:
Undergraduate Programs:
The university offers a variety of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including nursing, midwifery, social work, teaching, and business.Postgraduate Programs:
The university also offers a range of postgraduate programs, including master's degrees and research degrees.Other:
The university has several University Centres located in Birkenhead, Nantwich, and Warrington, offering a range of professionally-focused, practice-based courses. The university also has a strong commitment to sustainability and conservation.