Program Overview

---

Clinical Dental Technology

Professional Course

This course is designed to train and prepare qualified dental technicians for the Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology exam at the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh).

Why study with us

• Learn with real patients in our on-campus Dental Clinic under the supervision of experienced clinical teachers.
• You'll be supported with personal tutors and unlimited access to a web-based learning system.
• Our step-by-step approach means there's no clinical experience necessary. This will prepare you for the demands of being a professional clinical dental technician.

Course overview

The course is delivered over six terms spanning two years. Each term has five teaching sessions of two consecutive days:

• Thursday - mainly theoretical and laboratory-based teaching
• Friday - mainly clinical teaching

All clinical teaching, training and treatment sessions will be supervised by qualified and experienced university clinical tutors. The hands-on emphasis on clinical training makes for an exciting and interactive way of learning.

During the course, you will gain underpinning knowledge and study basic oral anatomy, physiology, and biology. You'll also learn clinical skills. You will have the opportunity to practise the clinical stages of denture construction on manikins. Then you'll get to carry them out on patients under the supervision of experienced dentists and CDTs.

This course is specifically designed for dental technicians to develop your career by enhancing your scope of practice. Successful completion of the course will allow you to gain registerable status as a clinical dental technologist and become a member of the primary care team.

Entry requirements

• You must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental technician.
• An academic qualification in dental technology, or;
• An equivalent professional qualification, or;
• Significant and relevant proven professional experience is required.
• Successfully pass the application and interview.
• Satisfactory DBS clearance and health screening.
• A current certificate of immunisation against communicable diseases (Hepatitis B).
• Agreement to notify us of any events that would affect DBS reports as they might occur through the duration of the programme.

Application and interview process

Interviews days for prospective candidates will be in March or April - date to be confirmed. These are held at our School of Medicine and Dentistry in Preston.

All applicants must be GDC registered dental technicians and you must bring your GDC registration certificate to the interview. You will also be asked to you bring your original documents relating to your dental technology qualifications.

For all non-UK students for whom English is not your first language you will need proof of competence in the English Language. This can be evidenced by IELTS grade 7.0 or above in each of the four IELTS components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Interview day

The day will consist of (in no particular order):

• A presentation from the Course Leader or Associate Dean of the School.
• A series of five mini interviews. Each station of the mini-interviews will consist of two-minutes preparation, followed by five-minutes at the station.
• Topics will include amongst others: communication skills, knowledge of clinical dental technology and the dental profession, ethics and professionalism.
• There will be a laboratory skills test. You will be asked to do a complete/complete wax try in. Basic lab equipment, wax knives, coats etc. will be provided, but you may bring your own if you prefer.
• Tour of the School of Medicine and Dentistry and Dental Clinic.
• Verification of certificates.

The morning interviews are expected to end by 12.30pm and the afternoon interviews by 4.30pm.

While this may seem daunting initially, we feel this approach is a fairer process for applicants. We ensure equal opportunities for everyone by ruling out any unconscious bias that can occur in a traditional interview.

We look forward to and hope you are successful in your application.

Fees and funding

• £9,659 per year

Please visit our fees and finance pages for further information.

DBS and health screening

This course will involve you working with vulnerable groups of individuals, this may include children. In order to ensure that the University offers places on their programmes to suitable candidates you will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB).

All offers of a place on this course are subject to satisfactory health screening. It is important to note that should your health screening not be satisfactory your offer of a place on this course may be withdrawn.

If you have already enrolled on the course prior to completion of your health screening, or if your health screening clearance is revoked or changes during the course, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started.

If you would like to discuss or seek advice in respect of the health screening requirements for this course, please contact the Course Enquiries Team.

Accreditations

• General Dental Council (GDC)

This course has been accepted by the GDC Registrar. The GDC is the UK-wide statutory regulator of the dental profession. They register qualified dental professionals, work to ensure the quality of dental education, and protect patient safety.

Learning environment

On the course you'll take part in:

• Formal lectures
• Seminars
• Group discussions
• Tutorials
• Demonstrations
• Practical sessions in the Phantom Head Laboratory, Clinical Training Bays and laboratory facilities

In the Dental Clinic you will receive support from a clinical tutor. To support all coursework activities, you will have web-based learning materials and personal tutor support.

Assessment

All six modules within the programme include assessments.

Knowledge and understanding will be assessed by written and practical coursework. Clinical competency will be assessed through in-course assessment.

Assessment is an essential part of your learning. It provides evidence that you have achieved the learning outcomes. You must pass all elements of assessments contained within each module. A range of assessment methods are used across the programme. This ensures that the learning outcomes have been met.

Types of assessment

Types of assessment include the following:

• Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)
• Clinical in course assessment
• Written clinical knowledge essays and professional assignments
• Clinical case presentations
• Written examinations (end of Year 1)

Year 1

In Year 1 you must pass a clinical progression examination before treating patients under supervision within our Dental Clinic. There will also be a written examination towards the end of Year 1 which must be passed for you to progress to Year 2.

You will also be required to maintain a reflective portfolio and complete written assignments in the first year.

Year 2

In Year 2 you will continue to treat patients under supervision and maintain a clinical log of all cases that you undertake. You will need to complete written assignments and case presentations of your patients.

You will be given opportunities to undertake formative assessment exercises to gain valuable feedback. You'll learn how well you're doing and also ways you can improve. This will help your development and progression throughout the course

Successful completion of the course will meet the requirements for entry to the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) examination.

Industry links

On successful completion of this course you will be entered for the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) Clinical Dental Technology Diploma examination. On gaining the diploma you will be able to register with General Dental Council (GDC) as a clinical dental technician.