Program Overview

Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics

Introduction

The Master of Dental Surgery program in Orthodontics is a three-year full-time program that provides the necessary fundamental sciences and clinical training and education to enable dental practitioners to begin an independent career in orthodontics. Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, and misaligned bite patterns.

Program Objectives

The goals of the MDS-Orthodontics program are to enable students to:

• Develop contemporary knowledge specifically in understanding the principles of normal and abnormal facial growth to enable making appropriate clinical decisions in correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws.
• Acquire basic and advanced skills in patient care, investigation techniques, and clinical skills at a level of competency for safe orthodontic practice.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team work for effective patient care.
• Develop and adopt high values in decision making, with contemporary evidence-based knowledge and skills.
• Communicate efficiently and practice the highest level of ethics and professionalism.
• Promote as an advocate for health and continue to be a life-long learner.

Special Admission Requirements

1. A BDS degree from the University of Sharjah or an equivalent qualification, with a GPA of 3.0 or above. Candidates with a GPA of between 2.5 and 2.9 may be given consideration.
2. A minimum of one-year post-qualification work experience.
3. English Language requirements: A minimum of 550 on paper-based TOEFL or 6.0 on IELTS or its equivalence.
4. Applicants must attend an interview session and may be required to sit for a written and/or practical test in the selection process.

Program Structure

The program begins with basic medical sciences and relevant dental sciences courses that help build a core knowledge on craniofacial growth and development, enabling the trainee to proceed for further orthodontic education and training. Clinical experience includes mandatory clinical practice around children and adults with dental occlusion discrepancies, jaw malrelations, and craniofacial deformities, such as cleft lip and palate. Multidisciplinary team work and quality patient-care outcome in a safe environment remain as the main philosophy of training. The program has an overall 70% clinical component and 30% research component, in the form of a short investigation leading to a thesis.

Academic Courses

Year 1, Semester 1 (Fall)

• Orthodontic Patient Care 1 (7 cr. hrs.)
• Orthodontic Documentation, Diagnosis & Analysis (2 cr. hrs.)
• Craniofacial Biology & Development (2 cr. hrs.)
• Orthodontic Mechanics 1 (2 cr. hrs.)
• Cephalometric & Cast Analysis & Dentofacial Photography (1 cr. hr.)
• Typodont Course (1 cr. hr.)
• Research Methodology I (2 Cr. Hrs.)

Year 1, Semester 2 (Spring)

• Orthodontic Patient Care 2 (7 cr. hrs.)
• Anatomy & Orthodontics (2 cr. hrs.)
• Craniofacial Biology & Orthodontics (2 cr. hrs.)
• Orthodontic Mechanics 2 (2 cr. hrs.)
• Literature Review (1 cr. hr.)
• Wire Bending Exercises (1 cr. hr.)
• Research Methodology II (2 Cr. Hrs.)

Year 2, Semester 3 (Fall)

• Orthodontic Patient Care 3 (8 cr. hrs.)
• Orthodontics & Maxillofacial Surgery & Planning (2 cr. hrs.)
• Orthodontic Management I (2 cr. hrs.)
• Biomechanics (1 cr. hr.)
• Research Project I (2 cr. Hrs.)

Year 2, Semester 4 (Spring)

• Orthodontic Patient Care 4 (8 cr. hrs.)
• Postnatal Growth Determination, Superimposition & Prediction (2 cr. hrs.)
• Interceptive Orthodontics (1 cr. hr.)
• Orthodontic Management 2 (2 cr. hrs.)
• Research Project II (2 cr. Hrs.)

Year 3, Semester 5 (Fall)

• Orthodontic Patient Care 5 (8 cr. hrs.)
• Orthodontic Management 3 (2 cr. hrs.)
• Craniomandibular Function & Orthodontics (1 cr. hr.)
• Practice Management (1 cr. hr.)
• Research Project III (2 cr. Hrs.)

Year 3, Semester 6 (Spring)

• Orthodontic Patient Care 6 (7 cr. hrs.)
• Cleft Palate & Related Syndromes (1 cr. hr.)
• Orthodontic Management 4 (2 cr. hrs.)
• Research Project IV (2 cr. Hrs.)

Research Project

The academic courses in Research Methods I and II prepare the trainees for their research project work. Trainees are encouraged to embark on a research project very early in their program. They will be well-guided throughout the research activities through courses in Research Project I to IV with full support from their appointed supervisor. This course would enable them to adopt an inquisitive mind and continue practicing evidence-based dentistry. Trainees must submit a thesis and publish a scientific paper directly related to their project.

Research Areas

The College of Dental Medicine supports the trainees in its three multidisciplinary research clusters:

• Biomaterial Research Group
• Wound Healing and Oral Diagnostic Research Group
• Oral Biofilm in Health and Disease Research Group

University of Sharjah Graduate Studies Bylaws and Master's Executive Regulations

For more detailed information regarding the general admission requirements for the Master of Dental Surgery programs at the University of Sharjah, as well as the graduation requirements, academic load, maximum duration of program studies, conditional admission, academic probation, examination and grades systems, as well as registration of thesis, refer to the University of Sharjah Graduate Studies Bylaws and Master's Executive Regulations.