Course description

Our MSc Paediatric Dentistry course will equip you with the advanced academic knowledge and clinical skills required to practice as a specialist in paediatric dentistry.

This is a full-time, three-year master's degree that combines the taught and research elements of the MSc with a mandatory clinical training unit.

You will build up your knowledge of literature in this field, learning from consultants and specialists in paediatric dentistry. Taught elements are delivered in lectures, seminars, practical skills sessions and online learning.

You will develop your clinical skills at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester, with general anaesthesia lists running at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Trafford General Hospital.

Clinical teaching involves close supervision of a personal cohort of patients with a broad range of paediatric dental needs, including those with dental anomalies, trauma and caries, under supervision by hospital specialists and consultants. Clinical training involves attendance at consultant new patient clinics.

Completing this course will prepare you to practice as a specialist paediatric dentist or pursue a clinical academic or research career in this field. You will be eligible to sit the Membership in Paediatric Dentistry tri-collegiate specialty membership examination upon completion of the course.

Aims

This course aims to:

• provide you with a high level of clinical training at the large consultant-led paediatric dental department within the University Dental Hospital of Manchester;
• provide you with the knowledge and skills to practice at the level of a specialist in paediatric dentistry, including dental treatment of the paediatric patient under local analgesia, inhalational sedation, IV sedation and general anaesthesia;
• equip you with in-depth critical appraisal skills that will enable you to independently appraise paediatric dental literature;
• improve your oral presentation skills;
• ensure you are competent in the design and interpretation of original clinical research at the forefront of current dental research;
• provide you with the knowledge and experience to plan, implement and complete a research project.

Teaching and learning

We employ a diverse range of teaching methods, including clinical teaching both in the labs and on clinic, didactic lectures, and seminars to help you understand key course concepts.

Additional self-directed learning enables you to reflect upon your clinical work, skills and key concepts introduced within seminars.

Career opportunities

Paediatric dentistry is a stimulating and rewarding speciality, and offers a number of career opportunities. Paediatric dentists may work in private practice, the community dental setting and in dental hospitals.

In addition to this clinical role, many paediatric dentists participate in teaching and research. These interests can be combined with part-time clinical work or undertaken on a full-time basis.

In the UK, consultants in paediatric dentistry may work in a community or hospital setting and concentrate on the management of complex, multidisciplinary cases. They also play an important role in the management of the unit in which they work.