Foundations to Dentistry (Summer School) module (SS03027)

The Foundations to Dentistry Course gives you an introduction to what is entailed in studying dentistry.

We will cover a broad scope of different dental specialties including oral surgery, periodontology (primarily the treatment of gum disease), infection control, forensic dentistry, and radiology.

It also involves some hands-on aspects of clinical skills such as suturing, lab-based skills (involving wax carving), and some clinical shadowing.

What you will learn

In this module you will:

• gain insight into the dental course and what is involved in being a dental student
• develop your manual dexterity via
  • clinical skills, i.e. suturing
  • lab-based practical sessions
• gain an understanding of the professional requirements of a dental student and dental health professional

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• better understand of the dental course and dental school
• better understand professionalism in dentistry
• better understand the manual dexterity requirements for a career in dentistry
• better understand the different subject areas within dentistry and potential career paths that dentistry can offer

Assignments / assessment

• written assignment – 1,000 word essay (60% of final mark)
• two lab-based assessments
  • wax carving (20%)
  • molar carving (20%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• interactive teaching sessions
• clinical skills sessions
• lab based practical sessions
• clinical shadowing