UCL Eastman Dental Institute

What will I learn?

Syllabus

The curriculum includes:

• The scientific basis of prosthodontic care.
• Diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with advanced prosthodontic problems.
• The clinical treatment of patients with advanced prosthodontic problems.
• The relationship of other dental disciplines to prosthodontic care.
• The completion of all laboratory procedures for cases in fixed prosthodontics and a proportion of removable cases.
• A project or investigation with a report or dissertation.

Module structure

Programme specification

An outline of the structure of the MClinDent in Prosthodontics programme and its assessment is available in the Programme Specification (MS Word).

Aims & Objectives

Aim:

The aim of the MClinDent (Advanced Training) Programme is to extend knowledge of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics beyond the level obtained at undergraduate level in order to prepare the candidate for a career in specialist practice, the hospital or community services, industrial dental practice or an academic career.  Three components of the Programme are designed to accomplish this aim:

• Supervised clinical and laboratory practice in which treatment planning, clinical procedures and technical work are performed for selected cases, including a number of complex treatments.
• A programme of seminars, practical classes and other didactic sessions commencing with a full-time introductory course and reviewing the clinical and scientific scope of the subject to determine its evidence base.
• A research investigation leading to a dissertation in which the candidate is required to demonstrate the application of scientific method to a problem of relevance to Prosthodontics.

Behavioural Objectives:

• When confronted by a patient whose clinical problems require the co-ordinated application of a variety of advanced restorative procedures, the successful candidate should be able to:
• Identify the anamnestic information, diagnostic examinations and special investigations required.  Perform such and/or make appropriate referrals to other medical or dental specialists.  Evaluate the results obtained.
• Formulate at least one treatment plan, including an organised sequence for the delivery of the proposed care, which recognises the need for continuous reassessment of the patient’s response to procedures as they are provided.
• Defend the selection of treatment methods and the plan of treatment by reference to the relevant dental and scientific literature, demonstrating an awareness of methods for the location and retrieval of up-to date clinical and research publications to enable evidence-based clinical management.
• Formulate a prognosis for the proposed treatment bearing in mind the factors having a bearing in the individual case and incorporating knowledge derived from studies of outcome and clinical audit.
• Demonstrate the clinical skills required to carry out the proposed treatment or, in the case of procedures in which he or she is not experienced, indicate awareness of how and where appropriate further experience may be obtained.
• Have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the laboratory techniques required to be able to generate an unambiguous and achievable prescription for the dental technician and to participate personally in the laboratory work to whatever extent may become necessary.
• Specify and/or provide a programme of recall examinations, preventive measures and follow-up treatment based upon an assessment of the risks and justify these recommendations with reference to the relevant literature.

More generally:

• Analyse his or her personal needs in respect of continuing professional development and education. Identify resources which may be used to satisfy these and play an active role both in the delivery and receipt of such education throughout the professional career whether by personal scholarship, formal educational activity or involvement in research.

Assessment

Summative assessment

The MClinDent (Advanced Training) programme is a modular programme and this means that each module has a formal assessment.

Formative assessment

Graduates' clinical, practical and academic skills are assessed throughout their time at the Eastman through informal assessments which do not count to the final marks of the programme. Assessment of academic progress is through a series of assignments and subsequent seminars. Graduates should be able to recall and demonstrate an understanding of factual information and its clinical relevance. The graduate should demonstrate the application of this knowledge to the clinical situation and this is assessed through diagnostic clinics, case seminars and chair-side treatment of patients.

In addition graduates general performance is assessed and a monthly report submitted to the Eastman Divisional Teaching Committee.

Teaching methods

Timetabling

Due to the nature of the programme the timetable varies during the academic year. However, a typical week on the programme is likely to compromise the following sessions:

3-4 sessions of supervised patient treatment, including clinical observation
3-4 academic sessions
2-4 sessions of self-directed learning

Normal working hours are 09.00 – 17.00, Monday – Friday however on occasions some activities may take place outside these core hours.