Special Care Dentistry
Special Care Dentistry is more relevant than ever to ensure that patients from around the globe are appropriately managed to enhance their function and quality of life.
Courses

Special Care Dentistry PG Certificate
A part-time, one-year Postgraduate Certificate that aims to bring dentists up to date with the latest knowledge relevant to the clinical practice of special care dentistry.

Special Care Dentistry MSc
A full-time, one-year (or part-time, two-year) Master’s that provides relevant education and training to meet the oral health care requirements of patients with special needs.
Why Special Care Dentistry?
The number of individuals with complex systemic disease that may impact upon oral health and the provision of dental care is ever rising. This is particularly as a result of increasing lifespan, which has led to an increase in cardiac (e.g. cardiovascular), neurological (e.g. dementia), endocrine (e.g. diabetes mellitus) and many other disease processes.
Special Care Dentistry is thus more relevant than ever to ensure that patients from around the globe are appropriately managed to enhance their function and quality of life.
Why Eastman?
Our programme provides postgraduates with didactic teaching by internationally recognised clinical academics plus an opportunity to be involved in the management of patients with possibly the widest spectrum of disease relevant to Special Care Dentistry in Europe (if not globally).
We emphasise putting theory into practice to ensure that graduates are well equipped to manage patients with complex needs and help them maintain good oral health and general well being.
- Professor Stephen Porter (Head)
Honorary contracts / Visiting lecturers / NHS staff
- Dr Fatimah Alsayer
- Dr Navdeep Kumar
Our state-of-the-art facilities include two dedicated laboratories for the production of patient devices such as fixed and removable prosthetic devices. There are five clinical skills laboratories containing 90 clinical skills stations equipped with dental manikins allowing trainees to practically and safely refine skills and work in conditions that mimic real-life practice. Two of our suites are also equipped with dental microscopes to aid identification of anatomical imperfections and the quick detection of enamel and dentine fractures.
Professor Stephen Porter, Programme Director
Nichola Faddoul, Programme Administrator
The unit welcomes visits from prospective students to meet staff and discuss applications. Appointments to visit should be made at least two months in advance by contacting the Programme Administrator: edi-admissions@ucl.ac.uk.
Patient and Student Stories

Patient story: Chris Cook
Chris Cook has a rare condition, Riley Day Syndrome or Familial Dysautonomia. He shares his experiences as a patient under our Special Care Dentistry Team at the Eastman Dental Institute.
1 August 2019

Student testimonial - Lama Dakkouri
From Jordan, Lama studied Special Care Dentistry MSc, having previously completed her Paediatric Dentistry DDent at the Eastman.
21 May 2018