Orthodontic Therapy Programme

Our Orthodontic Therapy Programme is a one-year course designed to train Dental Care Professionals as Orthodontic Therapists.

Please note this course is under review and subject to change. Because of this we have paused the application process.

The course develops the student’s underlying knowledge of basic dental sciences and then develops the application of this knowledge to the treatment of orthodontic patients in the clinical environment. Clinical work requires the supervision of a Specialist Orthodontist who will act as a Mentor through the course.

On successful completion of coursework and examination elements, the student will then undertake the Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy final examinations offered by the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in order to gain GDC registered status as an Orthodontic Therapist.

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Course overview

Our Orthodontic Therapy Programme is a one-year course designed to train Dental Care Professionals as Orthodontic Therapists. The introduction of the Dental Care Professional Register in 2006 now permits Dental Care Professionals to train as Orthodontic Therapists and treat orthodontic patients in the UK, under the supervision of an Orthodontist.

The General Dental Council has stated that individuals can register and work as Orthodontic Therapists following completion of an approved course and by successfully obtaining a Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy. The Orthodontic Therapy Programme has been approved by the General Dental Council as an appropriate course for the training of Orthodontic Therapists.

Basic sciences relevant to the principles and clinical application of Orthodontic Therapy will be studied. The student will then be expected to gain and enhance their clinical skills in the insertion, placement, fitment, and removal of fixed, removable and headgear orthodontic appliances.

Content and Course Format

The 1-year course comprises the following:

An initial 2 week - training block including the 2-day Mentor Training Event.
A full time 3-week block of training at UCLan, followed by 12 study days over the year to be held at UCLan.
Workplace training in an approved orthodontic practice or department, with the Specialist Orthodontist or Consultant Orthodontist acting as the workplace clinical Mentor/Trainer.

The course comprises 3 modules delivered over 52 weeks:

ZZ0031 Foundation Clinical Knowledge of Orthodontic Therapy (40 Credits)
ZZ0032 Clinical Practice of Orthodontic Therapy (60 Credits)
ZZ0033 Communication, Professionalism, Leadership and Management in Orthodontic Therapy (20 Credits)

The student will train under the close supervision of their Mentor. After successful completion of all modules of the course, including satisfactory workplace reports, end-of-module assessments and a project, the student can then apply to sit for the Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy examination awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (Dip. Orth. Ther. RCSEd).

Award: Dip
Level: Undergraduate
Delivery: Campus
Study Mode: Part time
Duration: One year
Campus: Preston
Start Date: The next start date of this programme is to be confirmed shortly

The course involves teaching from a variety of Consultants and Specialist Orthodontists. This will be delivered using a mixture of seminars and lectures which will cover the theoretical aspects of the Orthodontic Therapy curriculum. In addition, clinical training (typodont exercises) will take place at UCLan’s clinical suite which includes phantom head and clinical teaching rooms.

Students will attend formal lectures, seminars, group discussions/tutorials, demonstrations and practical sessions in the Phantom Head Laboratory. In Clinical Practice, students will receive one-to-one tuition from their Specialist Clinical Mentor.

Knowledge and understanding will be assessed by short written examinations. Clinical competency will be assessed by mini clinical evaluation exercises under lab conditions, by direct observation of procedural skills, and by a progressive logbook of clinical activity.

The Course Leader is Dr Hemant Patel BDS, M.Orth, RCS(Edin), M Orth RCS(Eng) MRCP(Glas)

Hemant qualified as a dentist in 1991 from the University of Liverpool. After a period of Dental Foundation Training in general dental practice and various hospital posts he commenced specialist training at the University of Manchester. He obtained his certificate of specialist training and the membership in orthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of England. In February 2009 he was made a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow.

Hemant is registered as a Specialist Orthodontist with the General Dental Council. He is a member of the Specialist Practitioner Group of the British Orthodontic Society, and a Fellow of the World Federation of Orthodontists.

Hemant is a member of the following associations:

British Dental Association
British Orthodontic Society
World Federation of Orthodontists
American Association of Orthodontists
British Lingual Orthodontic Society
British Orthodontic Society University Teachers Group

Please note this course is under review and subject to change. Because of this we have paused the application process.

Please note that this course is not available to apply to via UCAS

Please apply using our Online Application and also attach the Clinical Mentor Application form (to be completed by the Clinical Mentor) within the Application pack and attach it to the online application before submitting.

For further information on this course, please contact Sara Blackburn (Course Coordinator) via email and to obtain an application pack, please email the CPD Team or call us on 01772 893836 / 01772 893839.

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This course is based in the School of Dentistry located in the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

Orthodontic Therapy Programme

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