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BSc (Hons)

Dental Therapy

Name: Dental Therapy, BSc (Hons)
Price: £9,250 per year GBP

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

3 years

Start

September 2024

UCAS Code

D4D7

Delivery

In-person

Foundation year available

Dental therapists play an increasingly important role in the delivery of primary care dentistry. The structure of this course is exciting and innovative in that it is integrated with both the BDS Dentistry and the BSc (Hons) Clinical Dental Technology courses.

There is a great emphasis on clinical experience and initially you will be based in our purpose-built Dental School in Preston developing clinical skills and supporting knowledge, as well as an understanding of how the human body works in health and disease. You will have the opportunity to work with actors to develop your communication skills.

Towards the end of the first year, you will go to one of the four primary care Dental Education Centres (DECs). The DECs are clinical training centres where you’ll treat patients, under supervision, and gain first-hand experience within the communities you are most likely to serve after graduation.

The DECs are based locally within the community, and have been equipped with brand new surgeries, and study facilities dedicated to student teaching. In Years 2 and 3 you will continue to spend your time at the DEC, putting your learning into practice by treating patients. In Year 3 you will gain additional clinical experience at an Enhanced Training Practice.

Applications for 2024 entry are now closed.

Why study with us

Dentistry at the University ranked first in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2022).
You’ll be taught alongside both BDS and Clinical Dental Technician students, allowing you to train as you will practice in the future, as part of the whole dental team.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain early patient contact during your studies.

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Slide 1 of 4

Students working in our Phantom Head Training area

What you’ll do

You’ll learn clinical skills in one of the most modern phantom head rooms in Europe, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.
Small class sizes allow for a close and friendly atmosphere with interactive learning opportunities.
You will gain a broad range of clinical experience, including enhanced skills such as administering Inhalation Sedation, removing sutures (after the wound has been checked) and tooth whitening.

Modules

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

The aim of this module is to develop your clinical skills, including routine restorations, simple periodontal treatment and uncomplicated extractions. This includes a number of simulator courses to widen your clinical skills. You'll also focus on improving your communication skills, including explaining a staged treatment plan to patients and developing skills to manage nervous patients.

Module code: DG2015

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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dentistry-clinical-skills-sign — Clinical Training Bays

Dentistry training lab with phantom heads — Phantom Head Training Area

Your teaching team

Principal Lecturer

Principal Lecturer

Senior Lecturer

Dental Therapy Supervisor

Dr Aimee Batt

Senior Clinical Tutor

Nargis Sonde

Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry

Dr Nadia Shah

Senior Lecturer in Medical Sciences, Pharmacology

Dr Pedro Moreira

Senior Clinical Teacher

Rachel Butterworth

Senior Clinical Teacher

Paul Knott

Senior Clinical Teacher

Charlotte Willmot

Senior Clinical Teacher

Yvonne Halliwell

Senior Clinical Teacher

Dr Neil Cook

Lecturer in Research Methods – Online Learning

Future careers

As a graduate of the BSc (Hons) Dental Therapy course you can register with the General Dental Council as a dental therapist. You may also be eligible to apply for entry into the Graduate BDS course.

You will be eligible to apply for a place on a Dental Therapy Foundation Scheme (DTFT) which are designed to support new or recently qualified Dental Therapists during their transition into the Primary Dental Care workforce.

As a Dental Therapist you will work as part of the dental team providing preventive and routine dental care to children and adults. You can work in general practice (NHS/Private), community or hospital settings.

Dental Therapists work either under the prescription of a dentist or directly without the patient having to see the dentist first (within Scope of Practice), they can also open their own practices and employ other members of the dental team.

There are increasing opportunities for postgraduate education for registered Dental Therapists.

Home Transfers

Dental Schools do not accept transfers of students from other schools. This is because the requirements for graduation defined by the GDC are not taught and assessed in a similar order. Government capped places would also be disrupted by student transfers.

Schools may consider transfers for students in unforeseen exceptional circumstances with approval of both the sending and receiving programmes. In most cases the student would need to re-start from year one for the reasons described previously.

DSC encourages prospective students to consider the intensity of oral healthcare courses and their potential geographical distance from their support networks, when applying for dental school.

International transfers

Students from a dental school outside the UK are unable to transfer into a programme in a UK dental school. This is because international programmes follow their local regulatory requirements which are likely to differ from those in the UK.

Fees and funding

2024/25

Full-time£9,250 per year

International

Full-time£16,500 per year

2025/26

Full-time£9,250 per year

International

Full-time£17,325 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

NHS Learning Support Fund
If you are thinking of studying for a health-related undergraduate or postgraduate degree, take a look at what financial support is available.
Find out more about NHS Learning Support Fund
Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary

A three-year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credits (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study, which comprises of a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and independent study.

Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.

Traditional lectures and tutorials will develop your knowledge, as well as problem based learning (PBL), where you will work as part of a group to develop an integrated knowledge of how the body functions in health and disease. We use a variety of methods for assessment such as short answer, single best item, written assignments and portfolios and clinical assessments.

During Years 2 and 3 you will be based at one of four local community-based Dental Education Centres (DECs). The DECs are clinical training centres where you will treat patients, under supervision, and gain first-hand experience within the communities you are most likely to serve after graduation.

By placing you at the heart of community dental services within Cumbria and Lancashire, we aim not only to attract local candidates, but also foster long-standing relationships with those communities, leading ultimately to an increase in the numbers of newly qualified dental therapists who will remain in the area to continue their professional career.

As a Dental Therapy student, you will learn clinical skills in one of the most modern phantom head rooms in Europe, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. We employ a number of teaching methods to ensure you learn the various aspects of therapy. There is a great emphasis on clinical experience and initially you will work on simulators in phantom head to develop clinical skills. You will also work with actors in order to develop your communications skills.

In the first year of the programme you’ll be based in the Dental School at Preston. The course focuses on developing clinical skills and supporting knowledge as well as being a professional. Towards the end of the first year, you will go to one of the four Dental Education Centre’s Centres (DECs) located in Accrington, Blackpool, Carlisle and Morecambe Bay. The DECs are based locally within the community, have been equipped with brand new surgeries, tutorial and study facilities dedicated for student teaching. In Years 2 and 3 you will continue to spend your time at the DEC putting your skills into practice by treating patients, returning to Preston for some lectures and education.

The University and the DECs are linked via IT for learning and teaching, with individual student access to the relevant intranets.

Human Anatomy and Resource Learning Centre (HARLC)

An understanding of anatomy is essential for dental professionals. HARLC is the focus for you to learn about the workings of the human body, particularly the head and neck region. The resources in the centre include anatomical models, guides and videos of professional dissections. You will have access to the centre from 7.30am until 8.00pm. By using the resources in the HARLC we aim to give you the ability to learn anatomy, which you can apply to your clinical practice.

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This course is based in the School of Medicine and Dentistry

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

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Dental Therapy

Why study with us

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What you’ll do

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Year 3

Compulsory modules

View the course facilities

Your teaching team

Accreditations

Future careers

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

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Dental Therapy

Why study with us

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What you’ll do

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Join us on campus

View the course facilities

Your teaching team

Accreditations

General Dental Council (GDC)

Future careers

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Studying a healthcare degree?

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

NHS Learning Support Fund

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

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