MSc Clinical Dentistry (Paediatric Dentistry) / Course details

Our MSc Paediatric Dentistry course will equip you with the advanced academic knowledge and clinical skills required to practice as a specialist in paediatric dentistry.

This is a full-time, three-year master's degree that combines the taught and research elements of the MSc with a mandatory clinical training unit.

You will build up your knowledge of literature in this field, learning from consultants and specialists in paediatric dentistry. Taught elements are delivered in lectures, seminars, practical skills sessions and online learning.

You will develop your clinical skills at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester, with general anaesthesia lists running at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Trafford General Hospital.

Clinical teaching involves close supervision of a personal cohort of patients with a broad range of paediatric dental needs, including those with dental anomalies, trauma and caries, under supervision by hospital specialists and consultants. Clinical training involves attendance at consultant new patient clinics.

You will attend at least three clinical sessions/week from Semester 2 onwards. 

Completing this course will prepare you to practice as a specialist paediatric dentist or pursue a clinical academic or research career in this field. You will be eligible to sit the Membership in Paediatric Dentistry tri-collegiate specialty membership examination upon completion of the course. 

This course aims to:

• provide you with a high level of clinical training at the large consultant-led paediatric dental department within the University Dental Hospital of Manchester;
• provide you with the knowledge and skills to practice at the level of a specialist in paediatric dentistry, including dental treatment of the paediatric patient under local analgesia, inhalational sedation, IV sedation and general anaesthesia;
• equip you with in-depth critical appraisal skills that will enable you to independently appraise paediatric dental literature;
• improve your oral presentation skills;
• ensure you are competent in the design and interpretation of original clinical research at the forefront of current dental research;
• provide you with the knowledge and experience to plan, implement and complete a research project.

We employ a diverse range of teaching methods, including clinical teaching both in the labs and on clinic, didactic lectures, and seminars to help you understand key course concepts.

Additional self-directed learning enables you to reflect upon your clinical work, skills and key concepts introduced within seminars.

Seminars are supervised by consultants and specialists in paediatric dentistry and will enable you to develop communication and presentation skills, as well as appreciate the relevance of scientific study to clinical practice.

In addition, the course is designed to provide a foundation in research skills and methodologies to prepare you for further research or to pursue a clinical academic career.

This complements the research project and dissertation, where master's students have the opportunity to demonstrate the collation and presentation of information in this field.

The varied blend of training methods aims to promote a stimulating and dynamic teaching environment. Inherent within the course is the expectation that you will acquire the skills to enable you to work independently and effectively in an interdisciplinary clinical environment.

Key academic staff

• Professor Siobhan Barry (Programme Director)
• Dr Carly Dixon (Clinical lecturer and Honorary StR in Paediatric Dentistry
• Dr Laura Reynolds (Clinical Lecturer)

Formal assessment for the Research Methods and Biostatistics units will be undertaken via marked written assignments.

The CPD unit will be assessed via a combination of written and practical examinations.

For the clinical skills component, assessment is through examination of a variety of skills procedures carried out in the skills facility.

For the clinical component, case write-up and presentation, assessment is through marking of both the written component oral presentation of cases and clinical governance projects.

This course will have the majority of its clinical activity in the Paediatric Dental department in the University Dental Hospital of Manchester, with general anaesthesia lists running in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Trafford General Hospital. Clinical teaching will be delivered by consultants and specialists in paediatric dentistry.

The dissertation is marked in line with all of our dentistry MSc dissertations.

You will have access to a range of library and IT facilities across the University.

For the clinical aspects of the course, you may make use of your own premises and Ordsall Dental Health Centre. For the skills aspects of the course, the University's facilities are available.