MSc/PGDip Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Dental Specialties) / Course details

Our one-year MSc Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery course is designed for dentists who wish to advance their knowledge of this clinical specialty at postgraduate level.

This specialty is concerned with the diagnosis and management of diseases, injuries and defects affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.

The specialist clinical component of the course will give you an understanding of the scientific basis of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with particular emphasis on current theories relevant to the diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical management of patients. The course will also emphasise the evidence base supporting clinical surgical practice.

You will observe a wide range of surgery, including facial trauma, implant and reconstructive, cancer and reconstructive, salivary gland and orthognathic surgery, as well as participating in dentoalveolar surgery.

The course also covers the design, data collection, and simple analysis and interpretation of clinical research projects, and culminates in the MSc dissertation. You will learn how to identify, formulate and implement a specific research project in line with the research themes of pain and anxiety control, surgical implantology, or oral cancer and health services research.

The course aims to provide dental practitioners with the knowledge and skills to undertake minor oral surgery in the context of a wider knowledge of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Our teaching and learning methods are designed to encourage you to take responsibility for your own learning and to integrate work with formal educational activities.

We will provide the core text book for the course. This book, Master Dentistry Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radiology, Pathology and Oral Medicine (ISBN 0443061920), has been authored by University staff Coulthard, Horner, Sloan and Theaker.

Key academic staff

• Dr Helen Peterson (Programme Director)

• Assessment is by essay and Single Best Answer papers (SBAs) throughout the course and related to the taught units.
• You will also maintain a clinical surgical logbook and complete work based assessments (WBAs) throughout the course.
• There is also an oral examination.
• Research Methods: Formal assessment takes the form of two tutor marked assignments.
• Biostatistics: Formal assessment takes the form of two tutor marked assignments.
• Dissertation (10,000-15,000 words).

You will have access to dedicated postgraduate suites. You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.