MSc (Clin) Periodontology / Course details

Our three-year MSc Clinical Dentistry (Periodontology) course focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. You will learn the skills needed to critically evaluate and solve problems relating to periodontology.

Your research skills will also be developed as you learn how to design research projects, collect data, conduct simple analyses and interpret the results.

These projects may be within areas such as genetics, microbiology or biomaterials.

Your research will benefit from our links with the Cochrane Oral Health Group.

Our course is also designed to prepare you for eligibility to sit the MPerio examinations of the relevant Royal Colleges.

The course aims to provide you with:

• the knowledge, skills and attitudes fundamental to diagnosis and treatment of periodontics and related procedures;
• the knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable critical evaluation and problem solving for periodontal problems to allow independent practice;
• knowledge relating to the contemporary practise of periodontics (including an appreciation of an interdisciplinary approach to comprehensive patient care), to allow communication with both specialist and non-specialist colleagues;
• competence in the design and interpretation of original clinical research;
• the knowledge and experience to plan, implement and complete a research project showing initiative and personal responsibility;
• the knowledge, skills and attitudes to prepare you for advanced clinical practice in periodontics;
• a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues involved in the scientific basis of periodontology.

We use a range of teaching methods in each unit to promote a stimulating and dynamic teaching environment. You will acquire the skills to enable you to work independently and effectively in an interdisciplinary clinical environment.

Our methods include seminars and lectures to both introduce and delve more deeply into key course concepts, as well as peer-to-peer and staff-to-student feedback and discussion through group work.

External bodies guide the subject areas we cover and the balance of formal teaching (seminars and lectures) to clinical experience to comply with standards for specialist level training. Additional, self-directed learning enables you to reflect upon your clinical work and skills, and the key concepts introduced within seminars.

We use a problem-based learning format for tutorials, enabling you to develop communication and presentation skills, as well as appreciate the relevance of scientific study to clinical practice.

The course is also 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 MSc students have the opportunity to demonstrate the collation and presentation of information in this field.

The aim of the dissertation unit is to offer research training in the identification, formulation and implementation of a specific research project.

Through the clinical units, you will also be exposed to industrial partners and experts from outside the University in the seminar series and practical sessions, providing access to world-class clinical academics.

The course creatively incorporates the clinical expertise of specialists in periodontology from a variety of backgrounds, including specialist practice and hospital-based clinical academia, to support learning.

Key academic staff

• Hugo Grancho Pinto (Programme Director)

Formal assessment for the Research Methods and Biostatistics components takes the form of two tutor-marked assignments per unit.

Assessment of each course unit generally follows a standard plan, which involves mid or end of unit assignments (e.g. literature reviews) and end of semester examinations in the format of MCQs or SBAs.

Clinical progress will be monitored using clinical logbooks and regular clinical competency assessments. Patient case reports outlined in your logbook will provide formative assessment of your clinical competencies during the course.

The majority of clinical activity takes place within the University Dental Hospital of Manchester. Other sessions may take place in outreach clinics within the Greater Manchester area.

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