Dental Technician Course - Dental Technology BSc
Program Overview
This groundbreaking BSc (Hons) Clinical Dental Technology program at UCLan trains students to become dental technicians through a unique integrated learning model. Emphasizing hands-on experience in modern facilities, the program equips graduates with the technical and clinical skills necessary for work in dental technology and primary care dentistry. Graduates are eligible for registration with the General Dental Council and can pursue careers as dental technicians or clinical dental technicians.
Program Outline
Dental Technician Course - Dental Technology BSc - UCLan
Degree Overview:
This program, the BSc (Hons) Clinical Dental Technology, is a groundbreaking course, the first of its kind in the UK. It is designed to train students to become dental technicians, equipping them with the technical and clinical skills necessary to work within dental technology and primary care dentistry. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, with students learning clinical skills in a modern phantom head room equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. They also gain valuable experience treating real patients in the on-site Dental Clinic and through links with regional Dental Education Centres (DECs). The program is unique in its integrated learning model, where students learn alongside BSc Dental Therapy and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students, fostering a collaborative learning environment and preparing them for their future careers in dental teams. The University of Central Lancashire is renowned for providing in-depth clinical experience, resulting in a 100% graduate employment rate for this program.
Outline:
The program is a three-year full-time course delivered in-person at the Preston Campus. It is structured into three years, with compulsory modules in each year.
Year 1:
- Pre-clinical Dental Sciences: This module focuses on the normal and abnormal development and growth of the oro-facial region, as well as the basic science underpinning oral and systemic disease relevant to clinical dentistry.
- Foundation of Professional Practice: This module introduces students to professional practice in a dental environment, emphasizing communication, teamwork, reflective practice, and recording reflections.
- Dental Technology Studies 1: This module develops skills in dental technology, introducing students to restorative dentistry and the work of the dental team during patient treatment.
- Foundation Clinical Knowledge for Dental Technology Studies: This module provides students with the relevant knowledge of procedures to underpin the provision of dental technicians to dentate and edentulous patients. It covers the rationale for replacing missing teeth and demonstrates the clinical steps required for various tooth and tissue-borne dentures.
Year 2:
- Health Promotion and Population Studies Part 1: This module develops skills in applying an evidenced-based approach to learning, practice, clinical judgment, and decision-making. It also emphasizes professionalism within a dental team and responsibility for minimizing health inequalities.
- Professional Practice 1: This module focuses on practicing professionalism within the primary care environment of the Dental Education Centre. Students apply their knowledge and evidence-based practice to develop communication skills within a clinical team.
- Dental Technology Studies 2: This module introduces students to more complex cases in restorative dentistry, as well as the wider health team during the treatment of patients who need fixed, removable prosthodontics, and orthodontic devices. They also participate in a clinical placement to interact with patients and other students in a formal setting.
- Clinical Knowledge for Dental Technology Studies: This module builds upon previous studies, developing students' knowledge as dental technicians of the laboratory and clinical interface in the provision of removable and fixed prosthodontics.
Year 3:
- Health Promotion and Population Studies Part 2: This module further develops knowledge in dental public health, examining risks and preventative strategies in dentistry. It also explores the responsibilities of dentists in dealing with patients with psychological and other mental well-being problems.
- Professional Practice 2: This module builds on professionalism skills in primary and secondary care environments, developing communication skills and skills needed during clinical cases. It includes the technicians and clinical dental technicians' role in advanced restorative dentistry, orthodontics, maxilla-facial surgery, and the management of the dental team during a medical emergency. Students develop an understanding of oral diseases and the role of the Dental Care Professional (DCP) in the prevention, recognition, and management of these conditions. They also develop additional skills within their scope of practice, including tooth whitening.
Assessment:
The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
- Short answer questions
- Single best item questions
- Short note questions
Teaching:
The program employs a range of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Practical sessions
- Independent study
- Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Students learn technical skills in a dedicated teaching dental laboratory and clinical skills in an adjacent dental clinic. They also benefit from working with actors to develop communication skills.
Careers:
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the General Dental Council (subject to GDC approval) and work in dentistry as a dental care professional. They can work as a dental technician (or dental technologist) or a clinical dental technician. Graduates can also progress into advanced or specialist dental technology, specializing in reconstruction sciences such as:
- Maxillofacial technology
- Conservation
- Orthodontics
- Prosthodontics
Other:
The program is accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), the UK-wide statutory regulator of the dental profession. The program involves working with vulnerable groups of individuals, including children. students are required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (DBS). All offers of a place on this course are subject to satisfactory health screening. The program is based in the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Central Lancashire. The University of Central Lancashire ranked first in the UK for student satisfaction in Dentistry (Complete University Guide 2022).
UK fees: £9,250 per year International fees: £16,500 per year
