PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc Restorative Dental Practice
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
Ongoing
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Medical Sciences
Parent Department:
UCL Eastman Dental Institute
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/eastman
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Flexible
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/eastman/education/courses/mastersprogrammes/msc-rdp
Length of the programme:
5 calendar years
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Level 7
N/A
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
The programme will (a) introduce students to current evidence
based restorative clinical practice at an intellectually demanding level; (b) provide
training in clinical practical skills and critical reading relevant to modern dental
practice; (c) introduce students to, and provide training for, a research project
relevant to restorative dentistry.
Name of Board of Examiners:
Restorative Dental Practice
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Faculty of General Dental Practitioners
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit: N/A
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The aim of the MSc in Restorative Dental Practice is to extend knowledge of Restorative Dentistry beyond the level obtained
after undergraduate training, in order to enhance the graduates’ ability to provide high quality comprehensive management
for the majority of patients
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
1. How to assess critically clinical and
scientific evidence; synthesize and
assemble data from printed and
digital resources and the Internet;
solve problems of conflicting sources
and conflicting interpretations; locate
source materials and interpretative
studies; use research resources,
particularly research library
catalogues, archival inventories, online
catalogues, digital databases and
other traditional and digital resources
relevant to restorative dentistry.
2. Subject-specific skills development,
e.g. caries prevention, diagnosis and
management, current restorative
techniques for individual teeth,
endodontics, occlusal aspects of
restorative care, periodontology,
dental implants, dental radiology and
imaging, applied dental materials
science, and others. The
socioeconomic aspects of providing
dental care, such as employment law,
NHS and third party remuneration
systems, health and safety
regulations relevant to general dental
practice, including COSSH
assessments and application within
the workplace, practice design,
business planning and insurance
responsibilities.
3. Insight into research and dissertation
of research results; an appreciation
of the effort required to produce a
report to a high standard of
presentation; appreciation of the
strengths and limitations of research.
Acquisition of 1. through seminars and lectures;
consultation of printed and/or digital catalogues
in research libraries, notably the British Dental
Association, British Medical Association,
Eastman Dental Institute, Science Library,
Senate House Library and the British Library.
Acquisition of 2. through lectures, seminars and
practical work in the Skills Laboratory and
clinical practice in the student’s workplace.
Assessment is via appraisal meetings, clinical
case presentations and practice logbook
examination. .
Acquisition of 3. through a supervised
investigation culminating in a research report or
dissertation submitted for assessment.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed by a variety of
methods: ‘unseen’ written and oral examinations,
long essays, course work, practical work, case
presentations, logbooks and a dissertation. The
last mentioned is a required method of
assessment.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The programme aims to help students:
(a) Extend knowledge and skills in
restorative dentistry beyond the
levels achieved in the undergraduate
dental curriculum in preparation for
advanced clinical practice, teaching
or clinical research.
(b) Familiarise participants with the
evidence base for current clinical
practice in restorative dentistry, with
a view to enhancing the quality and
longevity of restorative care provided
for their patients.
(c) Question interpretations, however
authoritative, and reassess evidence
for themselves.
Acquisition of (a), (b) and (c) is fostered in all
courses offered in the Programme, in that all
courses will introduce information that will need
to be assessed critically and will demonstrate
how conflicting interpretations can arise from the
same information. The goal should centre on
‘best practice’ in terms of patient care.
Assessment:
Through ‘unseen’ written and oral examinations,
practical and course work, long essays and a
research report or dissertation. The latter is a
required method of assessment.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
When consulted by a patient whose clinical
problems require the co-ordinated application
of a variety of advanced restorative
procedures, the successful candidate should
be able to:
1. Identify the anamnestic information,
diagnostic examinations and special
investigations required. Perform such
and/or make appropriate referrals to other
medical or dental specialists. Evaluate the
results obtained.
2. Develop at least one treatment plan,
including an organised sequence for the
delivery of the proposed care, which
recognises the need for continuous
reassessment of the patient’s response to
procedures as they are provided.
3. Defend the selection of treatment methods
and the plan of treatment by reference to
the relevant dental and scientific literature,
demonstrating an awareness of methods
for the location and retrieval of up-to date
clinical and research publications to enable
evidence-based clinical management.
4. Analyse his or her personal needs in
respect of continuing professional
development and education. Identify
resources which may be used to satisfy
these and play an active role both in the
delivery and receipt of such education
throughout the professional career whether
by personal scholarship, formal
educational activity or involvement in
research.
Lectures, tutorials and seminars.
Skills laboratory work to assess the graduate
student under standardised and simplified
conditions, in the most common procedures and
techniques and subsequently to improve their
technical skills
Distance learning comprising independent study
with staff feedback on assigned elements.
Setting of clear deadlines for the submission of
written essays.
Mentored dentistry encouraging clinical case
discussion thereby developing diagnostic skills
and treatment planning ability.
Supervised preparation of a dissertation.
Each text based module will:
� be authored and edited by Eastman staff;
� include maintenance of a learning log to be
assessed at specified intervals and on
completion;
� refer to other reading material and approved
web locations;
Clinical simulation programmes will:
� take place in an established postgraduate
environment;
� use patient simulators (“phantom heads”)
and other skills laboratory facilities;
� comprise practical tasks that complement
associated self-study;
� provide favourable staff/graduate student
ratios for individual tuition and validation of
self-assessment.
Clinical practice will be:
� undertaken at remote facilities, usually the
graduate’s own practice; ;
� supervised by trainers using prescribed
clinical data sets including photographs,
dental casts, radiographs and notes;
increasingly digital media will be used
facilitating distance mentoring;
� assessed utilising a
standardised log book;
� required to lead to submission of detailed
case reports of selected cases for
assessment by internal and external
examiners.
Assessment:
By staff and student self-appraisal, ‘unseen’
written and oral examination, logbook appraisal,
long-essays and dissertation. The latter is a
required method of assessment.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
The programme will encourage students to:
1. Evaluate existing knowledge and
skills, including areas of deficiency
and personal needs for future
development.
2. Build upon the knowledge of the
principles of clinical procedures by
directed reading of the dental
literature.
3. Establish patient-centred treatment
objectives and recognition of
obstacles to their achievement.
4. Enhance practical operative skills.
5. Establish a framework for critical self
assessment
of results achieved,
identifying common faults and
strategies for their avoidance.
6. Where relevant, promote effective
working relationships with other
members of the dental team and in
particular the dental laboratory
technician.
7. Be familiar with the scientific basis for
restorative dental practice.
Recognise the various types of
publication and assess their value.
8. Locate and access relevant sources
within learning support networks and
resources required for future
learning.
9. Where relevant to clinical
applications, explain how physical
and chemical characteristics of
materials lead to fitness for purpose
and how they may be tested.
10. Be familiar with the range of
materials available for restorative
dentistry and explore the importance
of their proper manipulation to
achieve satisfactory results.
11. Have knowledge of the practice
environment, having particular regard
for the legal and regulatory
framework and clinical audit.
12. Enable an appreciation of the effort
required to produce a research report
to a high standard of presentation
Teaching/learning methods and
strategies:
Lectures, tutorials and seminars.
Skills laboratory work to assess the graduate
student under standardised and simplified
conditions, in the most common procedures and
techniques and subsequently to improve their
technical skills
Distance learning comprising independent study
with staff feedback on assigned elements.
Setting of clear deadlines for the submission of
written essays.
Mentored dentistry encouraging clinical case
discussion thereby developing diagnostic skills
and treatment planning ability.
Supervised preparation of a dissertation.
Assessment:
By staff and student self-appraisal, ‘unseen’
written and oral examination, logbook appraisal,
long-essays and dissertation. The latter is a
required method of assessment.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Dr C Louca
Name(s):
Date of Production:
June 2007
Date of Review:
December 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
December 2015
December 2015