To enable registered dental practitioners to develop their skills in assessment and diagnosis of endodontic disease.
To enable registered dental practitioners to critically appraise the treatment options for patients with endodontic disease, and successfully carry out the required treatment.
To enable registered dental practitioners to avoid iatrogenic damage during treatment, and to successfully resolve endodontic treatment failures.
Why study this course?
This is a unique course in the North West, which enables registered dental practitioners to further develop their skills in endodontics. There will be opportunities for practitioners undertaking this programme to take the subject further into a full MSc Endodontics.
Features
Taught by registered dental practitioners with higher qualifications in endodontics, this programme offers a mix of theory and practice. The practice part takes place in skills laboratories, with simulation sessions using endodontic equipment.
International students- please click here to obtain more information about this course
The programme consists of 6 modules, each of 20 credits at Master level and a 60 credit dissertation. These must be done in the required sequence:
1. Principles of Endodontics
This module gives an overview of contemporary endodontic treatment, diagnostic techniques, and commences teaching the requisite practical skills.
2. Endodontic Treatment
This module aims to further develop practitioners’ endodontic techniques, and to analyse the role of medication in endodontic therapy.
3. Referral Endodontics
The aims of this module are as follows:
To understand the concept of success and failure in endodontics, and manage endodontic treatment failures
To highlight the concept of the restoration of the endodontically treated tooth and the importance of the coronal seal
To understand the risk factors for iatrogenic damage during treatment and how procedural misadventures can be managed
To understand the inter-relationship between trauma, endodontics and root resorption, and its management
To highlight the relationship between endodontic and periodontal disease
4. Innovations in Endodontics
The aims of this module are as follows:
To offer students the opoortunioty to explore and evaluate a range of new techniques and/or materials for use in Endodontics.
To question the evidence base for innovations in Endontology
5. Research
6. Endodontic Microscopy
This module aims to build on knowledge and skills gained during the Postgraduate Certificate in Endodontology. It will cover those areas of endodontics that most benefit from the use of enhanced magnifcation and illumination, such as:-
Management of MTA in the repair of perforations, the management of MTA in the closure of open apices cases, location and safe exploration of sclerosed canals, retrieval of fractured dental instruments for root canals.
To provide an in-depth evaluation of the history of the dental microscrope in endodontology, it indications for use, its advantages and disadvantages.
To make recommendations on current best practice for its clinical use.
7. Dissertation
Modules may not be taken as stand-alone modules, and students must successfully complete all three modules to achieve the award. The sequencing of the modules allows students to progress logically from basic endodontic assessment, diagnosis and treatment, to more complex and difficult cases requiring advanced clinical decision making skills.
Practice skills are developed through the use of simulation using artificial models. The programme is not assessed in clinical practice, but it is suggested that practitioners are supported by means of a buddy system, as detailed below:
The buddy system is a useful process of facilitating development of an already experienced and knowledgeable learner who is capable of a high degree of independent learning and self evaluation.
It utilises an experienced peer to support the learner through an identified developmental period and beyond. It differs from mentorship or supervision in that the buddy does not formally assess competence, but rather facilitates its development through support, demonstration and coaching where applicable. Examples of how a buddy arrangement might work are:
Dedicating time and opportunities for the dentist learner to observe how the buddy conducts a 'consultation/interview' and examination of the patient, and the development of a subsequent management plan.
Responding to opportunities which allow in-depth discussion and analysis of clinical management using a random case analysis approach, when treatment can be examined further.
Facilitating student learning by encouraging critical thinking and reflection on own clinical and technical skills.
Allowing the student to carry out procedures and suggest clinical management options, which are then discussed during a case review.
The buddy does not have to be geographically located in the same area as the learner; however, there should be sufficient ease of meeting to allow the relationship to be genuinely supportive and easily enhance the learning.
To achieve a postgraduate certificate, students must acquire the following 60 Level 7 credits.
Code
Level
Module Name
Credits
Single Honours
Major
Minor
Equal
NM7900
7
Principles of Endodontics
20
Comp.
N/A
N/A
N/A
NM7901
7
Endodontic Treatment
20
Comp.
N/A
N/A
N/A
NM7902
7
Referral Endodontics
20
Comp.
N/A
N/A
N/A
To achieve a postgraduate diploma, students must acquire 120 Level 7 credits (those from postgraduate certificate and those listed below).
Code
Level
Module Name
Credits
Single Honours
Major
Minor
Equal
NM7903
7
Innovations in Endodontics
20
Comp.
N/A
N/A
N/A
NM7904
7
Endodontic Microscopy
20
Comp.
N/A
N/A
N/A
NM7069
7
Research
20
Comp.
N/A
N/A
N/A
To achieve the MSc, students must achieve 180 Level 7 credits (those from postgraduate diploma and those listed below).
The assessment methods include a critical literature review of an aspect of endodontics, OSCES, case studies from practice, reflective analysis and an essay.
These are chosen to ensure that practitioners have an understanding of the evidence base for endodontic techniques, are able to distinguish between differential diagnoses and apply relevant techniques, and are competent in practice.
The assessment will be marked by the module leader, and second marked by a subject specialist. Students will be allowed one resubmission of each failed element, but must pass all parts of the assessment in each module to receive the award.
It is a requirement that students self assess their own learning by means of a multiple choice question paper, accessed online, at intervals through the programme.
Applicants must be registered dental practitioners. Potential students will be encouraged to take a self-assessment prior to starting the course to establish their need for academic support at Master's level.
UK applicants: Applicants must:
- Be qualified as a Dental surgeon and have a licence to practise dentistry.
- Be registered with the General Dental Council and have a current annual practice certificate.
- Be in professional practice or have a hospital appointment for the duration of the programme.
- Be registered with a Defence Union and possess indemnity insurance with cover at an appropriate level.
Overseas applicants:
- Will be considered on an individual basis.
All applicants:
- Be qualified at IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent if English is not first language.
