MSc (Clin) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Our three-year MSc (Clin) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery course enables dentists to train in the diagnosis and management of diseases, injuries and defects affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.

All academic units are based on the speciality of oral surgery, but within the wider context of oral and maxillofacial surgery. You will undertake minor oral surgery under supervision, carried out under local anaesthesia, conscious sedation and general anaesthesia. You will also attend theatre to assist and observe major surgery and attend consultation clinics, trauma clinics, ward rounds and carry out ward duties.

The clinical component of the course consists of units covering surgical basic sciences, reflective oral surgery practices, dental tissues, bone disease and injury, soft tissues, and salivary tissue, pain and the temporomandibular joint.

You will attend weekly interactive seminars led by senior staff and invited guest and international speakers. Some of these have actor patients present to allow you to rehearse your clinical skills.

If you study the full three-year MSc, you will also attend external teaching events such as residential blocks for basic science applied to surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

The course infers eligibility to sit at the Tricollegiate Membership examination in Oral Surgery (MOral Surg) of the Royal College of Surgeons on completion of this MSc course.

Aims

The course aims to:

  • provide dental practitioners with the knowledge and skills to undertake oral surgery in the context of wider knowledge of oral and maxillofacial surgery;
  • provide you with the appropriate knowledge, understanding, intellectual skills, practical skills and attitude to practice oral surgery in selected cases;
  • enable you to carry out critical evaluation, problem solving and use sound judgement for clinical problems;
  • give you the knowledge to critically understand the issues involved in the scientific basis of oral and maxillofacial surgery;
  • ensure you are competent in the design and interpretation of original clinical research at the forefront of current dental research (including data collection and statistical analysis using appropriate computer software);
  • provide you with the knowledge and experience to plan, implement and complete a research project showing initiative and personal responsibility.

Teaching and learning

Key academic staff

Coursework and assessment

  • 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 and undertake 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.
  • Clinical component: This is assessed by a viva voce.
  • Dissertation (10,000-15,000 words).

Course unit details

Research Methods Component (15 credits): The aim is to equip you with skills related to design, execution and interpretation of clinical and clinically-related research.

Biostatistics component (15 credits): This unit aims to equip you with skills in data collection, simple analysis and interpretation of clinical and clinically related research.

Specialist Clinical Component: The aim of this component is to 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 adult patients.

The Specialist Clinical Component encompasses the following:

  •  Core lectures and e-learning to include:
    •  Medical emergency management
    • Cross infection control
    • Radiological protection
    • Clinical governance
  • Interactive seminars related to oral and maxillofacial surgery
  • Pre-clinical surgical skills courses
  • Attendance of consultation clinics, theatre and minor oral surgery and IV sedation lists
  • Case reviews

Dissertation

Course content for year 1

Additional teaching and learning specific to the three year course:

  • Three or more clinical sessions per week (3 hours each)
  • Head and Neck Anatomy
  • Royal College Surgeons of England

Course content for year 2

  • Three or more clinical sessions per week (3 hours each)
  • Clinical Photography
  • Implantology course
  • British Association of Oral Surgeons Conference
  • Annual UK Scientific Conference (2 days residential)
  • Association of Dental Implantology (ADI)
  • ABAOMS UK Annual Meeting (2 days residential)

Course content for year 3

  • Three or more clinical sessions per week (3 hours each)
  • British Association of Oral Surgeons Conference
  • Annual UK Scientific Conference (2 days residential)
  • Association of Dental Implantology (ADI)

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
MSc Dissertation DENT60020 60 Mandatory
Surgical Basic Sciences & Patient Care DENT60961 15 Mandatory
Dental Tissues DENT60971 15 Mandatory
Bone: Disease and Injury DENT60992 15 Mandatory
Soft Tissue DENT61002 15 Mandatory
Research Methods DENT61010 15 Mandatory
Salivary Tissue, Pain TMJ DENT61012 15 Mandatory
Reflective Oral Surgery Practice DENT61252 15 Mandatory
Biostatistics DENT70001 15 Mandatory

Scholarships and bursaries

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Facilities

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

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

CPD opportunities

Some selected seminars will provide you with CPD hours.