MSc (Clin) Periodontology / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Our three-year MSc (Clin) 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 and the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Treatment of Cranio-Facial Anomalies.

Our course is also designed to prepare you to become a Member in Restorative Dentistry through the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Aims

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 audiences;
  • competence in the design and interpretation of original clinical research at the forefront of current dental 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.

Teaching and learning

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

Coursework and assessment

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.

Course unit details

There are four parts to this course:

  • Research Methods
  • Biostatistics
  • Specialist Clinical Component
  • Dissertation.

Course content for Year 1

  • Basic science of applied periodontology (15 credits)
  • Diagnosis and treatment planning (15 credits)
  • Non-surgical treatment (15 credits)
  • Adjunctive treatments and antimicrobials (15 credits)
  • Oral health and disease in populations (15 credits)
  • Research methods (15 credits)
  • Biostatistics (15 credits)
  • Clinical case reflection and presentation I (15 credits)

Course content for Year 2

  • Management of complicating factors (15 credits)
  • Periodontal surgery (15 credits)
  • Advanced diagnosis and treatment planning (15 credits)
  • Clinical case reflection and presentation II (15 credits)
  • Dissertation (undertaken during semester one and two) (60 credits)

Course content for Year 3

  • Mucogingival surgery (15 credits)
  • Implant basic science (15 credits)
  • Implant treatment planning (15 credits)
  • Basic Implant surgical and restorative techniques (15 credits)
  • Advanced Implant surgical and restorative techniques (15 credits)
  • Peri-implant lesions (15 credits)
  • Advanced (implant) regenerative techniques (15 credits)
  • Clinical case reflection and presentation III (15 credits)

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
Research Methods DENT61010 15 Mandatory
Basic Implant Surgical & Restorative Techniques 2 DENT61132 15 Mandatory
Implant Basic Sciences DENT61141 15 Mandatory
Implant Treatment Planning DENT61152 15 Mandatory
Basic Implant Surg & Rest Tech 1 DENT61161 15 Mandatory
Biostatistics DENT70001 15 Mandatory
Basic Science of Applied Periodontology DENT71011 15 Mandatory
Diagnosis & Treatment Planning DENT71021 15 Mandatory
Non-Surgical Management DENT71031 15 Mandatory
Adjunctive Treatments & Antimicrobials DENT71041 15 Mandatory
Clinical Case Reflection and Presentation I DENT72042 15 Mandatory
Management of Complicating Factors DENT73011 15 Mandatory
Periodontal Surgery DENT73021 15 Mandatory
Advanced Diagnosis and Treatment Planning DENT74012 15 Mandatory
Clinical Case Reflection and Presentation II DENT74022 15 Mandatory
Mucogingival Surgery DENT75011 15 Mandatory
Peri-Implant Lesions DENT76022 15 Mandatory
Advanced (Implant) Regenerative Techniques DENT76032 15 Mandatory
Clinical Case Reflection and Presentation III DENT76043 15 Mandatory
Oral Health & Disease in Populations POPH76061 15 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 21 course units

Scholarships and bursaries

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

Facilities

The majority of clinical activity takes place within the Manchester Dental Hospital. 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.

Disability support

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

CPD opportunities

We will invite you to participate in a number of conferences and courses. Some selected seminars will also provide you with CPD hours.