Explore this course:
Applications for 2024 entry are now open. Apply now or register your interest to hear about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.
Orthodontics
School of Clinical Dentistry,
Faculty of Health
Course description
The aim of this programme is to enable dental graduates to gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities to become specialist orthodontists who can independently treat a wide range of malocclusions. You will be able to develop evidence-based and critical approaches that are essential to working in the field of orthodontics.
You will learn how to diagnose and manage most conditions pertaining to orthodontics, and understand the role of orthodontics in developing a comprehensive treatment strategy and plan for an individual patient. You will also develop your critical appraisal skills by evaluating information in dental literature.
A significant part of your degree will involve patients who are allocated to you for management in the Orthodontic Department of the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital or other clinical centres you might be attached to.
At appropriate times in the course, you will also attend joint clinics with other specialities such as Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery/Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Paediatric Dentistry.
Accreditation
Dental graduates who successfully complete the DClinDent programme in Orthodontics will be awarded the DClinDent (Orthodontics) and will be eligible to sit the Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth) specialist membership examination from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow or the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Modules
- Clinical Orthodontic Practice Programme I
-
This module will provide the clinical experience to start developing the key skills required of a specialist in orthodontics, including the diagnosis, treatment planning and management of patients with moderate occlusal anomalies. By the end of the module the student will know how to obtain accurate orthodontic records and communicate with patients and their parents about orthodontic treatment. The student will display some expertise in clinical orthodontic problem solving and treatment planning, adjusting orthodontic appliances and monitoring of orthodontic treatment progress.
90 credits - Principles of Clinical Orthodontic Practice I
-
This unit aims to develop a student¿s fundamental knowledge and understanding of specialist orthodontic practice, including the diagnosis and aetiology of common malocclusions, the importance of facial growth, cephalometric analysis and principles of orthodontic treatment planning and mechanics.
30 credits - Principles of Clinical Management
-
This module introduces the basic concepts of clinical management of a patient including clinical governance, cross-infection control and radiology.
15 credits - Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis: Principles Online
-
The purpose of this unit is to enable students to understand the principles of systematic review. It covers the defining characteristics and application of systematic reviews; how to search for and select relevant evidence; how to quality assess primary research articles; the key issues that may generate bias; and the general principles governing evidence synthesis.
15 credits - Research Methods in Clinical Dentistry
-
Research methods are a key part of clinical dentistry. This unit will aim to introduce students to patient-centred research methods and will include evidence-based dentistry, critical appraisal, research governance and ethics, quantitative and qualitative research methods, statistical appraisal of research reports.
15 credits - Introduction to Statistics and Critical Appraisal
-
The unit introduces students to basic concepts and techniques such as hypothesis testing and confidence interval estimation in statistics. Students will learn some simple statistical methods and the principles behind some advanced methods such as regression. It will equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and critically appraise statistics in research literature.The course is not aimed at 'doers' of statistics, that is, students who are going to design their own studies to collect and analyse their own data. It will not teach you how to analyse, present and report your own data.
15 credits
- Principles of Clinical Orthodontics II
-
The aim of this module is to introduce the student to the more complex issues of specialist orthodontic care including the biomechanics and monitoring of orthodontic treatment, orthodontic retention and inter-disciplinary management of patients, as well as aspects of managing a specialist orthodontic practice.
30 credits - Orthodontic Case Studies
-
This module will enable the student to have a deep understanding of orthodontic treatment planning and monitoring of the progress of orthodontic treatment.
30 credits - Clinical Orthodontic Practice Programme II
-
This module will provide the clinical experience to further develop the key skills of a specialist in orthodontics, including diagnosis, treatment planning and management of patients with moderate-to-severe occlusal anomalies. By the end of the module the student will be competent at obtaining accurate orthodontic records, communicating with patients and their parents about orthodontic treatment, adjusting orthodontic appliances and monitoring of orthodontic treatment progress. The student will understand the principles of clinical orthodontic problem solving and treatment planning.
90 credits - Research Project Literature Review
-
Research is key to the practice of clinical dentistry. This unit will introduce students to the background reading and critical appraisal of the literature related to their chosen project.
30 credits
- Clinical Orthodontic Practice Programme III
-
This module will provide the clinical experience to achieve the key skills of a specialist in orthodontics, including the diagnosis, treatment planning and management of patients with moderate-to-severe occlusal anomalies. By the end of the module the student will be proficient at all the tasks necessary for the successful completion of specialist orthodontic treatment, including obtaining accurate orthodontic records, communicating with patients and their parents about orthodontic treatment, adjusting orthodontic appliances, monitoring of orthodontic treatment progress, as well as clinical orthodontic problem solving and treatment planning.
90 credits - Orthodontic Thesis
-
This unit will introduce students to the aspects of a research project involving data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting in the form of a thesis.
90 credits
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
You may also be able to pre-book a department visit as part of a campus tour.Open days and campus tours
Duration
3 years full-time
Teaching
This course is taught through a range of lectures, tutorials, seminars, clinical training and reflective, personal learning. You will take part in experiential clinical learning, computer-based learning and case-based discussions.
In total, your studies are scheduled for a minimum of 40 hours a week, 40 weeks a year, and total 4,800 scheduled hours for three years. Clinical treatment hours are never less than 16 hours per week (not including clinical seminars and discussion of treatment plans), with a minimal number of 2,000 hours over the three-year period devoted to clinical practice (including preclinical course works).
Assessment
You will be assessed through written, short answer examinations, clinical oral examinations, and your thesis.
Your career
This programme includes all the features of the UK Specialist Curriculum and Specialist Training Programme in Orthodontics approved by the UK General Dental Council. It is a three-year programme, which is usually sufficient for recognition of specialist status. Completion of specialist training in the UK is marked by successful completion of one of the Membership examinations of the Royal College of Surgeons (MOrth) or their agreed equivalent.
Throughout the course, students are encouraged to develop a sense of professional interest and enquiry, which they can maintain throughout their careers via Continuing Professional Development.
Entry requirements
A university-accredited degree in dental surgery that enables the practice of dentistry and a minimum of two years post-qualification experience in general dental practice.
An MFDS, MJDF or equivalent is also required.
You must also meet our health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requirements for clinical courses.
Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
dentalpgtadmissions@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9318 or +44 114 215 9319
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.