Overview

Oral health is fundamental to general health, personal confidence, and overall community wellbeing across every stage of life. The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Hons) at Adelaide University offers a comprehensive clinical and scientific pathway designed to prepare skilled, compassionate dental practitioners. Students train in state-of-the-art facilities, including the Adelaide Dental Hospital and a modern Dental Simulation Clinic equipped with advanced simulation technology. From the first year of study, learners undertake compulsory clinical placements across hospital, community, and regional environments to manage real-life patient cases. The curriculum combines rigorous biomedical instruction with hands-on practice, problem-based learning, and community outreach initiatives. This degree suits dedicated, detail-oriented individuals with strong interpersonal skills who are passionate about improving lives through preventive and restorative oral healthcare. Graduates emerge equipped with the practical expertise and ethical foundation required to diagnose, treat, and prevent complex dental conditions.

What You'll Learn

Dental science, human biology, oro-facial anatomy, and cranial physiology

Pharmacology, local anaesthesia, and clinical management of medical emergencies in dental practice

Diagnostic techniques, preventive dentistry, periodontology, and restorative oral health procedures

Pre-clinical training in the Dental Simulation Clinic utilizing real-life case scenarios and digital dental tools

Extensive clinical placements in metropolitan, rural, and community health settings starting from year one

Professional communication, team-based patient care, clinical decision-making, and dental public health

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will possess a sophisticated, multi-scale understanding of oral health sciences, ranging from micro-level craniofacial anatomy, microbiology, and pathology to macro-level dental public health and clinical patient management. Through extensive hands-on experience in simulation labs and supervised clinical environments, students develop advanced practical proficiency in delivering preventive, restorative, and surgical dental treatments across diverse patient demographics. The program equips learners to critically evaluate diagnostic data, apply evidence-based principles to complex clinical cases, and utilize modern dental technologies safely and effectively. Furthermore, students cultivate high standards of ethical reasoning, patient communication, and collaborative healthcare delivery within multidisciplinary teams. By establishing a robust clinical and scientific foundation, graduates are fully prepared for general practice or further specialization in fields such as orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, or special needs dentistry.