Overview

Mastering the clinical skills, biological sciences, and patient management strategies required to deliver comprehensive oral healthcare is essential for preventing, diagnosing, and treating dental and oral diseases. The BCHD Dental Surgery (with BSc Joint Award) at University of Leeds, accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), delivers a comprehensive, integrated clinical dental education within the School of Dentistry. The curriculum combines fundamental biomedical science—including head and neck anatomy, oral pathology, and microbiology—with early hands-on clinical exposure at Leeds Dental Institute and regional NHS healthcare trusts. Students develop practical clinical capabilities in state-of-the-art haptic simulation suites, digital dentistry units, and phantom head laboratories. The degree incorporates a built-in BSc Joint Award in Oral Science, enabling scholars to conduct scientific research while mastering restorative dentistry, periodontology, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, and orthodontics. This program is ideally suited for compassionate, manual-dexterous problem-solvers dedicated to high-standard patient care and oral health advocacy.

What You'll Learn

• Fundamental biomedical sciences, including head and neck anatomy, physiology, oral histology, pharmacology, and oral pathology

• Core dental disciplines, covering restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontology, prosthodontics, and tooth morphology

• Clinical oral surgery, dental local anesthesia, tooth extraction protocols, and acute dental emergency management

• Pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, preventive dentistry, and community oral health management across diverse patient demographics

• Digital dentistry workflows, haptic simulation training, CAD/CAM restorations, and modern intraoral imaging technologies

• Patient-centered care, clinical communication techniques, medical history taking, and managing dentally anxious patients

• Clinical placement experience in primary and secondary healthcare settings, treating patients under direct clinical supervision

• Evidence-based dentistry methodologies, critical appraisal of dental research, and clinical audit design

• Joint Award research dissertation focusing on oral biosciences, clinical materials testing, or dental public health service evaluation

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will fulfill all educational and professional competencies required to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a qualified Dentist. They will demonstrate the clinical competence to perform comprehensive oral examinations, diagnose dental diseases, construct evidence-based treatment plans, and execute precise operative dental procedures safely. Students acquire strong technical abilities in restorative techniques, surgical extractions, patient care management, and infection control through early patient contact and extensive clinical training. Furthermore, learners master the ability to communicate empathetic, clear advice to patients and collaborate within multi-disciplinary healthcare teams. Through integrated research training and diverse clinical placements, scholars cultivate the clinical judgment, professional ethics, and technical dexterity needed to excel in NHS dental practices, private dental clinics, hospital dental services, specialist oral surgery units, or postgraduate academic research.