Overview

Dentistry combines scientific knowledge with precise manual skill, and it plays a vital part in maintaining people's health and quality of life. The BDS (Hons) Dental Surgery course at the University of Lancashire is built around learning dentistry within the community, with students based in primary care settings and gaining real-world experience from the very start. Early patient contact runs alongside teaching that makes imaginative use of IT and e-learning, an approach recognised by the General Dental Council as innovative. Clinical skills are developed in a Phantom Head training room, which is among the most modern in Europe and is fitted with advanced audio-visual technology. Small class sizes create a close, interactive learning environment where students receive regular support from their teaching team. The course is delivered by the School of Medicine and Dentistry and prepares students for the responsibilities of the Dental Foundation year. It suits those committed to a career in clinical dentistry who want to build practical confidence early and graduate ready to treat patients.

What You'll Learn

Clinical dental skills practised in a simulated Phantom Head environment

Dentistry delivered within primary care and the local community

Early patient contact and the fundamentals of patient care

Restorative dentistry and oral surgery

Medical sciences, including pharmacology as it relates to dental practice

Research methods, supported by online learning

Preparation for the responsibilities of the Dental Foundation year

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have developed a broad understanding of the biomedical and clinical sciences that underpin safe and effective dental practice, together with the technical ability to apply them in the treatment of patients. Time spent in primary care and in the Phantom Head training room will give them confident hands-on clinical skills, while early patient contact will strengthen their communication and professional judgement in real settings. They will be able to critically appraise research evidence and apply research methods to questions arising in dentistry, drawing on the course's use of digital and e-learning resources. Learning within the local community will help them recognise the wider social factors that influence oral health and adapt their care accordingly. Teaching from clinicians and specialists across areas such as oral surgery and restorative dentistry allows students to build depth in key disciplines. Graduates will be prepared to take on the responsibility of treating patients as a Dental Foundation Trainee, a role secured by every graduate of the programme since 2011.