Postgraduate Diploma in Special Care Dentistry

Course Description:

The Postgraduate Diploma course provides training in clinical special care dentistry to enable dentists to deliver primary care both safely and independently to this patient group. In addition, it aims to deliver a comprehensive education in the theoretical principles of special care dentistry and develop an ability to critically analyze professional literature. The course leads to the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Special Care Dentistry (P.Grad.Dip. in Special Care Dentistry).

The curriculum is designed to enable postgraduate students, including dental practitioners who work in general dental practice as well as community and hospital dental services, to achieve the intended learning outcomes of the course.  The course consists of seven core (compulsory) modules as follows:

Biological sciences of relevance to Special Care Dentistry (10 ECTS)

Concepts of health, impairment functioning and disability (5 ECTS)

Concepts of oral health, impairment and disability (10 ECTS)

Clinical Special Care Dentistry (15 ECTS)

Oral health care planning and oral health promotion for individuals and groups (10 ECTS)

Professional Literature Appraisal (5 ECTS)

Legislation, Ethics and Clinical Governance (5 ECTS)

In addition to the course of study and examinations, a student must present an essay-based project on barriers to care, and a related presentation, a professional literature review of a topic, clinical competencies and submit a project on health delivery models. A student must also submit a portfolio based on a reflective logbook of all cases seen as part of the course as well as selected cases from their own independent practice demonstrating application of knowledge and practical skills obtained through this course. Satisfactory attendance at all aspects of the course is compulsory. A Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Special Care Dentistry is awarded on passing all components of the course. The Diploma will be unclassified but a Distinction will be awarded if a combined mark of at least 70% is obtained across all modules.

Admission Requirements:

Practitioners must hold a Bachelors Degree in Dental Science or its equivalent , registerable with the Dental Council of Ireland, for at least two years. Students have a responsibility to have valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from certified bodies for the duration of the course. Furthermore, students must possess their own professional indemnity insurance and present evidence of satisfactory seroconversion against Hepatitis B virus and a recent negative hepatitis C antibody test. Applicants will also be required to undergo Garda (Police) Vetting.  Applicants will be required to provide nursing support for all their IV sedation sessions.

The current cost for this course is €12,000 (EU student), €10,000 payable to Trinity College and €2,000 bench fee paid to Dublin Dental University Hospital.  The next course is due to commence in January 2013.  For information on how to apply online see: www.tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate/az/course.php?id=DPDDE-SCDE-1P01 .  Closing date is 30th September 2012. 

Contact us:

Course Director

Professor June Nunn – June.Nunn@dental.tcd.ie  

Course Administrator

Ms Catherine Creagh - 01-6127354 or catherine.creagh@dental.tcd.ie