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A Degree for Dental Care Professionals

Barbara Alice Brown, Principal Lecturer Learning and Teaching, University of Central Lancashire
Address for Correspondence: School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, University of Central Lancashire, PRESTON, PR12HE
e-mail: babrown@uclan.ac.uk

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has developed a range of courses for registered dental hygienists and dental therapists that will provide expert training to achieve GDC Scope competencies whilst also achieving a range of academic qualifications, leading to a BSc (Hons) in Dental Studies (Dental Care Professionals).
The courses have been developed to allow DCPs to continue working, while they study.

Applicants will be able to select modules that reflect their interests and will provide a thorough grounding in the scientific basis of the topics as well as support for skills development. The available modules include:

  • Advanced Periodontics
  • Advanced sedation, anaesthesia and anxiety management
  • Advanced Restorative Practice
  • Advanced Paediatric Dental Care
  • Leadership Skills (E-Learning)
  • Research Skills (E-Learning)
  • Facilitating Learning in Healthcare Practice
  • Dissertation

Modules can be studied alone, to achieve a University Certificate covering specific competencies within the GDC Scope of Practice, or in combination to achieve higher awards. DCPs can study sufficient modules to acquire the full degree or just select the modules that give them the Scope competencies they want to develop.

A study by Bullock et al (2007) suggested that many activities undertaken by dentists and DCPs as Continuing Professional Development were less than useful. CPD activity that is grounded in developing the practice of DCPs and leads to University qualifications will always have value.

A degree shows evidence that the degree-holder (a graduate) is likely to have some special attributes. The attributes usually associated with being a graduate include:

  • Problem-solving ability – including the ability to identify and analyse  complex problems and issues, and help to solve them in a systematic way, using the best solutions available, based on current evidence. Graduates may also instigate developments, because they will tend to look for better ways to do things.
  • Critical understanding – the ability to give reasons and evidence for actions, based on current evidence, but with an awareness that as knowledge changes through research, practice has to change too. Graduates learn to be flexible and willing to change.
  • Familiarity with advanced techniques and skills  - graduates should be in a position to take full advantage of new developments as they arise
  • An understanding of the need for a high level of ethical, social, cultural, environmental and wider professional conduct – so graduates should be aware of the implications of their behaviour and that of their colleagues. (Haigh and Clifford 2010)

When looking at this list, these attributes seem both important and relevant to the work of DCPs, now and in the future.

UCLan intends to deliver the modules leading to the degree in a flexible way, for example on Saturday mornings or by E-Learning, to enable DCPs to continue to work as they study. All applicants will be interviewed to ascertain what they wish to study and how many modules they need to study, if they wish to acquire a degree. Those DCPs who already have a Diploma in Higher Education by virtue of their qualification to become a dental hygienist or dental therapist would need to gain 120 level 6 credits to be awarded the degree. For example a dental therapist with a Dip HE could choose to study the 40 credit Advanced Restorative Practice module, the 40 credit Advanced Periodontics module and write a 40 credit dissertation and obtain the degree through 18 months of part-time study.

The School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education at UCLan is committed to meeting the educational needs of the dental team and this degree provides a major step forward for DCPs.

References

Bullock A, Firmstone V, Frame J, Bedward J (2007) Enhancing the benefit of continuing professional development: a randomised controlled study of personal development plans for dentists Learning in Health and Social Care 6:1 pp14-26

General Dental Council (2009) Scope of Practice GDC, London

Haigh M , Clifford V (2010) Widening the Graduate Attribute Debate: a Higher Education for Global Citizenship Brookes E-journal of learning and teaching : February 2010 in Volume 2, Issue 5 accessed June 1st 2011.