MSc (Clin) Orthodontics

Course description

Our three-year MSc (Clin) Orthodontics course combines the taught elements and research of an MSc degree with mandatory clinical training to enable you to develop the practical skills and knowledge you need to carry out contemporary orthodontic treatment techniques.

You will learn about the theory behind orthodontics through small group sessions, seminars, practical skills training, online learning and student-led enhancement sessions.

The clinical training part of the course involves attendance at clinics at the University and associated hospital trusts. During this time, you will provide treatment for approximately 150 carefully selected patients with severe malocclusions under direct supervision of consultant orthodontists.

You will also undergo training in research methods and biostatistics to help you plan and implement the research project that will form the basis of your dissertation, receiving guidance from highly experienced researchers in the process.

The research topic will examine an issue of relevance to your future work and will also provide the basis for a refereed publication.

Successfully completing this MSc (Clin) course will make you eligible to sit the Royal College of Surgeons exams for Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth).

Aims

The aim of the taught clinical component is to give you an understanding of the scientific basis of orthodontics. There is a particular emphasis on current thinking relevant to the diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical management of patients.

Teaching and learning

Teaching will include tutorials, seminars and clinical demonstrations. You are encouraged to attend other relevant seminars in other clinical disciplines to gain a broad perspective of orthodontics.

Instruction will also be given in clinical and laboratory aspects of orthodontics. These will take the form of demonstrations, seminars and practical laboratory exercises.

Career opportunities

Orthodontics is a fascinating, stimulating specialty that offers a number of career opportunities.

Orthodontists enjoy their clinical work and this can be undertaken in a specialist practice setting funded either through a state-run scheme, eg the NHS, or in a private setting where treatment is funded directly by the patients. Some countries adopt a third party payment system where all or part of the treatment cost is met by an insurance scheme.

In addition to their clinical role, many orthodontists also have an interest in teaching and research. These teaching roles can be part-time in combination with clinical work, or full-time. In the research field, orthodontists have followed their specialist training with PhD study, and there are many examples of excellent orthodontic research teams in universities all over the world.

In the UK, consultant orthodontists play an active role in teaching and research, concentrate their clinical activity in multidisciplinary cases of high complexity, and have an important role in management of the maxillofacial units in which they work.

In recent years, many of our students have graduated with distinction and some have received the gold medal for best performance in the MOrth RCS examinations.