Dental Surgery BDS Honours
UCAS Code: A206
(5 Years)
This degree is designed to develop the skills required to provide for the complete oral health of patients, and entitles graduates to practise dentistry anywhere in the UK and in many other countries.
The programme of professional study covers human structure, function, behaviour, clinical dental studies and related sciences.
Clinical dental practice occupies an increasingly large part of your time as you progress through the course, which consists of five Stages.
Stages 1 and 2
You spend the first two years studying the basic medical sciences. This provides a basis for clinical work in later Stages. Topics include:
- an introduction to dentistry
- molecules, cells and tissues
- anatomy of the head and neck
- cardiovascular and respiratory systems
- oral environment
- dental tissues
- nutrition and diet
- dental materials science
- interpersonal skills
Intercalated study (optional)
Intercalated study is available for BDS students after completion of Stage 2. See the BDS course overview for more information.
Stages 3 and 4
You are introduced to clinical training and you study dental operative techniques, human disease, clinical dentistry and dental materials science.
By the end of Stage 4, half your time is spent on patient care and clinical dental practice, with supporting clinical-related teaching.
An optional elective period at the end of Stage 4 gives you the opportunity to organise a few weeks studying dentistry outside Newcastle. In recent years this has taken students all over the world.
Stage 5
You concentrate on clinical dentistry, but also on topics such as:
- oral medicine
- oral pathology
- oral and maxillofacial surgery
- orthodontics
- preventive dentistry
- sedation
