University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Health Sciences > Bristol Dental School > Dental Surgery (BDS) > Specification
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Programme code | 8MDYF002U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
David Dymock
Isabelle Cunningham |
Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
School/department | Bristol Dental School |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Accrediting types: |
The General Dental Council quality assures and approves qualifications for registration, for the following registrant groups: Dentists; dental hygienists; dental therapists; dental nurses; clinical dental technicians; dental technicians; and orthodontic therapists. (http://www.gdc-uk.org/) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 5 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
The aim of the Bristol BDS Curriculum is to help its student body graduate to fulfil its potential as future dental practitioners, leaders, teachers, researchers, oral public health advocates and agents of change at a local, national or international level. The curriculum will be optimal for home students entering University with different attributes and expectations to previous generations and for a diversified student cohort with more widening participation students from the Gateway and Bristol Scholars programmes, and increased numbers of overseas students. Our students will be able to synthesise evidence-based dentistry with the concept of whole patient care and appreciate the social determinants of health so that they enhance their communities.
As well as meeting the requirements of the registering body, the curriculum will be socially accountable and academically challenging. It will enable our graduates to be skilled, adaptable, resilient and confident and able to reconcile the competing demands of their work as ethical and reflective decision makers.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Teaching, learning and assessment will be to a structure whereby a single year within the programme will equate to a single unit. Students will initially learn fundamentals within a helical theme framework such that topics, such as those within the ‘Scientific Basis of Dentistry’ helical theme, are revisited and consolidated, building up complexity of knowledge and understanding through the five years of the programme. The teaching and learning strategy emphasises dental and dental-related relevance throughout, and knowledge and understanding of teamwork, and scope of practice of others in the dental team from the outset. The principle vehicles for learning will be lectures, workshops, tutorials and practical sessions. The ‘flipped classroom’ will be used with eLectures and eTutorials supported by active engagement workshops and symposia. All learning opportunities will have explicit clinical relevance to life and practice as a dentist, underpinned by clinical experience in hospital and community settings throughout all five years. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment of knowledge and understanding will be delivered through eAssessment and short answer question papers, and also within OSCE and unseen case assessments using a consistent programme-level assessment structure through the years of the programme. Formative assessment of knowledge and understanding will be in a variety of formats including eBiolabs, gradings on clinic, midsessional assessments, self-reflection, feedback from peers and from clinical and academic teachers, and backed up by regular review of a personal development portfolio with a personal tutor offering you opportunities to gain the important skills articulated in the Bristol Skills Framework. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Single unit/year structure with underlying helical themes as described above. The principle vehicles for learning will be lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. The ‘flipped classroom’ will be used with eLectures and eTutorials supported by active engagement workshops and symposia. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment of intellectual skills and attributes will be delivered through eAssessment and short answer question papers, and a variety of forms of project work. Formative feedback will be provided on project work from academic teachers, and backed up by regular review of a personal development portfolio with a personal tutor offering you opportunities to gain the important skills articulated in the Bristol Skills Framework. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Single unit/year structure with underlying helical themes as described above. The principle vehicles for learning will be clinical skills laboratory practical sessions, clinic-based training, simulated scenarios, lectures and tutorials. The ‘flipped classroom’ may be used with eLectures and eTutorials supported by active engagement workshops and symposia. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment of other skills and attributes, which will include clinical competencies, communication, professionalism, leadership and management, will be delivered through clinical examinations such as OSCEs, unseen cases, multi-source feedback from patients, peers and healthcare professionals, workplace based assessments including Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA), and review of clinical activities and reflections within the CAFS electronic portfolio. Formative feedback will include competency and professionalism gradings in the clinical skills laboratory and on clinic, on simulated scenarios, and backed up by regular review of a personal development portfolio with a personal tutor offering you opportunities to gain the important skills articulated in the Bristol Skills Framework. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Initial delivery of helical themes including fundamental principles underpinning clinical practice. This will include an initial ‘Foundations of Dentistry’ teaching block course planned for the first 8 weeks of Teaching Block 1. This Foundations course will provide an introduction to student life and study at University, including study skills and wellbeing enhancement training. An aim of this course is to ensure that all students, regardless of academic qualifications upon entry to the programme, have a foundation level of knowledge prior to embarking on the rest of the curriculum. Course content will include study skills teaching; introductory biomedical sciences teaching essential for later activities within the Year and programme; fundamentals of communication, ethics and teamworking; introduction to clinics and observational assisting. Foundations of Dentistry will conclude with a conference where students present a topic of particular interest to them, and a formative assessment. The remainder of the year, with particular focus on the clinical ‘spine’ for the programme, will be deliver 13 clinical topics, each of these supported by appropriate biomedical and social sciences teaching, and with opportunities for interprofessional learning with students training to be dental hygienists and therapists. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
Year 2 of the new BDS curriculum will build on the preliminary clinical skills students acquired in Year 1. Preliminary periodontology skills and restorative skills will be acquired in the clinical skills laboratory and clinic. Students will also take part in preliminary diagnostic radiology, teamwork, introduction to local anaesthesia, examining a first patient and providing periodontal treatment and preventive advice, taking impressions, observing in paediatric dentistry, providing preliminary restorative treatment and laboratory work on the construction of removable dentures. Work in this clinical spine will be supported by integrated learning in the science of the underlying diseases (periodontal diseases, dental caries and toothwear). The topics of anxiety management and pain will be incorporated with the anatomy and pharmacology of local anaesthesia. Students will acquire preliminary knowledge of the common mucosal diseases they may encounter in their periodontal and restorative patients. Ahead of the progression to seeing patients on the clinic in the spring of year 2, students will be required to pass a Gateway to Patients Exam late in the autumn term. This exam will assess students’ clinical competence and knowledge of the necessary processes and underlying diseases. Students who are not successful in the Gateway exam will be permitted to resit it during year 2, until they pass. Students who do not pass this assessment during year 2, or who are deemed not to have the clinical skills to progress to year 3, may be permitted to resit the year or will be transferred to the final year of a three-year non-clinical Bachelors in Dental Science Programme (subject to future programme approval). |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Year 3 will see the consolidation of students’ preliminary restorative skills on clinics throughout the year. This learning will be supplemented with new restorative skills in the clinical skills lab, including endodontics (root canal treatment) and clinical work to make removable partial dentures. The acquisition of restorative skills will continue with learning to prepare teeth and place indirect restorations (such as crowns) and the laboratory stages of making dentures in the summer term. The clinical work will develop with radiology, work in the Primary Care Unit (seeing patients attending with dental emergencies), paediatric dentistry and oral surgery. In the later part of the year students will learn how to integrate their broadening and deepening clinical skills into treatment plans for patients with slightly more complex treatment needs. Advanced periodontal treatment will consider more complex presentation of the disease and advanced treatment including surgery. A summer term Clinical Case day in Year 3 will incorporate a disability forum ahead of the introduction of Special Care Dentistry in year 4. Again, the topics in this clinical spine will be supplemented with learning in the underlying fundamental science of radiology, oral and dental anatomy associated with oral surgery, and the diagnosis of oral and facial pain. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
Year 4 and 5 will be focussed on competence development and preparation for practice. Both years will include the consolidation of skills in the adult restorative clinic, Primary Care Unit, Oral Surgery and Radiology and patient treatment at South Bristol Community Hospital. Students will encounter secondary and tertiary referral Specialist clinics in Oral Medicine, Special Care, Restorative and Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. They will develop their skills in children’s dentistry in outreach placements (Charlotte Keel) and in sedation and will learn accessory local anaesthesia techniques. In Year 4, as in previous years, the underlying fundamental science will be integrated with other teaching. For example, students will learn about the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of oral mucosal disease and about the dental management of medically complex patients. This learning will support their attendance at Oral Medicine and other specialties such as Special Care Dentistry that they will encounter within the ground floor clinical rotation. Social accountability will be supported by classroom-based teaching on the wider healthcare environment and economy, access to care, healthcare quality, determinants of health & health promotion, planning for communities, advocating for patient needs and applied epidemiology. Knowledge-focussed learning will be completed by the end of Year 4, this allowing (i) Year 5 students to focus on consolidation of clinical skills and completion of the portfolio of evidence of clinical competence initiated in Year 1, applying for Dental Foundation Training (DFT), and preparing for clinical practice and (ii) restructuring of BDS Finals with knowledge-based assessments earlier in the academic year with opportunity for ‘in-year’ resit if required, and clinical presentation and unseen case examinations in spring again with the opportunity for the borderline fail student to undertake resits in time to take up DFT places. Years 4 and 5 will also include project work to be assessed by submitted reports. Students will undertake their dental elective during Year 4, with the opportunity to study in other academic centres away from Bristol. An enquiry-based project will involve a small research project, audit, elective report or a library-based project. An Outreach Project will apply understanding of social accountability based around case studies of patients treated on outreach placements. By the end of Year 5 students, in conjunction with oversight from a personal tutor, within Bristol Futures should also have completed a Personal Development Plan extending into their DFT year, including engagement with Professional and Community Engagement activities, and personal reflection upon completion of the Bristol Skills Framework. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
Responsibility for the programme lies with the Dental School, being managed through the Dental Education Committee. There is input to the programme from the Centre for Applied Anatomy and the Schools of: Biochemistry; Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience; Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Clinical training occurs within Bristol Dental School and Hospital, South Bristol Community Hospital and Charlotte Keel Community Centre.
Students may intercalate for the award of a BSc (Hons), BA (Hons), MRes or MSc degree after Year 3 of the revised BDS programme. A variety of intercalation opportunities are available in a wide range of subjects (see: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/health-sciences/courses/undergraduate/intercalate/).
Credit points for units and year of study are notional.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year 1 BDS | ORDS10019 | 120 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Foundations of Dentistry | ORDS10022 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Human Health and Disease | ORDS10020 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Preparing for Patients | ORDS10021 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Certificate of Higher Education in the Science of Dentistry. | 120 |
Credit points for units and year of study are notional.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year 2 BDS | ORDS20028 | 120 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Preparing for patients Year 2 | ORDS20029 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Human Health and Disease Year 2 | ORDS20030 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Patient Care Year 2 | ORDS20031 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Evidence Based Practice | ORDS20032 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Lifelong Learning and Wellbeing | ORDS20033 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Diploma of Higher Education in the Science of Dentistry. | 120 |
Please note: where zero credit points are shown it is because this is not a credit bearing programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year 3 BDS | ORDS30013 | 120 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Human Health and Disease - Year 3 | ORDS30014 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Evidence Based Practice - Year 3 | ORDS30015 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Lifelong Learning and Wellbeing - Year 3 | ORDS30016 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Patient Care Units: | ||||
Clinical Communication - Year 3 | ORDS30027 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Restorative Dentistry - Year 3 | ORDS30018 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics - Year 3 | ORDS30019 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral Surgery - Year 3 | ORDS30020 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Urgent Dental Care - Year 3 | ORDS30021 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral Medicine - Year 3 | ORDS30026 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Radiology and Radiography - Year 3 | ORDS30023 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Whole Person Care - Year 3 | ORDS30024 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Ethics, Law, Professionalism and Social Accountability (ELiPSA) - Year 3 | ORDS30028 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
BSc in the Science of Dentistry | 120 |
Please note: where zero credit points are shown it is because this is not a credit bearing programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year 4 BDS | ORDS30025 | 120 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
The following are for timetabling purposes only: | ||||
Human Health and Disease - Year 4 | ORDS30029 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Evidence Based Practice - Year 4 | ORDS30030 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Lifelong Learning and Wellbeing - Year 4 | ORDS30031 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Clinical Communication - Year 4 | ORDS30032 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Ethics, Law, Professionalism and Social Accountability - Year 4 | ORDS30033 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Restorative Dentistry - Year 4 | ORDS30034 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics - Year 4 | ORDS30035 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Urgent Dental Care - Year 4 | ORDS30036 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine - Year 4 | ORDS30037 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - Year 4 | ORDS30038 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Pain and Anxiety Control - Year 4 | ORDS30039 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Radiology - Year 4 | ORDS30040 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Year 4 | ORDS30041 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Whole Person Care - Year 4 | ORDS30042 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
BSc in the Science of Dentistry | 120 |
Please note: where zero credit points are shown it is because this is not a credit bearing programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year 5 BDS | ORDSM0037 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
The following list shows the BDS finals examinations | ||||
BDS Final Part 1 - Knowledge Based Assessment | ORDSM0046 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
BDS Final Part 2 - Adult and Child Case Presentations | ORDSM0047 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
BDS Final Part 3 - Unseen Case Assessments | ORDSM0048 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
The following are for timetabling purposes only | ||||
Restorative Dentistry | ORDSM0039 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Community Dental Practice Not available in this year | ORDSM0040 | 0 | Mandatory | |
Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics | ORDSM0063 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | ORDSM0058 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral Medicine | ORDSM0059 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Oral Pathology | ORDSM0060 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Urgent Dental Care | ORDSM0061 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Whole Person Care | ORDSM0062 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Radiology | ORDSM0045 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Ethics, Law, Professionalism and Social Accountability | ORDSM0041 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Lifelong Learning and Wellbeing | ORDSM0064 | 0 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Dental Surgery (BDS) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Professional Programmes (MBChB, BDS, BVSc): 50 out of 100
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for Gateway programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Pass Mark for Professional Programmes (MBChB, BDS, BVSc): 50 out of 100. For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for the Assessment and Progression of Students on Taught Programmes and the relevant Faculty Handbook.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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