Doctor of Dental Surgery (MC-DDENSUR)

The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is a professional postgraduate degree of 4-years' duration. It is a fixed, full-time program and will lead to registration as a general dental practitioner with the Dental Practice Boards throughout Australia and New Zealand. Students will be expected to take on leadership roles within the profession and with the different specialties of the profession. The DDS will use current scientific evidence in oral health to impart the philosophies, skills and knowledge related to all areas of clinical dental practice. This will create a graduate well versed in advanced treatment options such as dental implants, all-ceramic restorations and other advanced materials. It will be taught in association with the underpinning ethos of prevention of dental disease for which the Melbourne Dental School has a world-renowned reputation. The curriculum will be delivered using lectures, pre-clinical practical classes, clinical patient treatments in all specialties of dentistry, case-based and on-line learning, as well as reflective practice of patient treatment cases. Students will spend a significant time of their experience in provision of patient care using advanced materials and clinical methods. Part of the final year curriculum will incorporate the model of working in a private practice like setting, which will be supported by learning how to run a small business equivalent to a private dental practice. The Melbourne Dental School is an international leader in oral health research and this experience will become part of the DDS experience where students will learn how to plan, seek and attain ethics approval, complete and analyse and finally prepare a research project for publication and oral presentation at the School research day. Students will graduate with advanced clinical skills and advanced knowledge in all aspects of oral health provision and will be ready to work having attained skills in managing a small business.

Expected equipment costs for 1st year DDS students will be in the order of $5,000 AUD for equipment that will be used throughout the course.