Dental Materials

Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree (minimum 2.1 honours or equivalent) in Materials, Dentistry, a related Engineering discipline or equivalent.

For intercalating BDS Dentistry students:

• Successfully completed at least three years (360 credits) of the BDS or equivalent dental course (for clinically based masters this must include the equivalent of one year of patient based teaching (in hospital/dental practices/clinics))
• Passed BDS year 3 or 4 exams immediately prior to entry at the first opportunity
• Demonstrate a clear and unequivocal interest in the field by written application and/or interview

Months of entry

September

Course content

This programme aspires to produce highly skilled, motivated, creative and team-work oriented graduates who want to specialise in dental materials or a related field. You’ll work with distinguished academics and clinicians throughout the programme and work on cutting-edge research projects.

The programme is taught by the Institute of Dentistry, which was recently ranked 14th in the World for Dentistry (QS World Rankings by Subject 2021). It is designed to give you a broad knowledge of the principles underlying the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of dental materials, both in preventative and restorative treatment.

It is aimed at dental surgeons, dental technicians, hygienists/therapists and nurses, materials scientists and engineers who want to work in the dental support industries, and the materials health sector in general. We also welcome applications from intercalating BDS Dentistry students. On completion of the course, you’ll have a specialised knowledge of dental materials and be able to justify selection criteria and instructions for all classes of dental materials.

This programme will:

• give you a deep understanding of the field of dental materials and the knowledge necessary to conduct research, or work in product development
• place special emphasis on the use of materials in both clinical and non-clinical applications
• introduce you to materials science, focusing on the major classes of materials used in dentistry including polymers, metals, ceramics and composites
• provide you with up-to-date information on current dental materials. You’ll learn about their functional properties, bioactivity and biocompatibility, and also cover specific uses of dental materials, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and regulatory affairs.

Information for international students

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential and non-native English speakers are required to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 at the start of the course.