plymouth dentistry prospectus

7/29/2019 Plymouth Dentistry Prospectus

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Dentistry (BDS 5yr)

Undergraduate

Prospectus2

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013



Contents

Welcome

Introduction from the Head of School

Key Features of the Peninsula Experience

Lifestyle

The Course

Guiding Principles

Curriculum Overview

Years One and Two

Years Three and Four

Year Five

Life at the School

Supporting your Learning

Campus Locations

Accommodation

Application Process

Admissions

Entry Requirements

Student Interviews

Student Conduct & Fitness to Practice

Open Days

All information contained in this prospectus wascorrect at the time of going to print

Page

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The Course

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11

13

14

15

Life at

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26

27

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31

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Introduction from the Head of School

At Plymouth University Peninsula Schools

of Medicine and Dentistry you will work

and study in state-of-the-art facilities.

Our exceptional staff share a common goal

of graduating rst-class dentists optimally

prepared for the rapidly changing

healthcare environment.

The School’s ethos of quality, innovation

and partnership are the foundations of

a dental school which prepares you fora career that will be deeply satisfying,

continually stimulating, and genuinely

about creating health and serving patients.

After initial training in our state-of-the-art

Simulated Dental Learning Environment

your clinical work takes place in four

Dental Education Facilities with a total of

126 chairs. Our core academic staff are

complemented by a dedicated team of

the best dental practitioners in the South

West whose role as Clinical Supervisors

allows them to share their knowledgeand experience with you. We believe in

early clinical exposure and you will be

interacting with patients from early in

your course.

The Plymouth University Peninsula School

of Dentistry is deeply committed to

equality, and treats all students as adult

learners who enjoy the journey from

‘novice’ to ‘expert’. Your academic tutor

will support and advise you at regular

meetings throughout the year. Our intake

of 64 students means that you get to

know the staff well and rapidly become an

integral part of the team. We are a friendly

community offering great support to all of

our students.

We believe we have a winning formula to

provide the best possible experience for

tomorrow’s practitioners.

The South West of England is surrounded

by breathtaking scenery ranging from the

wild beauty of Dartmoor to some of the

best surng beaches in the country, a

fantastic place to study, live and work.

We look forward to receiving your

application.

Professor Christopher Tredwin

BDS(Hons),BSc(Hons),MSc,PhD,

MFDSRCS(Eng),FDS(RestDent)RCS,FHEA

Professor of Restorative Dentistry & Director

of Clinical Dentistry

5



Key Features of the Peninsula Experience

7

Student-Centred

The School is committed to placing

student satisfaction at the heart of all our

education activities. This is reected by

our consistently high rankings for medicine

and now for dentistry in the National

Student Survey. You are now being asked

to make a signicant investment in your

future, in turn, we will make a signicant

investment in you. We will work withyou in a partnership aimed at ensuring

you have every opportunity to realise

your potential to be a dentist who is t

to practise in the emerging national and

international healthcare environments.

Small Groups and

Contact Hours

At the School you will often be taught in

small groups of currently no more than

ten for non-clinical learning. While therewill be a high expectation that you will

be able to demonstrate the traits of a

self-directed and independent learner, you

will have regular face-to-face contact with

expert small group facilitators, clinical

teachers and non-clinical academic staff.

You will also have access to dedicated

academic and pastoral tutors able to

provide tailored advice on your academic

progress and matters relating to welfare

and well-being.

Student Involvement

At the School, you will be given the

opportunity to work with us to ensure

that your programme is best suited to

your needs. We actively encourage student

feedback at all levels of the learning

experience. We have established a unique

Student Parliament, through which

students have the opportunity to raise

issues relating to their learning experience

directly with members of the School’s

senior team. In addition, there is student

representation on the majority of our

senior committees.

Preparedness for

Clinical Practice

At the School, you will be exposed to

the uniquely broad range of clinical

environments across Devon and Cornwall.

Dental students have the opportunity to

treat patients in one of the School’s four

Dental Education Facilities. These are NHS

training clinics which provide treatment

like an NHS general dental practice and,

as they are all based in primary care, offer

ideal preparation for future practice. This

variety will ensure that you are provided

with true depth and breadth of clinical

experience and are therefore well-prepared

for the challenges of clinical practice in the

modern healthcare environment.

Innovation, Expertise and

Research

At the School, you will have access to

one of the most innovative education

programmes in the country. This includes

state-of-the-art training in clinical and

communication skills, science learning with

a strong focus on technology-enhanced

learning in areas such as anatomy and

physiology, and a wide variety of student-

selected learning experiences.

You will be taught and assessed by

acknowledged experts in their elds and

in a research-rich educational environment.We will demonstrate to you how research

informs the development and improvement

of clinical practice and how those who are

interested and able may best develop a

career in clinical academic research.

Improving Employability

in a Changing Healthcare

Environment

In 2012 our dental graduates were highly

successful and competitive in nding

vocational training posts within the NHS.

Many of our graduates chose to work

in the South West peninsula, indicating

the very positive engagement that our

students developed with the clinical

community here in the South West. We

will work closely with you throughout your

time at the School to ensure that you are

properly advised on career development

and that your self-selected learning

experiences reect your ambitions. We

will ensure that your learning experiencesenable you to be competitive in any

clinical employment market. As part of

this commitment, we ensure that you are

fully prepared for the Dental Foundation

application process and the interview

process for selection of posts.

We also strive to ensure that there

are opportunities for wider community

engagement. For example dental students

will be involved in a diverse range of

community-based projects such as a

homeless refuge and a project supporting

vulnerable teenage parents, as well as

involvement with community anchor

organisations and the Public Health

Development Unit. When taking the

decision to embark on a career in

dentistry it is advisable to consider the

range of different careers within the

professions, ranging from clinical practice,

education, research, drug development

and public policy.



9

Lifestyle

Plymouth is the largest city in the South

West, with a population of over 250,000

and offers all the attractions of city

life: an outstanding selection of shops,

restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs to

suit every taste and pocket.

Given the South West location, water-

based activities are extremely popular

and well represented. Plymouth University

is unique in having its own Diving andMarine Centre. Set in a prime waterfront

location, the Mount Batten Water Sports

Activities Centre, is the South West’s

premier waterside venue specialising

in sailing, power boating, kayaking

and windsurng. The centre has RYA

recognition, is AALA approved and has

been awarded the Learning Outside the

Class Room quality badge.

As far as possible Wednesday afternoons

are kept free for recreation, encouraging

you to join up and enjoy the opportunitiesavailable. The Student’s Union will help

you make the most of your free time and

offers much more than just good bars,

nightclubs and live entertainment. It

provides the perfect social complement to

your academic life.

The city has a rapidly developing music

and comedy scene attracting many top

productions and bands also hosting a

wealth of up-and-coming local talent.

Of the city’s four theatres, the largest,

is the Theatre Royal, which attracts and

has produced many West End successes.

Cinema ranges from a 15-screen multiplex

to an arts centre concentrating on less

mainstream movies.

If you want to escape city life, a short

stroll from the city centre is the Hoe,

Plymouth’s waterfront, where you can

enjoy superb views across some of Devon

and Cornwall’s nest coastlines or take

a dip in Plymouth’s art deco lido. Follow

the promenade and you will nd yourself in the Barbican area, Plymouth’s historic

heart, where narrow Elizabethan cobbled

streets house quirky shops, galleries,

pavement cafés, bars and nightclubs, as

well as the National Marine Aquarium.

Just north of Plymouth is Dartmoor

National Park, the largest and wildest

area of open country in southern England.

To our south, east and west we are

surrounded by the beautiful coastline of

Devon and Cornwall.

The lifestyle of the South West is perfect

for relaxing: you can head for the beach,

go to a country pub or take in the fresh

air and sunshine in beauty spots on the

moors. The peninsula is also a paradise

for the outdoor enthusiast looking for a

bit more of an adrenaline rush. The wild

scenery of Dartmoor, Exmoor, Bodmin

Moor and the amazing coastal footpaths

provide an exciting challenge for hikers,

climbers, horse riders, cyclists and other

sports people; while the coast and

rivers are perfect for sailors, swimmers,

water-skiers, windsurfers, kite-surfersand sunbathers! Surfers can nd some

of the best surf in the country on the

north Devon and Cornwall coasts and

international surng competitions are

often held in Cornwall.



Guiding Principles

The ve-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery

(BDS) programme* is a patient-centred

programme delivered in a supportive and

research-rich environment. You will work

with many different patients, a wide range

of oral conditions and become familiar

with community and public health issues.

Science and clinical skills are integrated

in the curriculum and you will learn within

a variety of dental teaching clinics. Youwill also work within both the educational

and voluntary sectors and with hospital

consultants.

You will be prepared for your future role

as a healthcare professional. You will

become skilled at communicating with

patients and colleagues, work well in a

team, have the ability to make decisions,

lead when appropriate and be effective

under pressure.

You will be well-prepared to approach

clinical problems holistically, appreciating

personal and social dimensions as well asthe biomedical basis of oral disease.

Assessment methods at the School

encourage the development of clinical and

communication skills side by side, as well

as the acquisition of profound scientic

knowledge, all of which you will need to

underpin your future career.

The primary aim of the School is to ensure

you are able to perform your future clinical

roles with condence and competence,

and have a sound foundation of scienticenquiry from which to engage in a lifetime

of learning.

The BDS programme has been mapped

against the GDC’s guidance ‘Preparing

For Practice’ (2012) to ensure that the

programme meets all of the learning

outcome required for dental graduates.

The quality of your clinical supervision

within the School is underpinned by a

team of Consultants in Dentistry in each of

our Dental Education Facilities. Consultantposts in Dental Public Health also

underpin our community engagement and

oral health promotion.

In choosing to join us, we can promise

you a modern dental education of the

highest quality which incorporates

the most well-researched educational

techniques and ideas.


*Subject to the approval of the

General Dental Council



11

The School draws on the strengths of its

University and NHS partners to deliver

what we believe to be the most exciting

and innovative undergraduate dental

degree programme available today.

The degree programme is carefully

structured to ensure that, as a dental

graduate, you will possess the knowledge,

skills and attitudes required for safe

practice and entry into your rst clinicaljob as a Dental Foundation Year 1 dentist.

Whilst the majority of the ve-year

undergraduate BDS degree programme

can be considered ‘core’ and provides

essential knowledge and skills, there are

also Special Study Units which means that

you are able to study, in depth, selected

areas which may be of special interest

to you.

Effective teamwork is essential to the

efcient delivery of dental care. Mostof your learning will take place in small

groups, which will prepare you for working

in a team. Time for private study is built

into the timetable, enabling you to take

responsibility for your own learning by

using the wide array of resources and

learning support which is available.

Three main teaching themes are vertically

integrated across the programme.

These are:

• Science for dentistry

• Clinical dentistry

• Personal and professional development

Student learning is supported by the use

of study guides which develop knowledge

of oral disease and its causes by working

through a case scenario, identifying

the knowledge, clinical reasoning

and analytical skills needed to deal

appropriately with the case. This enquiry-

based learning takes place in a highly

supported, blended learning environment

incorporating e-learning, tutorials, self-

directed learning and plenary sessions.

Whether you are at the main teaching

centre at Plymouth University or engaged

in clinical practice at one of the Dental

Education Facilities across the South West

of the peninsula, there are extensive

e-learning, library and other facilitieswhich include videos, CDs, DVDs, books,

publications, access to electronic journals

and facilities for telematic conferencing.

For further information please visit:

www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

Curriculum Overview



Years One and Two

During Years One and Two you will learn

the core scientic foundations of dentistry

in a clinical context.

Year One covers aspects of normal

structure, function and behaviour and the

scientic basis of these. It also focuses on

dental health, prevention of dental disease

and the underlying principles of personal

and professional development. You will be

introduced to the clinic and the SimulatedDental Learning Environment (SDLE) at an

early age.

In Year One you will gain insight into the

importance of team working in dentistry

as you work as a dental nurse with senior

students in clinic. By the end of Year 1 you

will be familiar and comfortable with the

clinical environment and SDLE.

In Year Two, you build on your foundations

with common dental problems, as well

as disease mechanisms being consideredin much greater depth. In term one,

training intensies in the SDLE and you

are prepared for your rst own patient

contact. Term two sees the introduction

of face-to-face contact with patients in

clinics, where you will be able to develop

your communication skills under the

close supervision of dental practitioners,

bringing to life experience and skills

gained in the SDLE.

In a typical week you may be expected

to attend:

• Four ‘theatre events’ known as

Plenaries, where you will meet

experts in various elds

• Clinical work in a healthcare setting in

the community

• Three structured enquiry-based

learning sessions

• Workshops and simulated dental

experiences

• An interactive life sciences practical class

You may also be expected to undertake

skills training which may involve

anything from ‘Intra-muscular injection’

in the Clinical Skills Resource Centre, to

practising a restorative technique in the

SDLE.



13



Years Three and Four

In Year Three the amount of time spent

in clinics will increase to three days per

week to continue your exposure to clinical

material, to build upon existing skills

and introduce additional topics where

appropriate.

One of the themes for Years Three and

Four is to consolidate the learning of

medically-related issues for the safe

practise of dentistry. To that end, you willbe given an opportunity to learn about

dentally relevant medical issues in patient-

based demonstrations, hospital outpatient

clinics and accident and emergency

departments.

Clinical activity will expand to 4 days per

week in Year Four. For senior students,

the work will embrace all of the aspects

of dental care provision expected of

a qualied dentist and will give you

experience in advanced restorative

techniques.

To facilitate learning, you will gain rst-

hand experience of the role and services

provided by specialists in primary and

secondary care, by spending time in

specialist clinics such as restorative

dentistry, oral surgery, oral diseases and

orthodontics.

We are also committed to enhancing your

managerial and leadership qualities. To

achieve this objective, senior studentswill delegate clinical work to junior

students thereby sharing their knowledge

of treatment planning. To complete the

educational journey, senior students will

also be instructed in the contemporary

business aspects of running a dental

practice within the current NHS structure.






15

Year Five

The emphasis in Year Five is on the

practical implementation of what you have

learnt in Years One to Four and is the nal

preparation for dental practice. You will

also become much more condent with

clinical situations, healthcare teams and

the principal of practice both in the HNS

and in private practice.

During Year Five you will also supplement

your learning with Case Presentations,which are patient presentations designed

to demonstrate that you are capable

and condent in diagnosing, treatment

planning and carrying out all the

procedures necessary to provide optimal

oral health care for patients.

Also in Year Five you will be provided

with information and guidance on your

Dental Foundation Year (DF1 ), your rst

year of dental practice in the NHS upon

graduation. The School will support

you through a series of careers events,

guidance on the DF1 application process

and interviews and plenaries on your

preparation for registration with the

General Dental Council.





Supporting your Learning

The curriculum uses an Enquiry-Based

Learning (EBL) approach whereby a clinical

case is used to introduce students to the

knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to

become rst-class dentists.

Enquiry-Based Learning

Students will work through a series of

clinical cases in groups of eight guided

by a trained facilitator, each case lastinga number of weeks. The cases follow

the human life cycle. Each group meets

on a regular basis; for example, in Year

One you will meet six times during a

fortnight to discuss the case, dene the

learning objectives and share knowledge

and information by reporting back what

you have learned individually. Between

meetings, you are expected to enquire

into all aspects of the case including

biomedical, public health, human science

and professional aspects. This self-directed

learning is supported by an intensively

structured learning environment. Activities

in the Life Sciences Resource Centre, the

Simulated Dental Learning Environment,

the Clinical Skills Resource Centre and

clinics will relate to the EBL case you are

studying. In this way you learn about

the science and art of dentistry in a

clinical context and all of your learning is

contextualised into your chosen vocation.

Plenary Sessions

The year group is brought together

regularly for large group teaching sessions.

Plenary lectures focus on specic subjects

relevant to the case you are studying and

often involve external experts. Telematic

links allow interaction between the sites

and with speakers. These signposting

sessions are platforms for learning and

will provide an invaluable opportunity for

students to meet together, along with an

acknowledged expert. You are expected

to interact with the speaker, and developyour learning by exploring their views

and expertise.

Self-Directed Learning

Although you are given extensive support

and direction, you are expected to take

responsibility for your own learning. Self-

directed learning is especially important

in dentistry as this approach will prepare

you for a lifetime of learning in your

career. You are, of course, supported by

an Academic Tutor and other School staff

throughout the programme.

Clinical & Communication

Skills

Students learn clinical competencies and

skills in the Simulated Dental Learning

Environment. Throughout the programme

competence in clinical procedures will

be developed prior to employing these

skills on patients. You will learn to

gather information, take patient medical

histories and carry out a detailed clinicalexamination. Depending on the stage

of the programme, the procedures you

learn will range from basic dentistry to

more complicated procedures, such as

crowns, bridges and endodontic work.

Simultaneously, you will develop the

ability to interact with patients in a variety

of situations. Learning about the social

context of health and disease, as well as

developing your communication skills will

enable you to understand the needs of

individual patients and ensure that youare able to provide appropriate treatment

in a truly holistic manner.

Clinical Practice Experience

As you progress through your degree

programme your clinical exposure will

increase. Extensive exposure to patients,

who will display a variety of oral diseases,

as well as systemic conditions, will

underpin the development of your clinical

skills. This experience will develop your

ability to think and perform like an

expert in the clinical environment.

You will:

• Experience oral healthcare as it is

delivered in general practice

• Learn from patients about the breadth

of diseases and health problems in a

community and the effect of social and

environmental factors on oral disease

• Understand through experience the

wide ranging impact and importance of

the dental team• Learn alongside, and from, experts in

the healthcare community including

doctors, nurses, social workers,

hygienists, therapists, technicians and

other healthcare professionals

Academic Tutor

At the School, you will be allocated

an Academic Tutor who oversees

your academic progress and personal

and professional development. Your

tutor is the rst point of contact for

academic support for the duration of the

programme. You will meet with your tutor

to review your progress in clinical skills,

personal development and academic

learning on a regular basis. You are

allocated a new tutor each year.




Assessment

Assessment will be both formative and

summative and based on current best

practice in clinical education. You will

progress between modules and years of

the course only after demonstrating that

you have gained requisite knowledge,

competencies, and clinical experience.

Assessment is an important part of

study, serving the learning process in anumber of key ways. The assessment

process determines the standard you are

working towards and demonstrates that

you are achieving it. Importantly, regular

assessment enables you to view your

progression and development objectively.

We want to create a learning environment

in which all of our students can

successfully complete the programme.

The assessment process is a key tool in

quickly detecting any issues that you may

have with your learning. It can provide a

clear signpost that you may need help.

• Your progress on the programme

is assessed in relation to your

knowledge, professional development

and your work in clinical practice

• Assessment formats include

knowledge-based multiple-

choice tests, structured clinical

examinations, portfolios,

scientic report writing and

competency tests• You will receive continuous

feedback and support as you

move through the programme

Applied Dental Knowledge

The Applied Dental Knowledge Progress

Test (ADK) is one of the features of the

School’s approach to assessment. The

ADK, which is delivered in a multiple-

choice question format is designed

to assess long-term and functional

knowledge rather than detailed and easily

forgotten ‘facts’. It allows you and the

School to monitor your progress and to

compare this with your colleagues as you

move through the programme. As the chart

below shows you will receive a line graph

that plots your progress over the duration

of the BDS programme.

1817

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

01 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Progress Test

P e r c e n t a g e

s c o r e

Mapping Progress in the Applied Dental Knowledge Test

Student score Cohort Mean

One of your regular patients brings her

7 year old daughter for her rst dental

check-up. The child is interested and

co-operative and you are able to carry out

a full examination. Initially you do not see

anything untoward, but, on using the 3

in 1 air spray, you notice a small area of

chalky whiteness adjacent to an occlusal

ssure of a newly erupted upper rst

molar tooth.

Which of the following statements best

explains this observation?

A. This is indicative of bacterial invasion

of enamel

B. There is an increased pore volume

of enamel

C. This reects a drop in pH to pH 6.5 at

the enamel surface

D. There is permanent damage to the

tooth

E. The observed clinical features are

masked by air drying

To nd the correct answer to this

question please go to page 32.

Sample Applied Dental Knowledge (Progress Test) Question




The Dental Education Facility, Tamar Science Park



Special Study Units

Special Study Units (SSU’s) involve

working with providers from the NHS,

University staff and the community and

voluntary sectors, in a wide range of

settings. SSUs provide a challenging and

stimulating way to develop your critical

thinking, as well as your scientic and

analytical skills.

During Year One, the SSU takes place over

a two or three week period and involves

placements within the community.

This will give you the unique experience

of working with key organisations within

the community who help and support

people in a variety of settings, such as

primary, secondary and further education

institutions as well as in community

access centres, youth clubs, rough

sleepers refuge and care homes. You will

be expected to undertake research intoyour allocated organisation, conduct an

informal interview to discover how the

client group access health and well-being

services, and the factors that impact onto

the dental and oral well-being of the

beneciaries. This will provide you with a

wealth of information which will help to

develop understanding and awareness of

how different groups and communities of

interest respond to dental health services.

This may include deeper understanding

of issues or factors that restrict or impactthe accessibility of dental services. You

will submit a written report and reective

summary of your visit, ndings and

impression of the inuencing factors.

For both the Year One and Year Two

Special Study Units you can access a

range of resources from the Community

Development Team who have a wealth

of experience in community development

activities as a result of citywide links and

partnerships. The Community Development

Team support academic and clinical staff

in the development and organisation of

the Years One and Two Special Study Units

and help to make this an interesting andappropriate element of the curriculum.

In Year Two, the SSU period offers you an

opportunity to become more involved with

various sectors of the community, where

you will actually be able to provide advice

on issues ranging from oral health and

uoride application, to the provision of

safety advice and mouth guards to local

sports clubs.

In Year Three, SSUs involve investigation

of a clinical topic of personal interest toyou and critical analysis of the literature.

e-Learning

At all stages of the curriculum, your

learning is supported with on-line systems,

activities and materials including state-of-

the-art multimedia. EMILY is the School’s

web-based Managed Learning Environment

(M.L.E.=EMILY) which provides access

to both your personal space (emails,

timetable, assessment results etc) andsupporting course information, learning

materials and library access.

Staff and student communication across

the School is facilitated and enhanced

using telematics technology which can

link all the School’s sites together. Plenary

lectures, for example, are recorded and

made available on-line for further private

study and revision. Resources such as

electronic journals, encyclopaedias,

interactive on-line learning materials,

formative on-line computer-aided

assessments and discussion forums,whether they are open, private, academic

or social, are all available to students at

any time through the web via EMILY.

Life Sciences

Resource Centre

The LSRC introduces you to, and

develops your knowledge of the

structure and function of the human

body. Your understanding of life sciences

will develop using medical imaging,including radiographic and magnetic

resonance imaging, coupled with the

study of models, living anatomy and

e-based technology. Other life sciences

learning, in physiology, biochemistry and

pharmacology will be supported in a

similar fashion.

19



Campus Locations

Where will I be Based?

Years One and Two of the Bachelor of

Dental Surgery programme are delivered

primarily at Portland Square, situated on

the Plymouth University campus and at

the clinical facilities at Exeter and

Plymouth Devonport. The full range of

Plymouth University facilities are available

to dental students, including the University

Library, Students’ Union and StudentMedical Centre.

The Clinical Dentistry modules within the

programme will be delivered at the clinical

facilities in Truro, Plymouth Derriford,

Plymouth Devonport and Exeter. These

facilities have been designed and built

specically to meet the needs of dental

students and are integrated with local NHS

dental care provision to allow students

to gain experience of both routine and

specialist dental care.

Plymouth Portland Square

Situated on the Plymouth University

campus, a ve minute walk from Plymouth

city centre and the sea, Portland Square is

the main focus for teaching throughout

the programme.

It provides excellent library services, a

Life Sciences Resource Centre, telematic

lecture facilities and a 32 pod Simulated

Dental Learning Environment (SDLE). Thestate-of-the-art SDLE enables students

to learn and experience all aspects of

providing dental care in a safe, controlled

environment where ‘phantom heads’ allow

you to practice and achieve the highest

skill levels before treating patients in the

clinical environment.

Plymouth Derriford

The Dental Education Facility is located

on the Tamar Science Park adjacent to

Derriford Hospital. Opened in September

2011, the Dental Education Facility

provides a progressive clinical space in

which to undertake your clinical duties.

During clinical sessions you are supervised

by highly experienced general dental

practitioners, dental hygienist/therapisttutors as well as clinical academic

staff. You will provide a wide range of

appropriate advice, assessment and

treatment to members of the public of

all ages who book appointments at

the facility.

Plymouth Devonport

Situated close to the city centre and

adjacent to the Tamar Estuary, the Dental

Education Facility at Plymouth Devonporthas 40 student chairs and integrated

teaching facilities.

The Dental Education Facility is located

on the ‘Devonport Health Campus’ which

incorporates a GP surgery, minor injuries

unit, sports centre, children’s centre and

nursery. Opened in June 2009 the Dental

Education Facility provides a progressive

clinical space in which to undertake your

clinical duties. During clinical sessions

you are supervised by highly experienced

general dental practitioners, clinical

academic staff, dental hygienist/therapist

tutors. You will provide a wide range

of appropriate advice, assessment and

treatment to members of the public of

all ages who book appointments at

the facility.

The facility has state-of-the-art dental

equipment, an on-site decontamination

unit and a dental technical laboratory.

Student facilities include a large IT suite,

seminar room and student common room.

Exeter

A short walk from Exeter city centre, the

Royal Devon & Exeter Heavitree Hospital

houses a Dental Education Facility with

16 student chairs and integrated teaching

facilities. At the start of March, in Year

One, students examine, diagnose and

develop a treatment plan and then

provide all hygiene treatment necessary

for patients under the supervision of both

dental practitioners and hygienist tutors.


Dental Education Facility, Plymouth Devonport



21

Truro

The Truro Dental Education Facility

is located in the Knowledge Spa, a

substantial joint educational facility with

Plymouth University’s Faculty of Health

Education and Society, situated in the

grounds of the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

The Dental Education Facility houses

32 student chairs and a dental technical

laboratory. There are also appropriateteaching facilities including both Clinical

Skills and Life Sciences Resource

Centres and a Simulated Dental Learning

Environment for use by students and the

local dental profession.

During the third year of study, students

carry out their clinical work in Truro for

half of the academic year and live in

residential accommodation provided by

Plymouth University. Students are expected

to make appropriate arrangements for any

existing domestic responsibilities for this

compulsory element of the programme

delivered in Truro. Working in the Truro

clinical facility enables students to further

develop skills using more complicated

dental techniques. Students will also

experience a wide range of medicine

in dentistry opportunities in the Royal

Cornwall Hospital with NHS colleagues.

Primary Care Trusts

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are the localbranch of the National Health Service

(NHS) and currently the lead organisation

in their health community. One of their

core roles is to assess the health needs

of people. They then provide clear

guidance and direction to other health

providers, such as acute hospitals or

partners, about what the needs are

and what services they plan to

commission to meet these. They work

closely with GPs and clinicians on this.

Equally important is their role in helping

people to stay healthy by, for example,

promoting stop smoking services.

PCTs in the South West peninsula

include NHS Cornwall and the Isles of

Scilly, NHS Devon, NHS Plymouth and

Torbay Care Trust.

From 2013 the Government is proposing

changes to the NHS which will see groups

of GPs and clinicians playing a greater

role in future commissioning. This means

that from 2013 PCTs will be abolished and

replaced by Clinical Commissioning

Groups and the NHS National

Commissioning Board.

For more information on these changes

please visit the NHS Devon website:

www.devonpct.nhs.uk or the Departmentof Health www.dh.gov.uk

Plymouth Portland Square




Plymouth University Halls of Residence



Accommodation

In Year One, whilst based at Plymouth

University, you have access to student

accommodation, which is available to

all students of the University. You will

be prioritised on the list for a place in a

University hall of residence or University

approved residence, if your application

is received by the due date. Plymouth

University’s Accommodation Ofce also

operates an approved accommodation

scheme for those students seekingprivately rented accommodation.

Plymouth University has a number

of purpose-built self-catering halls of

residence close to the city centre and

offers a comprehensive accommodation

service for all students. There are study

bedrooms suitable for students with

disabilities.

In Year Three you will spend half of the

academic year based at the School’s

Cornwall facility in Truro. While there,accommodation is available at one of

Plymouth University’s Truro residences.

At all other times we help as much

as possible in locating suitable

accommodation. This may be hospital or

university-based or in privately-owned

approved premises.

We want you to feel at home with us. We

understand how important it is for you to

live in good-quality, conveniently-located

accommodation throughout your studies.

Our Student Accommodation Ofce offers

a wide range of places to stay, all within

20 minutes’ walk of the campus and

city centre. The properties we offer have

been visited by our staff and meet our

standards for safety and suitability. We will

be happy to answer your questions andhelp you nd a place that’s right for you.

www.plymouth.ac.uk/accommodation

23



There are 62 places available for Home/

EU students to study dentistry at the

School and an additional 2 places for

international students in 2013.

All applications must be made through

the Universities and Colleges Admissions

Service (UCAS). All applications for clinical

programmes, must reach UCAS between

1 September 2012 and 15 October 2012.

Applicants should apply to no more thanfour clinical degree programmes.

The remaining choices on the UCAS form

may be used for any alternative course.

The UCAS code for Plymouth University

Peninsula Schools of Medicine and

Dentistry is P60 PLYM.

Course code:

BDS

A206

5 yrs

If you need help or advice on using the

Apply on-line system you should contact

the UCAS Customer Service unit on:

0871 468 0468

Website: www.ucas.com

Deferred Entry

Applicants for deferred entry are welcome.

However, this must be indicated at the

time of application. Deferment is normally

permitted for a maximum of one year only.

Fees and Finance

For current information please go to:

www.plymouth.ac.uk/fees

Admissions

25

2011 Cohort of Dental Students




Direct School Leavers

The entry requirements set out in this

section apply to you if you completed your

GCE A Levels, or equivalent qualications,

within two years of the start of the 2012

application cycle, e.g. qualications

completed since 2010. If you intend to

enrol onto the second year of another

degree programme, you will need to

discuss this with the Admissions Team.

All of the typical offers listed below are

not necessarily the threshold for selection

for interview. The School reserves the right

to use all information on the UCAS form

including evidence of social engagement

and insight into dentistry in the selection

process for interview.

GCE A Level

The typical offer is AAA at GCE A Level

which must include Chemistry and Biology.

A fourth subject must be achieved at a

minimum of grade C at AS Level. General

Studies at A/AS level is not included within

any offer.

GCSEs

Students are required to achieve seven

GCSE passes at grades A-C which must

include English Language, Mathmatics, and

either GCSE Single and Additional Science

or GSCE Biology.

International Baccalaureate

The typical offer is 36-38 points overall

including 6 in both Chemistry and Biologyat the Higher Level.

Applicants offering other qualications

including Scottish qualications, the Welsh

Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma or the

Cambridge Pre-University Diploma are

advised to contact the Admissions Team.

Non Direct School Leavers

If it is more than two years since you

completed your GCE A Levels or equivalent

qualications, if you are a graduate orif you have enrolled onto the second

year of an existing degree programme at

the time of application, then you should

discuss the entry requirements with the

Admissions Team.

All decisions on admissions are subject

to conrmation by the Selection and

Admissions Panel, which is chaired by

the Head of School or his nominee. All

applicants must satisfy both the academic

and non-academic conditions of their offer.

The Head of School reserves the right torefuse admission to any applicant who

fails to sign The Peninsula Dental School

Student Agreement or who fails to meet

the GDC guidelines on student Fitness to

Practise.



Entry Requirements



27

Prior to receiving an offer of a place on

the BDS programme, you will be invited to

attend an interview.

The interview attempts to identify whether

a candidate has the personal attributes

required to become a dentist of tomorrow.

We place great value in the following

qualities and we are looking for you to

demonstrate these at your interview.

• Integrity

• Veracity and honesty

• Flexibility

• Motivation and commitment

• Empathy and being non-judgmental

• Communication skills

• Potential for leadership

• Insight into the roles and

responsibilities of a dentist

• The ability to be a team player

• The ability to deal with stress

appropriately

• Problem solving skills• Students who know their limitations,

their strengths and weaknesses

• Reectiveness

• Students who demonstrate a suitable

approach to life and to people

On the day of your interview you will

attend an introductory talk about the

interview selection process. You will

then be asked to complete a written

questionnaire, which aims to investigate

your commitment and motivation to study

dentistry. After this, you will be given three

alternative scenarios to consider, each of

which centres upon a contemporary ethical

issue related to your chosen programme.

You should select one of these as the

basis for your interview.

The interviews follow a structured and

formal process in order to ensure that

every student applying to a particular

programme, is asked the same questions

and receives the same prompts. The

interview should take approximately

20 minutes. It is not a test of dental or

scientic knowledge, but aims to

explore your attitudes, outlook and

way of thinking.

Candidates with specic access

requirements that have not previously

been disclosed on the UCAS form are

encouraged to discuss these with the

Admissions Team prior to the interview.

Please note that candidates are

responsible for the cost of travel to

the interview. All students attending an

interview must bring current photographic

evidence of their identity, normally a valid

passport or a UK Issued Driving Licence

with photo card. If candidates are not able

to provide this, their interview may be

cancelled and we cannot guarantee that it

will be re-scheduled. In this case we will

not reimburse the candidate for the cost

of their travel to the cancelled interview.

Feedback

Feedback is only given directly to

unsuccessful applicants who request it in

writing by letter or by email. Normally, the

feedback provided includes the numerical

score from the interview and the position

of this score in the overall ranking which

determines which students received a

conditional offer of a place of study on

your chosen programme.

Please contact the Admission Team should

you wish to receive feedback on your

application.

Email:

[email protected]

Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 437333

Student Interviews



Practising as a dentist requires the highest

standards and we take seriously our

commitment to enrol and teach only those

students with the professional qualities

required by the General Dental Council.

www.gdc-uk.org

The School seeks to ensure that all

students admitted onto the BDS

programme are t to practise dentistry.

We will not admit onto the BDS degree

programme any individual who, at the

time of entry, is not deemed to be

t to practise under the terms of the

GDC guidance, or who cannot full any

other health or non-academic entry

requirements.

Graduates are entitled to provisional

registration with the GDC with a licence to

practise, subject to demonstrating to the

GDC that their tness to practise is not

impaired.

Dental School Student

Agreement

All students are required to sign a Dental

School Student Agreement as part of the

offer of a place on the BDS programme.

The Student Agreement is a code of

conduct that derives from the General

Dental Council’s statements on the duties

of a dentist as outlined in Standards for

Dental Professionals (2005) and the needs

of a dental student as outlined in the

General Dental Council’s The First

Five Years.

www.gdc-uk.org

The agreement forms a contract between

the School and its students and states

clearly the level of behaviour expected

by the School of its students. Non-

compliance with the Student Agreement

may constitute a tness to practise issue

and may put at risk a student’s continued

enrolment on the BDS programme. A copy

of the Dental School Student Agreement is

available as a download from the School’s

website: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

Fitness to Practise and

Behaviour

The School seeks to admit onto the

BDS programme students who will show

exemplary behaviour and courtesy toward

patients, teaching staff, other members

of the healthcare team and the wider

community. To become a dentist, it is

essential that you do nothing to diminish

the trust that these groups place in you.

Further information may be found in the

GDC’s publication entitled Maintaining

Standards and in its guidance on

undergraduate dental education contained

in The First Five Years. Both are available

from the GDC website: www.gdc-uk.org

Fitness to Practise and

Health

The School seeks to admit students onto

the BDS programme who are physically

and mentally capable of meeting the

demands placed upon them by a degree in

clinical dentistry and by the professional

duties of a qualied dental practitioner.

We will try, where possible, to put in place

reasonable adjustments to assist students

who have specic health requirements

and challenges, although the nal

determination of admission will be based

on an occupational health assessment.There may, on occasion, be cases where

the School feels it is unable to offer a

place to a student because of signicant

health issues that impact on his or her

tness to practise dentistry.

Before your place on the BDS programme

can be conrmed, you must satisfactorily

complete the Fitness to Practise

assessment, which involves completion of

a pre-course health screening form which

must be signed by your GP. This may also

include a meeting or medical with theSchool’s Health and Well-Being service.

Non-disclosure of a mental or physical

health problem at the admissions stage

that proves to be signicant within the

context of tness to practise, may be

considered a tness to practise issue

by the School. This may lead to the

student concerned being referred to the

School’s Fitness to Practise Committee and

possibly to a requirement that the student

concerned withdraw from the programme

of study.

Criminal Records Bureau

Enhanced Disclosure (CRB)

All offers are conditional upon applicants

completing an enhanced disclosure check

via the Criminal Records Bureau. We will

review all signicant reports of candidates’

convictions, cautions and verbal warnings

and decide on a candidate’s suitability

to enter the BDS degree programme. In

addition, failure to declare a conviction

may result in the student being referred to

the School’s Fitness to Practise Committee,

and possibly, a requirement that thestudent concerned withdraw from the

programme of study.

Blood Borne Viral Infections

– Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C

and HIV

All prospective dental students are

required to provide evidence that they

are free of infection from Hepatitis B,

Hepatitis C and HIV before enrolment onto the BDS programme. This is necessary

to protect both dental students and their

patients against the risk of transmission of

infection in the healthcare setting. We will

make arrangements for mandatory blood

tests to be taken for all students in receipt

of a conditional offer of a place on the

BDS programme, in order to demonstrate

freedom from infection from Hepatitis B,

Hepatitis C and HIV. These mandatory

blood tests form part of the conditional

offer for all applicants. Screening for

tuberculosis will be addressed separatelyupon enrolment on the BDS programme.

We will also require all students to be

immunised against Hepatitis B prior to

commencing work with patients. Students

will NOT be able to progress to clinical

Student Conduct & Fitness to Practise




work with patients until they have

completed their Hepatitis B immunisation

programme.

Our approach to health screening is

informed by Best Practice Guidance (2007)

from the Department of Health and is

consistent with professional obligations

placed on dental practitioners by the

General Dental Council.

www.gdc-uk.org

Disability

The School is committed to meeting the

needs of students with disabilities and

recognises that they are an integral part

of the academic community, which we

strive to make as inclusive as possible.

The School will need to consider the

impact of a disability on an applicant’s

tness to practise dentistry because ithas a special responsibility to ensure that

all students admitted to the BDS course

will be eligible for registration by the

General Dental Council on graduation.

We are committed to ensuring that

all applicants who are judged to be

academically suitable are neither treated

less favourably nor placed at a substantial

disadvantage on the grounds of their

disability. If you consider that you have a

disability, you should tick the relevant box

on the UCAS form. Disclosing a disability

on your UCAS application form will not

affect the screening of your application

or indeed inuence the decision to invite

you to interview. If an offer is made,

the School will seek advice from the

University’s Disability Assist and the Health

& Well-Being Service, so that the type

of assistance needed to enable you to

successfully follow the BDS programme

can be assessed in more detail.

There are rare occasions when,

following professional assessment of a disability, a student’s suitability for

admission may be affected. The School

takes a positive view and tries to meet

the needs of students with disabilities

by making, where possible, reasonable

adjustments to such students’ programmes

of study.

If you would like to discuss this further or

would like general advice and information

about the support for students with a

disability, or a specic learning need,

please contact:

Disability Assist

(Plymouth University)

www.plymouth.ac.uk/disability

Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 587676

29



The best way of nding out whether

you would like to study at Plymouth

University Peninsula Schools of Medicine

and Dentistry is to attend one of our

Open Days.

We will be running an Open Day on 8th

September 2012. 2013

2013 Open Days will be held on Saturday

20th April and Saturday 1st June.

Further details and how to apply can befound on our website www.plymouth.

ac.uk/peninsula

At the Open Days you will have the

opportunity to visit the Plymouth

University campus, meet the staff of

the School and nd out more about

the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree

programme. You have the opportunity to

get involved in interactive activities with

Simulated Dental Learning Environment

and Life Science Resource Centre staff

as well as a demonstration of EnquiryBased Learning.

To reserve a place at one of the Schools’

Open Days, contact the Admissions Team

by phone, on-line or by post.

Plymouth University Peninsula Schools

of Medicine and Dentistry

The John Bull Building

Tamar Science Park

Research Way

Plymouth

PL6 8BU

Reserve your place on-line at:

http://openday.pcmd.ac.uk

Telephone: 01752 437333

Fax: 01752 517842

Email:

[email protected]

University Open Days

In addition Plymouth University holds

general Open Days where the School is

represented. At the University Open Days,

you will have the opportunity to talk to

Admissions staff. However there are no

interactive elements at these events. The

University Open Day will take place on:

Saturday 19 October 2012

Open Days

31*The answer to the Sample Applied Dental Knowledge (Progress Test) question is: ‘B’



Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of

Medicine and Dentistry

The John Bull Building

Tamar Science Park

Research Way

Plymouth

PL6 8BU

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 437333

Fax: +44 (0) 1752 517842

Website: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

plymouth dentistry prospectus

Documents