MSc in Clinical Dentistry
(Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)
Division of Dentistry
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
2019/2020 Handbook
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
The University of Manchester
Division of Dentistry
Coupland Building 3
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
tel +44 (0) 161 275 6660
www.dentistry.manchester.ac.uk
September 2019
Dear Postgraduate Student,
I am writing as the Director for the postgraduate programme in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to welcome you to Manchester and to your programme of study.
I hope that you all made it to Manchester without too many problems and that you are getting settled into the accommodation you have arranged.
Your first few weeks will be packed with new experiences, from finding your way around Manchester to making new friends. In addition to learning a new clinical routine, you will also embark on what for most of you will be your first experience of carrying out research in some format and I hope that you will find it both interesting and rewarding.
Bear in mind we are always here to support you and I hope you will soon feel confident in your new environment and ready for the challenges ahead.
I wish you success in your future educational endeavours.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Helen Petersen
1. STAFF CONTACTS
Dr Helen Petersen, Programme Director / Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Oral Surgery
Email: helen.petersen@manchester.ac.uk
Ms Amy Matthews Programme Administrator (Temporary to January 2020)
Mrs Erika Buzink-Wallis Programme Administrator
Tel: 0161 275 6660
Email: omfs@manchester.ac.uk
Office location: Coupland Building III, Ground Floor
2. PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
2.1 Introduction
The Division of Dentistry at the University of Manchester has an international reputation for teaching and research. The MSc in Clinical Dentistry (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) has the advantage of integrating ‘control of pain and anxiety’ and ‘applied medicine and surgery’ subjects into the programme. A further strength is the strong link with the International Cochrane Oral Health Group that is based in Manchester and a consequent emphasis on the current research evidence for clinical care. The curriculum is directed by research active clinical academic staff. A wide range of surgery is undertaken in the department including facial trauma, cancer and reconstruction, secondary cleft, implant and bone grafting, salivary gland, jaw joint and dento-alveolar. Within the three year programme there will be additional opportunities to undertake residential courses, conferences and study periods relating to the specialty. This will include exposure to anatomy and general surgical techniques (cadaver course) and implantology (hands-on laboratory-based surgical course and residential didactic taught course).
This is a highly integrated programme which comprises four components:
1. Research Methods (15 credits)
2. Biostatistics (15 credits)
3. Specialty Clinical Component (90 credits)
4. Research Unit leading to a Dissertation (60 credits)
This handbook includes information on the aims and objectives, structure, content, teaching and learning methods, programme management, and assessment. It should be read in conjunction with the PGT Handbook.
2.2 Aims & Objectives of the Programme
The programme is designed for dental practitioners with a minimum of two years’ experience in general professional training or equivalent, who wish to further their knowledge and understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
The aims are to:
- Provide dental practitioners with the knowledge and skills to undertake minor oral surgery in the context of wider knowledge or oral and maxillofacial surgery.
- Provide the appropriate knowledge, understanding, intellectual skills, practical skills and attitude to practice minor oral surgery in selected cases.
- Enable critical evaluation, problem solving and sound judgement for clinical problems.
- Provide the knowledge to have a critical understanding of the issues involved in the scientific basis of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
On completion of the programme of students will have acquired:
- Knowledge of contemporary aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including an appreciation of an interdisciplinary approach to comprehensive patient care.
- The appropriate practical and clinical skills relevant to oral surgery and a wider knowledge and understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
- Competence and confidence in a variety of transferable skills relevant to oral surgery
- Additional exposure to more advanced practices within the specialty of oral surgery
The programme will provide sufficient clinical treatment for candidates to be eligible to apply to sit the Membership in Oral Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
2.3 Basic Outline
The programme is offered on a full-time basis over 36 months. See programme timetable for further information.
3. SUMMARY OF PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
3.1 Structure of the Programme
The Unit Specification can be found on Blackboard.
The structure of the programme is as follows:
- Each unit has a credit rating
- The number of credits required for the award of the degree of MSc in Dental Specialties (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) is 180 credits
- The programme is delivered on a three semester per annum basis
DENT 61010 Research Methods 15 credits Year 1
DENT 70001 Biostatistics 15 credits Year 1
(See Section Two of the PGT Handbook for further information)
Clinical Units (90 credits) comprising:
DENT60961 Surgical Basic Sciences & Patient Care 15 credits Year 1
DENT60992 Bone: Disease and Injury, 15 credits Year 1
DENT61002 Soft Tissue, 15 credits Year 1
DENT60971 Dental Tissues, 15 credits Year 2
DENT61012 Salivary Tissue, Pain TMJ, 15 credits Year 2
DENT61252 Reflective Oral Surgery Practice 15 credits Year 2
Exit Award PG Diploma 120 credits
DENT60020 Dissertation 60 credits
See Section Three of PGT Handbook for further information
Award of MSc 180 credits
3.2 Content of Research Methods and Biostatistics Units
See Section Two of PGT Handbook for further information.
3.3 Content of Clinical Component
Teaching in the clinical units of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is provided throughout the programme. Teaching methods in this component will include tutorials, seminars, clinical demonstrations, case presentations and clinical practice. Students are encouraged to attend relevant seminars in other clinical disciplines to gain a broad-based perspective to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. A comprehensive reading list is available on Blackboard.
Seminars will be planned and reading from the scientific literature on related subjects will be assigned; the aim being to expose the student to a wide range of topics in a short period. Students will be challenged to assess the available evidence and to determine the biological basis for acceptable and non-acceptable methods and techniques.
Instruction will be given in clinical and laboratory aspects of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. This instruction will take the form of demonstrations, shadowing of Consultant staff, seminars and practical laboratory and clinical exercises.
Students must complete sign in sheets for each clinical rotation and maintain an online log of procedures. The work based assessments and clinical attendance sheets must be sent to the Programme Administrator and brought to all clinical progress interviews with the Programme Director for discussion.
4. TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS
The student is encouraged to take responsibility for his/her own learning. There is an emphasis on a self-directed learning approach and the application of newly acquired knowledge is encouraged. The individual learning needs of each student will be recognised. For example, the diversity of clinical options in the clinical component allows students to receive further training in areas in which they may perceive themselves to be deficient.
The type of teaching will vary from tutorials, small group seminars, self-directed learning, individual clinical and classroom tuition and close clinical supervision. On clinical sessions, students will work in a collaborative operator assistant team working environment in which patient care is enhanced.
In addition, activities in this clinical component will be supplemented by:
- Attendance at national conferences (British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons)
- Bespoke sub-specialty courses organised external to the University of Manchester, including one at the Royal College of Surgeons in London
- Implant course in Gothenburg, Sweden
- Attendance at seminars given by guest lecturers
Clinical exposure is provided by attendance at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery out-patient clinics, joint specialty clinics, out-patient operating lists under local anaesthesia and conscious sedation, day case and in-patient general anaesthetic operating lists. Clinical exposure to major surgery is likely to be limited to observation and assistance. Exposure to minor surgery is likely to be involvement as an operator with assistance and as a principal operator. Clinical activity takes place at the Dental Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary and The Children’s Hospital. These are all hospitals of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Full attendance at clinical sessions is important as patients may be booked for individual graduate students.
In addition, activities in this clinical component are supplemented by:
- participation in appropriate extra-mural clinical courses
- attendance at seminars
4.1. Aims and Objectives of the Research Methods (15 credits) and Biostatistics (15 credits) Units
For details of these units please refer to the PGT Handbook.
4.2 Aim of the Specialty Clinical Component (90 credits)
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a clinical discipline which involves diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of pathological conditions affecting the orofacial region and associated structures.
The aim of this component is:
- to give the student an understanding of the scientific basis of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with particular emphasis on contemporary theories relevant to diagnosis and patient management, and the current status of the evidence base for clinical practice.
4.3 Objectives of the Specialty Clinical Component
The taught programme aims to provide instruction in the principles and practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with particular emphasis upon clinical dento-alveolar surgery, and an introduction to relevant aspects of maxillofacial surgery.
On completion of this part of the programme, students will have acquired:
- knowledge of contemporary aspects of Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- appropriate practical and clinical skills relevant to Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- competence and confidence in a variety of transferable skills relevant to Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Details of specific component aims and objectives are to be found under the appropriate headings in subsequent sections
4.4 Aims and Objectives of the Research Component (60 credits)
Please see the PGT Handbook.
4.5 Blackboard
The programme has an online presence via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), known as Blackboard. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Blackboard Unit is DENT77003. Blackboard is a repository of the learning resources and will be used for providing programme-related information and announcements and thus students are expected to check their Blackboard space frequently. It is also used for a number of formative assessments during the programme. Access to Blackboard is via one of the links below:
http://online.manchester.ac.uk
Log-in: Your central university username and password.
4.6 Learning Resources
A comprehensive reading list is available on Blackboard.
Students are provided with a complimentary ‘core knowledge’ textbook (Coulthard P, Horner K, Sloan P and Theaker E. Master Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radiology, Pathology and Oral Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2008).
5. ASSESSMENTS, PROGRESSION & EXAMINATIONS
It is important that all students familiarise themselves with the University’s Taught Masters regulations at the link below, a copy of which is on the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Blackboard.
http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=29208
There are various electronic systems for the purposes of detecting plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice and for marking. The plagiarism detection service used by the University is TurnitinUK.
As part of the formative and/or summative assessment process, you will be asked to submit electronic versions of your work to TurnitinUK (this requirement may be in addition to a requirement to submit a paper copy of your work). If you are asked to do this, you must do so within the required timescales.
Please note that when work is submitted to TurnitinUK, it may be copied and then stored in a database to allow appropriate checks to be made.
The majority of the programme units making up the specialty clinical component are examined by essay, single best answer test and Work Based Assessments (see section 5.2).
*A mark of 50% is required in each course unit for a Pass at Master’s level.
*Please note: DENT61252 Reflective Oral Surgery Practice unit must be passed at 50% and is exempt from the standard degree regulations in that it is non-compenstable.
The taught units must be satisfactorily completed before a candidate is allowed to submit his/her dissertation.
5.1 Research Methods and Biostatistics Units
(DENT 61010 and DENT 70001)
5.2 Clinical Assessment:
The clinical assessment component requires you to complete a clinical log as well as Work Based Assessments (WBAs). These assessments allow you also to gain feedback and reflect on your performance.
Per course unit, you will need to complete:
3x DOPs (Direct Observed procedures)
1x CBD (Case based discussion)
1x CEX (Clinical Examination)
These, along with your clinical attendance log, will make up the Clinical Element of 5 of the 8 course units (see 5.5 below).
5.3 Assessed Essay Information
Each of the five Assessed Essays has its own submission date and dates for the Year One submissions are noted below (5.5). These essays are formally examined and constitute 40% of each clinical unit final mark and as such the submission dates are not flexible.
Essays must be submitted through Blackboard by the deadline stated in the brief.
You will be required to submit your essay via Blackboard and the work will be subjected to plagiarism checks in TurnitinUK. You will be provided with an example of how to format your essay on Blackboard and you must adhere to this otherwise your essay will not be accepted.
5.4 Single Best Answer
These assessments cover the subjects on the given course unit but in a wider context and constitute 30% of the course unit grade.
YEAR 1
DENT 60961 Surgical Basic Sciences & Patient Care, 15 credits
All elements for this unit due by midnight Tuesday 3rd December 2019
- Single Best Answer (30%)
This paper will take place: 10.00-11.00am, 3 December 2019
Venue: Sam Alex Building – A215
DENT 60992 Bone: Disease and Injury, 15 credits
All elements for this unit due by midnight Monday 9th March 2020
- Single Best Answer (30%)
This paper will take place: 10.00-11.00am, 5 March
Venue: Sam Alex Building – A202
- Essay 3 (40%)
- Clinical Element (30%)
DENT 61002 Soft Tissue, 15 credits
All elements for this unit due by midnight Monday 27th April 2020
- Single Best Answer (30%)
This paper will take place: 10.00-11.00amm, 27 April 2020,
Venue: University Place – 3.210
- Essay 4 (40%)
- Clinical Element (30%)
YEAR 2
DENT 60971 Dental Tissues, 15 credits
All elements for this unit due by midnight Friday 31st January 2020
- Single Best Answer (30%)
This paper will take place: 10.00-11.00am, 31 January 2020
Venue: Simon Building – 4.47
- Essay 2 (40%)
- Clinical Element (30%)
DENT 61012 Salivary Tissue, Pain TMJ, 15 credits
All elements for this unit due by midnight Friday 5th June 2020
- Single Best Answer (30%)
This paper will take place: 10.00-11.00am, 5 June 2020
Venue: Sam Alex Building – A18
- Essay 5 (40%)
- Clinical Element (30%)
DENT 61252 Reflective Oral Surgery Practice, 15 credits
Monday 6th July 2020.
Venue: TBC
- Oral Examination (100%)
This 15 minute examination will take place at the end of the taught component in the presence of two internal examiners and the external examiner.
Please note: this unit must be passed at 50% and is exempt from the standard degree regulations in that it is non-compenstable.
DENT60020 MSc Dissertation, 60 credits
See the PGT Handbook.
5.6 Marking
An anonymous marking scheme will be used.
Single Best Answer papers are checked against correct answer papers independently by two Administrators.
Assessed essays are marked independently by two academic members of staff and a selection is moderated by the appointed external examiner. The external examiner also leads the oral examination. Apart from during the oral exam, students’ names will be revealed only when the agreed mark has been confirmed.
The Clinical Element is assessed by the Programme Director and the Clinician supervising the student’s clinical tasks.
The pass mark for the taught units (Research Methods, Biostatistics and the six specialty clinical units) is 50%.
5.7 Referral Examinations
The grade for each unit is calculated as the weighted average of the assessments within each unit as detailed in Section 5.5 above. Candidates who fail the overall unit may be required to re-sit the failed assessment.
5.8 Regulations and Arrangements for Mitigating Circumstances, Referrals, Compensation
See the PGT Handbook.
5.9 Attendance
Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions punctually.
A record of non-attendance and reason for non-attendance will be maintained and students giving cause for concern will be required to see the Programme Director.
Unjustified non-attendance is considered to be unprofessional and will be reflected on periodic progress forms. Students who need time off during term time must apply, and have approved, this additional leave BEFORE making any travel plans.
The link below relates to the University’s Work and Attendance of Students policy:
http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=1895
In addition it is a Faculty requirement that all students sign an attendance register each week in a file maintained by the Programme Administrator.
In the event of illness or unavoidable absence from a teaching session (clinical or seminar), students are required to inform the relevant clinic and the programme administrator before the start of the session.
5.10 Progression
Student progress is assessed by:
1. Module examinations and assessments.
2. Clinical Progress.
3. The dissertation project (see PGT Handbook)
Students are expected to attend all taught sessions and clinical placements as scheduled. Absences are recorded, and may be grounds for students not progressing through the programme.
Satisfactory completion of each 15 credit unit requires satisfactory clinical attendance, completed work based assessments, completion of the single best answer examination and written assignments (see sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5).
Only those students who pass all the Year 1 taught modules and make satisfactory clinical progress will be allowed to progress to Year 2. If a student’s clinical progress and academic performance in the second year is not satisfactory, they could be required to withdraw from the course. Candidates for the degree of Master will not be permitted to submit a dissertation for assessment until they have satisfied the examiners in the assessment of the taught part of the programme and have successfully completed the placement requirements.
Students who pass the taught and placements parts of the programme but do not complete a dissertation may be eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma. A written record of all assessed work is kept for each student. Student progress is reviewed minimum four times each year, during clinical progress meetings and two Programme Exam Boards.
5.11 External Examiner
The External Examiner for this programme is Dr Kathryn Taylor
Name of Institution: The University of Liverpool.
Position at current Institution: Senior Clinical Lecturer/Oral Surgery Teaching Lead.
External Examiners are individuals from another institution or organisation who monitor the assessment processes of the University to ensure fairness and academic standards. They ensure that assessment and examination procedures have been fairy and properly implemented and that decisions have been made after appropriate deliberation. They also ensure that standards of awards and levels of student performance are at least comparable with those in equivalent higher education institutions.
External Examiners’ reports relating to this programme will be shared with student representatives at the Staff Student Liaison Committee (SSLC)/ programme committee/ where details of any actions carried out by the programme team/Division of Dentistry in response to the External Examiners’ comments will be discussed. Students should contact their student representatives if they require any further information about External Examiners’’ reports or the process for considering them.
Please note that it is inappropriate for students to make direct contact with External Examiners under any circumstances, in particular with regards to a student’s individual performance in assessments. Other appropriate mechanisms are available for students, including the University’s appeals or complaints procedures and the UMSU Advice Centre. In cases where a student does contact an External Examiner directly, External Examiners have been requested not to respond to direct queries. Instead, External Examiners should report the matter to their Dentistry contact who will then contact the student to remind them of the other methods available for students. If students have any queries concerning this, they should contact their Programme Office (or equivalent).
6. FEEDBACK
The principles of feedback are as follows:
- Feedback should be provided in a timely manner that helps students understand (i) the marks or grades they have received for work submitted and (ii) how they might improve their performance in the future.
- Feedback should be as personal as possible to the individual student to enable reflection on individual skills and performance.
- Students have a responsibility to consider feedback given on their work, to seek to understand it, and to act on it.
The following outlines the feedback available for all elements of the clinical component of the programme.
There will be an opportunity to discuss any issues raised at the end of each clinical session and students will receive feedback following the assessment of the clinical element of each course unit.
Students will meet with the Programme Director every 6 six months to discuss overall clinical progress.
Students are encouraged to approach either a tutor or the Programme Director at any time should they have any concerns regarding their clinical progress or may request an appointment via the Programme Administrator.
Examination
Feedback will be completed by examiners for all elements of accredited assessment and students are encouraged to make an appointment with the Programme Director via their Programme Administrator to discuss such feedback. Students will receive direct feedback on Blackboard for the assignments which are submitted via Blackboard.
Feedback to Students Policy:
http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=6518
7. STUDENT REPRESENTATION
a) Formal:
There is an elected postgraduate student representative for postgraduate taught programmes in the Division of Dentistry on the Graduate Programme Committee.
Students will elect a representative for the group. All issues/concerns related to the programme, that are considered to be group-specific rather than individual-specific should be brought to the attention of the Programme Director via the representative.
b) Informal:
The small student: staff ratio on clinics means that problems may be discussed and resolved expeditiously.
See the PGT Handbook.
8. ACADEMIC MALPRACTICE
See the PGT Handbook
9. ACADEMIC APPEALS/COMPLAINTS
See the PGT Handbook
10. PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
Role of the Clinical Unit Management Team
The Clinical Unit Management Team is responsible for:
- Programme content
- Examination questions
- Assessment of candidates
The Clinical Unit Management Team comprises:
Dr. Helen Petersen Consultant / Senior Lecturer in Oral Surgery (OS)
Professor Julian Yates Professor in OMFS, Honorary Consultant in OS
CLINICAL TUTORS
Dr. Alka Saksena Consultant in OS
Mr Tim Blackburn Consultant in OMFS
Mr Stuart Clark Consultant in OMFS
Ms Victoria Beale Consultant in OMFS and special responsibility for cleft lip and palate surgery
Mr Athanasios Kalantzis Consultant in OMFS
Mr Maranzano Massimo Consultant in OMFS
Dr Michael Pemberton Consultant in OM
Professor Lasse Skoglund Visiting Professor from Oslo Dental Institute
Mr Stephen Davies Clinical Lecturer
Mr Erik Andresen Associate Specialist in Primary Dental Care and OS
Mr Iain Campbell Speciality Doctor in OS (P/T)
Mrs Alice Litaba Speciality Doctor in OS (P/T)
Mr Karan Singh Speciality Doctor in OS (P/T)
Mr Neil Patel Lecturer in Evidence Based Practice
Mr Sin Yong Specialist in OS (P/T)
Mr Syed Ahad Specialist Registrar OMFS
Ms Anusha Hennedige Specialist Registrar OMFS
Mr Predrag Jeremic Specialist Registrar OMFS
Ms Tamsin Cooper Specialist Registrar OS
KEY NURSING STAFF
Ms Ellie Maher Dental Nurse Matron
Ms Sara Knowles Nurse Manager
Ms Michelle Hayes Nurse Manager
Ms Sarah Dillon Senior Nurse in OS
Ms Dawn Harrison Senior Nurse in OS
Ms Kate Walsh Senior Nurse in OS
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Ms Amy Matthews Programme Administrator (Temporary to January 2020)
Mrs Erika Buzink-Wallis Programme Administrator
Ms Janet Anderson OS Team Leader
Ms Debbie Gordon OS Clinical Coordinator
Ms Elizabeth Hargreaves Secretary MRI Admissions
Ms Susan Wright Clerical Assistant, OMFS MRI
Ms Tanya Higgins Clerical Assistant, OMFS MRI
Ms Gaynor Knott Clerical Assistant Dental Sedation Suite
Ms Joanne Lynch Clerical Assistant, OS