Dental Public Health MSc at Kings College London

A dynamic course that challenges you to think critically about oral health at population level. Subjects covered include the philosophy and principles of dental public health; the major health problems of a community (and their determinants); the organisation and delivery of oral health services; research methods, epidemiology and statistics; methods of control and prevention of oral and dental diseases; planning and evaluation for oral health; and social and behavioural sciences as applied to dentistry.

Our research themes include the social determinants of oral health inequalities, the burden of oral diseases on individuals and society, and health services research, including dental workforce.

Key benefits

• Practical experience in dental public health by participating in teaching, research health promotion and health services activities during placements.
• Strong emphasis on evidence-based prevention of oral disease at population level.
• Developing technical skills in dental public health such as critical appraisal of evidence, designing oral health surveys, planning and evaluting dental programmes, devising research protocols and data management.
• A dissertation format that enables students to submit their work for publication in scientific journals.
• In-house preparation for the Diploma in Dental Public Health examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Description

The course consists of six modules with assignments and written examinations, and a research project module in dental public health assessed by dissertation. It includes opportunities to work and learn with a multidisciplinary team, practical experience in some dental public health activities, and involvement in high quality research. The programme is also recognised for the Royal College of Surgeons of England Diploma in Dental Public Health examination.

Course purpose

The MSc in Dental Public Health is especially for people, not just dentists, who intend to become planners, managers of services, epidemiologists, health promoters and teachers of public health dental subjects. 

The course aims to produce a highly knowledgeable individual, proficient and skilful in dental public health with an appreciation of the need for lifelong learning and the need for application of advances in relevant knowledge.

Career destinations

UK graduates: consultants in dental public health, directors of community dental services, PhD studies and senior academics in universities. Overseas graduates: directors of community dental services, senior academics in universities which includes setting up departments of dental public health.