This course provides current dental practitioners with the opportunity to study for a higher dental degree, providing specialist clinical training in Paediatric Dentistry.
Introduction
The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains professional skills training. Students who successfully complete the DDSc programme in Paediatric Dentistry will be awarded the DDSc (Paediatric Dentistry) and will be eligible to sit the Tri-collegiate Diploma of Membership in Paediatric Dentistry (MPaedDent) specialty membership examination from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
Both the UK Specialist Curriculum in Paediatric Dentistry and the tri-collegiate Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh blueprints in Paediatric Dentistry are embedded into the programme.
Funded specialist trainee appointments are competitively available to appropriately qualified candidates on this programme with application through the national recruitment process.
During the course, you will attend Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, one of Europe’s biggest children’s hospitals. The dental department hosts the regional cleft lip and palate network in addition to specialist paediatric dentistry for children with complex medical needs.
We pride ourselves on the support we offer our students on, you will be assigned an Educational Supervisor who will take the time to get to know you, understand your learning needs and offer feedback to help you develop. You will have the opportunity to present your work at national and international conferences.
Who is this course for?
This course is for graduates who already have a degree in Dental Surgery who are looking to specialise in Paediatric Dentistry.
What you'll learn
Research methods
Clinical research investigations
Assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning in paediatric dentistry
Knowledge and skills to manage children with appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological behaviour management techniques
Understanding of paediatric dentistry practice through holistic management of children with complex medical and dental needs.
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
The DDSc is a 3-year full time Doctorate programme comprising 540 credits. The programme has 180 credits in year one mostly at master’s level and 360 credits in years two and three at doctorate level.
All modules are mandatory i.e. must be passed, and make up the taught, clinical and research components of the programme.
The programme consists of 5 core modules and 4 speciality specific modules.
Compulsory modules
RESEARCH METHODS ONLINE (15 CREDITS) (CDEN207)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: whole session
This module will provide students with insight to the overarching strategy and process involved in the application of research to their professional field. The module will be delivered wholly online and supported by interactive eLectures/audio-visual presentations, quizzes and case based interactive discussion boards. For the final assessment, students will be required to p roduce a plan for a research project. The assessment will be school specific and examples will include: experimental design; research design; grant application; ethics application etc. Each assigment must include a full plan of the research including a discussion of any ethics, propsed data collection and analysis and include a justification of the proposed methodologies including any statistics. Successful students will be able to understand and appropriately implement all elements of ‘the research journey’ from conception of an idea, through development/approval, execution, analysis, application and dissemination of such work.
Research Protocol (CDEN299)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: research session
To produce a postgraduate capable of the general ability to design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of professional practice, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems
ASSESSMENT , DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLANNING IN PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (CDEN261)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: whole session
CDEN261 is a 30 credit Paediatric Dentistry pathway module which is part of the DDSc programme. This module provides students with the underpinning knowledge and skills required to practice Paediatric Dentistry at level 7. It is one of two foundation modules required in the Paediatric Dentistry pathway.
The module will allow the students to gain cognitive, psychomotor and interpersonal skills in the diagnosis, treatment planning and provision of core clinical practice in Paediatric Dentistry. The module is mapped to the GDC learning outcomes for specialist training in Paediatric Dentistry.
CDEN261 will be taught within the School of Dentistry and supervised clinical teaching will be delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry department of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital. This will involve assessing children with age ranges between 0 to 16 on new patient clinics, leading to formulating a diagnosis, recognising the effect of child physical, behavioural and cognitive development on their ability to accept dental treatment and devising treatment plans including those that may be delivered under sedation and general anaesthesia.
Students are expected to complete independent reading in preparation for regular seminars/tutorials held throughout the module. The students will participate in discussions around the current evidence-base in the literature. It would be expected that supplementary resources found by students would be critically appraised and discussed as appropriate to the module content and best practice in Paediatric Dentistry.
A range of assessment strategies will be used to assess the learning outcomes. The assessment strategies are based on the Paediatric Dentistry GDC curriculum including continuous work based assessment and personal development portfolio and two end of module summative examinations consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination.
DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE ANXIOUS CHILD (CDEN262)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: whole session
This is a 60 credit module that will be available for the DDSc in Dental Science programme Paediatric Dentistry pathway.
The module will provide students with the additional skills, knowledge and training required to manage children with different behavioural and dental needs using both non-pharmacological and pharmacological behaviour management techniques.
This module will enable the student to acquire cognitive, psychomotor and interpersonal skills to assess, treatment plan and provide core clinical practice using behaviour, cognitive management strategies and conscious sedation to meet the needs of paediatric patients in addition to providing treatment under general anaesthesia.
The module will be taught within the School of Dentistry with supervised clinical teaching delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry department of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital. This module will involve providing a range of clinical procedures for a wide range of paediatric patients.
There will be structured teaching, seminars, practical classes, chairside teaching, case based learning and project work in the form of audits, case reports and essays. The students will be undertaking self-directed learning to enhance the module programme and will attend verified external courses provided by specialist society conferences in a variety of Paediatric Dentistry topics.
The syllabus meets the core requirements for the specialty training programme and the Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care by the Report of the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation in Dentistry. The dental faculties of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. (IASCD 2015).
A variety of assessments will be used in the module. These will be mapped to the relevant curricula including continuous work based assessments, use of a personal development portfolio and a logbook. There will be a summative examination at the end of each module consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination. Students will record their learning, clinical placements, assessments and reflections using a secure on-line National Portfolio (Intercollegiate Surgical Competence Progression (ISCP)). For students with a National Training Number (NTN), the ISCP portfolio will support assessment through the Annual Review of Competence Programme (ARCP). https://www.iscp.ac.uk/static/dental/PaedAppendix.pdf
DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS (CDEN361)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: whole session
Module CDEN361 provides students with teaching, learning support and strategies to enable the student to demonstrate systematic acquisition of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required to provide specialist Paediatric Dentistry to children with complex medical and dental needs.
It is a core module in the Paediatric Dentistry Pathway which underpins the academic and clinical training requirements for the Specialist Training Curriculum in Paediatric Dentistry/General Dental Council UK.
The students will have supervised clinical contact time with consultants and specialists in Paediatric Dentistry within Hospital Dental Services.
CDEN361 will be taught within the School of Dentistry and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, supervised clinical teaching will be delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry Departments of both.
The students will be gaining relevant skills in information gathering, informed consent, managing children with complex dental and medical needs (including those suffering from dental trauma and dental anomalies) and children with complex medical co-morbidities.
CDEN361 includes structured teaching, seminars, practical classes, chairside teaching, case based learning and project work. Students will be encouraged towards self-directed learning to enhance the module programme and will attend external courses provided by specialist society conferences in a variety of Paediatric Dentistry topics.
A variety of assessments will be used in module CDEN361 and mapped to the Paediatric Dentistry Specialist curriculum and include continuous work based assessments, use of a Personal Development Portfolio and logbook. A summative examination will be held at the end of the module consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination.
Students will record their learning, clinical placements, assessments and reflections using a secure on-line National Portfolio (Intercollegiate Surgical Competence Progression, ISCP). For students with a National Training Number (NTN), the ISCP portfolio will support assessment through the Annual Review of Competence Programme (ARCP). https://www.iscp.ac.uk/static/dental/PaedAppendix.pdf
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (CDEN362)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: whole session
This is a 60 credit module provide students with teaching, learning support and strategies to enable systematic acquisition of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required at the level of a specialist in Paediatric Dentistry in the provision of multidisciplinary oral healthcare for children with complex needs.
The students will have supervised clinical contact time with consultants and specialists within Hospital Dental Services.
Placements will be arranged with other medical and dental consultant and specialist teams and multidisciplinary team meeting and clinics to facilitate deeper inter-professional learning.
CDEN362 will be taught within the School of Dentistry and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and supervised clinical teaching will be delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry Departments of both. There will be attendance to joint clinics with other specialities in addition to attending orthodontics, oral surgery and oral medicine clinics.
This module will involve assessing children on new patient clinics, planning treatment and providing a range of clinical procedures for a wide range of children with complex dental and /or medical needs.
The students will gather information on a multidisciplinary basis considering health and social care, gaining consent, performing risk assessments and undertaking supervised clinical practice.
The Module includes structured teaching, seminars, practical classes, chairside teaching, case based learning and project work. Students will be encouraged towards self-directed learning to enhance the module programme and will attend external courses provided by specialist society conferences in a variety of Paediatric Dentistry topics.
A variety of assessments will be used which are mapped to the Paediatric Dentistry Specialist curriculum and include continuous work based assessments, use of a Personal Development Portfolio and logbook. A summative examination will be held at the end of the module consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination.
Students will record their learning, clinical placements, assessments and reflections using a secure on-line National Portfolio(Intercollegiate Surgical Competence Progression, ISCP). For students with a National Training Number (NTN), the ISCP portfolio will support assessment through the Annual Review of Competence Programme (ARCP). https://www.iscp.ac.uk/static/dental/PaedAppendix.pdf
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
Compulsory modules
RESEARCH METHODS ONLINE (15 CREDITS) (CDEN207)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: whole session
This module will provide students with insight to the overarching strategy and process involved in the application of research to their professional field. The module will be delivered wholly online and supported by interactive eLectures/audio-visual presentations, quizzes and case based interactive discussion boards. For the final assessment, students will be required to p roduce a plan for a research project. The assessment will be school specific and examples will include: experimental design; research design; grant application; ethics application etc. Each assigment must include a full plan of the research including a discussion of any ethics, propsed data collection and analysis and include a justification of the proposed methodologies including any statistics. Successful students will be able to understand and appropriately implement all elements of ‘the research journey’ from conception of an idea, through development/approval, execution, analysis, application and dissemination of such work.
Research Protocol (CDEN299)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: research session
To produce a postgraduate capable of the general ability to design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of professional practice, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems
ASSESSMENT , DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLANNING IN PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (CDEN261)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: whole session
CDEN261 is a 30 credit Paediatric Dentistry pathway module which is part of the DDSc programme. This module provides students with the underpinning knowledge and skills required to practice Paediatric Dentistry at level 7. It is one of two foundation modules required in the Paediatric Dentistry pathway.
The module will allow the students to gain cognitive, psychomotor and interpersonal skills in the diagnosis, treatment planning and provision of core clinical practice in Paediatric Dentistry. The module is mapped to the GDC learning outcomes for specialist training in Paediatric Dentistry.
CDEN261 will be taught within the School of Dentistry and supervised clinical teaching will be delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry department of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital. This will involve assessing children with age ranges between 0 to 16 on new patient clinics, leading to formulating a diagnosis, recognising the effect of child physical, behavioural and cognitive development on their ability to accept dental treatment and devising treatment plans including those that may be delivered under sedation and general anaesthesia.
Students are expected to complete independent reading in preparation for regular seminars/tutorials held throughout the module. The students will participate in discussions around the current evidence-base in the literature. It would be expected that supplementary resources found by students would be critically appraised and discussed as appropriate to the module content and best practice in Paediatric Dentistry.
A range of assessment strategies will be used to assess the learning outcomes. The assessment strategies are based on the Paediatric Dentistry GDC curriculum including continuous work based assessment and personal development portfolio and two end of module summative examinations consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination.
DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE ANXIOUS CHILD (CDEN262)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: whole session
This is a 60 credit module that will be available for the DDSc in Dental Science programme Paediatric Dentistry pathway.
The module will provide students with the additional skills, knowledge and training required to manage children with different behavioural and dental needs using both non-pharmacological and pharmacological behaviour management techniques.
This module will enable the student to acquire cognitive, psychomotor and interpersonal skills to assess, treatment plan and provide core clinical practice using behaviour, cognitive management strategies and conscious sedation to meet the needs of paediatric patients in addition to providing treatment under general anaesthesia.
The module will be taught within the School of Dentistry with supervised clinical teaching delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry department of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital. This module will involve providing a range of clinical procedures for a wide range of paediatric patients.
There will be structured teaching, seminars, practical classes, chairside teaching, case based learning and project work in the form of audits, case reports and essays. The students will be undertaking self-directed learning to enhance the module programme and will attend verified external courses provided by specialist society conferences in a variety of Paediatric Dentistry topics.
The syllabus meets the core requirements for the specialty training programme and the Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care by the Report of the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation in Dentistry. The dental faculties of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. (IASCD 2015).
A variety of assessments will be used in the module. These will be mapped to the relevant curricula including continuous work based assessments, use of a personal development portfolio and a logbook. There will be a summative examination at the end of each module consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination. Students will record their learning, clinical placements, assessments and reflections using a secure on-line National Portfolio (Intercollegiate Surgical Competence Progression (ISCP)). For students with a National Training Number (NTN), the ISCP portfolio will support assessment through the Annual Review of Competence Programme (ARCP). https://www.iscp.ac.uk/static/dental/PaedAppendix.pdf
DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS (CDEN361)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: whole session
Module CDEN361 provides students with teaching, learning support and strategies to enable the student to demonstrate systematic acquisition of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required to provide specialist Paediatric Dentistry to children with complex medical and dental needs.
It is a core module in the Paediatric Dentistry Pathway which underpins the academic and clinical training requirements for the Specialist Training Curriculum in Paediatric Dentistry/General Dental Council UK.
The students will have supervised clinical contact time with consultants and specialists in Paediatric Dentistry within Hospital Dental Services.
CDEN361 will be taught within the School of Dentistry and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, supervised clinical teaching will be delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry Departments of both.
The students will be gaining relevant skills in information gathering, informed consent, managing children with complex dental and medical needs (including those suffering from dental trauma and dental anomalies) and children with complex medical co-morbidities.
CDEN361 includes structured teaching, seminars, practical classes, chairside teaching, case based learning and project work. Students will be encouraged towards self-directed learning to enhance the module programme and will attend external courses provided by specialist society conferences in a variety of Paediatric Dentistry topics.
A variety of assessments will be used in module CDEN361 and mapped to the Paediatric Dentistry Specialist curriculum and include continuous work based assessments, use of a Personal Development Portfolio and logbook. A summative examination will be held at the end of the module consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination.
Students will record their learning, clinical placements, assessments and reflections using a secure on-line National Portfolio (Intercollegiate Surgical Competence Progression, ISCP). For students with a National Training Number (NTN), the ISCP portfolio will support assessment through the Annual Review of Competence Programme (ARCP). https://www.iscp.ac.uk/static/dental/PaedAppendix.pdf
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (CDEN362)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: whole session
This is a 60 credit module provide students with teaching, learning support and strategies to enable systematic acquisition of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required at the level of a specialist in Paediatric Dentistry in the provision of multidisciplinary oral healthcare for children with complex needs.
The students will have supervised clinical contact time with consultants and specialists within Hospital Dental Services.
Placements will be arranged with other medical and dental consultant and specialist teams and multidisciplinary team meeting and clinics to facilitate deeper inter-professional learning.
CDEN362 will be taught within the School of Dentistry and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and supervised clinical teaching will be delivered in the Paediatric Dentistry Departments of both. There will be attendance to joint clinics with other specialities in addition to attending orthodontics, oral surgery and oral medicine clinics.
This module will involve assessing children on new patient clinics, planning treatment and providing a range of clinical procedures for a wide range of children with complex dental and /or medical needs.
The students will gather information on a multidisciplinary basis considering health and social care, gaining consent, performing risk assessments and undertaking supervised clinical practice.
The Module includes structured teaching, seminars, practical classes, chairside teaching, case based learning and project work. Students will be encouraged towards self-directed learning to enhance the module programme and will attend external courses provided by specialist society conferences in a variety of Paediatric Dentistry topics.
A variety of assessments will be used which are mapped to the Paediatric Dentistry Specialist curriculum and include continuous work based assessments, use of a Personal Development Portfolio and logbook. A summative examination will be held at the end of the module consisting of a written examination and a structured clinical examination.
Students will record their learning, clinical placements, assessments and reflections using a secure on-line National Portfolio(Intercollegiate Surgical Competence Progression, ISCP). For students with a National Training Number (NTN), the ISCP portfolio will support assessment through the Annual Review of Competence Programme (ARCP). https://www.iscp.ac.uk/static/dental/PaedAppendix.pdf
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year three
In Year three you will undertake your Doctoral thesis.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
How you'll learn
The Professional Doctorate is a qualification that contains professional skills training through research skills development directly alongside clinical skills training to the level of UK specialist.
Teaching is based on the latest research developments and seminars are delivered by experts in that field. You will attend timetabled teaching seminars, lectures and workshops in small friendly groups. Advanced practical skills teaching is delivered through hands on simulated sessions progressing onto direct patient care.
The use of technology enhanced learning enables you to access further resources at a time to suit you through the use of a virtual learning environment.
It is expected students will spend approximately 15 hours per week outside of the clinical component on independent study and research.
How you're assessed
There is continuous assessment throughout the course from work based assessments on the clinic to end of year assessments involving written papers and clinical case oral examinations. The research component requires completion of a dissertation and viva voce.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Your experience
The School of Dentistry is one of the leading dental schools in the UK. The local population has a high treatment need, providing a busy clinical experience, supported by a specialist supervisor and nursing team. We accommodate many specialist dentistry interests through our partnership with the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust. Together we’ve created state-of-the-art facilities for specialist dentistry research and education, including the management of clinical trials to a high level of clinical governance.
The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains professional skills training. Students who successfully complete the DDSc programme in Paediatric Dentistry will be awarded a DDSc (Paediatric Dentistry).
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
An exciting place to study
One of the largest dental schools in the UK
State-of-the-art facilities with £6million recent investment
Provides specialist clinical training with taught and research components
Internationally recognised qualifications with a wide range of programmes
Students studying this course normally follow careers in: dental practice as a paediatric dentist, hospital as a paediatric dentist or consultant, or in a university as a clinical academic.
Career support from day one to graduation and beyond
Potential career pathways include, but are not limited to, the roles of:
Specialist in paediatric dental practice
Specialist in community dental service
Hospital Specialist
Hospital Consultant
Clinical academic such as Clinical Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Professor.
Graduates from this course have gone on to work in specialist private practices, as clinical academics or a combination of both.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
It is expected that applicants should be one of the following:
Graduates in Dental Surgery of this University
Graduates with a dental first degree from another approved university, which is recognised by the General Dental Council
Graduates with a dental first degree from another approved university, which is not recognised by the General Dental Council.
Other Requirements
2 year post qualification relevant clinical experience
MFDS/MJDF or an equivalent
International qualifications
Applications from international students are welcome. International qualifications will be evaluated in line with the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) guidelines.
English language qualifications
The School’s programmes are linguistically very demanding, and it is essential that all candidates have a very high level of both spoken and written English. Qualifications accepted by the Faculty include: GCSE English; GCE O level English; AS Level English; IELTS; TOEFL; Cambridge Proficiency.
Candidates for whom English is not their first language need to provide documentary evidence of their competency in English. The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences English Language Requirement is IELTS band E.
Please be advised that TOEFL is no longer classified by UK Visas and Immigration as a Secure English Language Test (SELT). However, at the current time the university is continuing to accept TOEFL, at the required level, for entry on to Undergraduate and Postgraduate academic programmes.
International qualifications
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s degree at Liverpool, a pre-master’s, delivered by our partner, University of Liverpool International College, can help you gain a place. Although there’s no direct pre-master’s route to this DDSc, completing a pre-master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses which may interest you.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Contact us
Have a question about this course? Call or email our admissions team.
