Dental Technology

The Foundation Degree in Dental Technology is a three-year, part-time course available only to applicants employed full time in a dental laboratory.
It has been developed and built to match the requirements of dental technicians, employers, professional bodies, and also meet the statutory regulator's requirements for recognition of the higher technical skills required by modern dental technicians. These are steps needed to gain the knowledge, understanding and competence students will require to develop as a Dental Care Professional (DCP).

The Foundation Degree recognises the practical skills training provided by a workplace mentor in one of the disciplines of dental technology, and formal credit will be given for the developed competence and integration with other members of the dental team.

This programme is intended to provide students with an opportunity to develop the knowledge, understanding and real work based competence to effectively operate as a dental technician and also to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental technician.

The Foundation Degree in Dental Technology is validated by The Open University.

Modules are currently under review. Updated modules will be available on this course information page. They are likely to include:
Year 1:
Dental Anatomy & Health
Professional Practice & Research Methods
Introduction to Dental Technology
Year 2:
Dental Materials Science
Work Based Practice A
Applied Laboratory Techniques 1
Year 3:
Principles of Dental Health
Dental Anatomy & Disease
Work Based Practice B
Applied Laboratory Techniques 2

The course is assessed through the submission of written essays, reports, a series of project-based practical assessments, assessment of laboratory practice, a final project completed in the workplace in years 2 and 3 and the submission of clinically acceptable dental appliances.
Practical Exams are required for Introduction to Dental Technology Techniques, Applied Dental Laboratory Techniques 1 and Applied Laboratory Techniques 2 to prove a ‘Safe Practitioner’ level has been achieved.
Formative feedback will support student progression in both written work and technical outcomes. Students complete a portfolio of cases and receive formative ongoing feedback and summative feedback once the case has been completed. Self and peer assessment in convener/critique situations is an essential element of all projects and the feedback from these will enhance student achievement and progression.
Feedback is provided on formal coursework submissions to enable you to learn and develop throughout the course. This includes feedback on draft or formative assessment work at least once per module.