Introduction

Prosthodontics is an internationally recognized specialty in clinical dentistry. The scope of this specialty is extensive and concerns with the replacement of missing teeth and oral, face and maxillofacial tissues. The curriculum is designed to develop the clinical, academic, research and communicative skills that will provide for diversified career options. The educational experience is progressive in nature offering increasing responsibilities as residents proceed through the program.


Program Objectives

The goals of the MDS-Pros program are to enable students to:

1. Develop contemporary knowledge specifically in Prosthodontics, and relevant areas to enable making appropriate clinical decisions
2. Acquire basic and advance skills in patient care, investigation techniques and clinical skills at a level of competency for specialist practice
3. Participate in multidisciplinary teamwork for effective patient care
4. Develop and adopt competency in decision making, with contemporary evidence-based knowledge and skills
5. Communicate efficiently and practice the highest level of ethics and professionalism

Program Structure & Requirements

The curriculum is designed to enable the student to acquire skills required of a clinician competent in the theoretical and practical aspects through the following: structured courses, lectures, seminars, self-directed learning, clinical practice and laboratory work. There are 3 components to the program, didactic, clinical and laboratory.

The program has an overall 70% clinical component and 30% research component, in the form of a short investigation leading to a thesis. Trainees shall also participate in relevant continuing professional development activities held at College of Dental Medicine, which are accredited by Royal College of Surgeons of England.

 

Academic Courses
 

Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours	Contact Hrs per week	No. of weeks per Semester	Contact Hrs per Semester
	First Year - Fall Semester (1)
1002501	Introduction to Basic Sciences in Dentistry	0	2	16	32
1002560	Operative Dentistry: Inlays, Onlays and Crowns	1	3	8	24
1002561	Complete Denture Prosthodontics	2	6	7	42
1002553	Prostho-PerioTreatment Planning I	0.5	2	16	32
1002562	Patient Care I	5	20	16	320
1002502	Research Methodology I	2	4	16	64
1002563	Literature Review I	0.5	1	16	16
	Total Semester	11	38	16	530
	First Year - Spring Semester (2)
1002564	Removable Partial Denture Prosthodontics	2	6	7	42
1002565	Basic Fixed Prosthodontics: Adhesive Bridges	0.5	3	11	33
1002558	Prostho-PerioTreatment Planning II	0.5	2	16	32
1002566	Patient Care II	5	20	16	320
1002503	Research Methodology II (Biostatistics)	2	4	16	64
10025567	Literature Review II	0.5	1	16	16
	Total Semester	10.5	36	16	507
	Second Year - Fall Semester (3)
1002569	Basic Implant Dentistry I	2	3	11	33
1002570	Basic Fixed Prosthodontics: Conventional Bridges	1	3	11	33
1002559	Prostho-PerioTreatment Planning III	0.5	2	16	32
1002571	Patient Care III	5	20	16	320
1002504	Research Project I	2	8	16	128
1002572	Literature Review III	0.5	1	16	16
	Total Semester	11	37	16	562
	Second Year - Spring Semester (4)
1002661	Basic Implant Dentistry II	2	3	16	48
1002662	Aesthetic Dentistry	1	6	4	24
1002668	Prostho-PerioTreatment Planning IV	0.5	2	16	32
1002663	Patient Care IV	5	20	16	320
1002505	Research Project II	2	8	16	128
1002664	Literature Review IV	0.5	1	16	16
	Total Semester	11	40	16	568
	Third Year - Fall Semester (5)
1002666	Advanced Fixed Prosthodontics: Full Mouth Reconstruction	1	3	6	18
1002667	Digital Dentistry	1	3	10	30
1002668	Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning I	1	2	16	32
1002669	Patient Care V	5	20	16	320
1002506	Research Project III	2	8	16	128
1002760	Literature Review V	0.5	1	16	16
	Total Semester	10.5	37	16	544
	Third Year - Spring Semester (6)
1002761	Advanced Implant Dentistry	1	3	11	33
1002762	Maxillofacial Prosthodontics	0.5	3	4	12
1002763	TMD Management	0.5	6	2	12
1002764	Sleep Disorders	0.5	6	2	12
1002765	Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning II	1	2	16	32
1002766	Patient Care VI	5	20	16	320
1002507	Research Project IV	2	8	16	128
1002767	Literature Review VI	0.5	1	16	16
	Total Semester	11	49	16	565
	TOTAL	65	237	16	3276

 

Research Project

The academic courses in Research Methods I and II prepare the trainees in their research project work. Trainees are encouraged to embark onto a research project very early in their program. They will be well guided throughout the research activities through courses in Research Project I to IV in association with their appointed supervisor.  This course would enable them adopt an inquisitive mind and continue practice evidence-based medicine. Trainees must submit a thesis and publish a scientific paper which is directly related to their project.

The College of Dental Medicine support the trainees in its three multidisciplinary research clusters as follows:

• Biomaterial Research Group
• Wound Healing and Oral Diagnostic Research Group
• Oral Biofilm in Health and disease

Special Admission Requirements

1. A BDS degree from University of Sharjah or an equivalent qualification, with a GPA of 3.0 or above.  Candidates with GPA of between 2.5 and 2.9 may be given consideration.
   
2. A minimum of one-year post qualification work experience
   
3. English Language requirements: A minimum of 550 on paper based TOEFL or 6.0 on IELTS or its equivalence.
   
4. Applicants must attend an interview session and may be required to sit for a written and/or practical test.

Course Description

1002501

Basic Medical Sciences

This foundation course in Basic medical sciences shall be presented in an integrated manner covering growth and development, human anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and genetics and clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. It provides the students with advance understanding of development, structure and function of the head and neck in particular and the human body in general. Aspects of basic dental sciences help students focus on the development, structure and function of the organ and tissues forming the oral cavity that includes dental tissues, oral mucosa, salivary glands and saliva and the temporo-mandibular joint. This knowledge is key to understanding and solving congenital and acquired clinical problems in dentistry. ​

 

1002560	Operative Dentistry: Inlays, Onlays, Crowns
This course comprises in-depth didactic, clinical and laboratory course on inlays, onlays and crowns as basic training in operative dentistry and the foundation for Aesthetics Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics ​

 

1002561

Complete Denture Prosthodontics

This course is a comprehensive in-depth training in rehabilitating the edentulous patients. The various skills acquired in complete denture construction will enable the students to gain good understanding of prostheses construction and denture occlusion. Armed with knowledge of implant dentistry covered in the prosthodontics program, graduates will also be able to construct implant-stabilised overdentures. ​

 

1002553	Prostho-Perio Treatment Planning I
In this course cases, special cases needing a complex periodontal-restorative and implant treatment, will be critically discussed by the group of all graduate students and instructors. The treatment will be coordinated so that the graduate students of different programs treat a patient according to the discussed and approved treatment plan. ​

 

1002562

Patient Care I

Patient Care I to VI represent the clinical training portion of the Graduate Program in Prosthodontics. This course runs continuously through the entire three-year program. In the first semester emphasis is placed on diagnosis and treatment planning of prosthodontic rehabilitative care for patients. This is achieved via placement on, and involvement in, consultant referral clinics, as well as patient clinical treatment which will include the provision of simple cases of fixed prostheses and complete and partial removable prostheses in addition to any preliminary restorative care. During the first year of the program, students are closely supervised while developing skills in diagnosis, radiographic techniques, and treatment planning. Residents maintain a portfolio/logbook of all their clinical activity. For each patient, the patient log must be completed at each stage/appointment, including the clinical tutor's formative feedback. Among all the cases treated, cases should be selected to present for summative assessment using workplace-based assessments. As a graduate program, emphasis is placed on assessing that residents are proven competent in their clinical knowledge and patient care. Competence in providing prosthodontic patient care is undertaken in the form of continual assessment throughout the clinical courses using a variety of workplace-based assessments. ​

 

1002502

Research Methodology I

This course will provide an opportunity for students to advance their understanding of research through critical exploration of research language, ethics, and approaches. The course introduces the language of research, ethical principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Participants will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field of interests and determine how research findings are useful in forming their understanding of their clinical work and patient care. ​

 

1002563	Literature Review
This literature review course meets one hour per week throughout the semester.  Its purpose is to review articles taken from "Current Literature" as well as "Classic Literature" of the discipline of Prosthodontics. Topics covered include (but are not limited to), Complete Dentures, Fixed Partial Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, and Implant Prosthodontics. ​

 

1002564	Removable Partial Denture Prosthodontics
A comprehensive and in-depth course on all aspects of removable partial denture construction including patient assessment, cast survey, denture design, clinical and laboratory procedures to replace missing teeth for the partially-dentate patients. ​

 

1002565	Basic Fixed Prosthodontics: Adhesive Bridges
A comprehensive simulation laboratory, clinical and dental laboratory course on the replacement of missing teeth with adhesive bridges. ​

 

1002558	Prosth-Perio Treatment Planning II
In this course cases, special cases needing a complex periodontal-restorative and implant treatment, will be critically discussed by the group of all graduate students and instructors. The treatment will be coordinated so that the graduate students of different programs treat a patient according to the discussed and approved treatment plan. ​

 

1002566

Patient Care II

In the Patient Care II students carry out diagnosis and treatment planning of prosthodontic rehabilitative care for patients. This is achieved via placement on, and involvement in, consultant referral clinics, as well as patient clinical treatment which will include the provision of simple cases of fixed prostheses and complete and partial removable prostheses in addition to any preliminary restorative care. Students are supervised while developing skills in diagnosis, radiographic techniques, and treatment planning. Residents maintain a portfolio/logbook of all their clinical activity. For each patient, the patient log must be completed at each stage/appointment, including the clinical tutor's formative feedback. Among all the cases treated, cases should be selected to present for summative assessment using workplace-based assessments. As a graduate program, emphasis is placed on assessing that residents are proven competent in their clinical knowledge and patient care. Competence in providing prosthodontic patient care is undertaken in the form of continual assessment throughout the clinical courses using a variety of workplace-based assessments. ​

 

1002503

Research Methodology II (Biostatistics)

Biostatistics course provides an introduction to selected important topics in biostatistical concepts and reasoning. This course represents an introduction to the field and provides a survey of data and data types. Specific topics include tools for describing central tendency and variability in data; methods for performing inference on population means and proportions via sample data; statistical hypothesis testing and its application to group comparisons; issues of power and sample size in study designs; and random sample and other study types. While there are some formulae and computational elements to the course, the emphasis is on interpretation and concepts. This course shall strengthen students' preparation in their research proposal in second year of the program. ​

 

10025567	Literature Review II
This literature review course meets one hour per week throughout the semester.  Its purpose is to review articles taken from "Current Literature" as well as "Classic Literature" of the discipline of Prosthodontics. Topics covered include (but are not limited to), Complete Dentures, Fixed Partial Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, and Implant Prosthodontics. ​

 

1002569	Basic Implant Dentistry I
This course consists of basic sciences and evidenced-based materials to enable the student to plan cases for implant treatment and to understand the biological processes underpinning implant treatments. ​

 

1002570	Basic Fixed Prosthodontics: Conventional Bridges
An in-depth comprehensive course comprising bridge design, aesthetics, clinical and laboratory techniques for the replacement of missing teeth by conventional bridges. ​

 

1002559	Prostho-PerioTreatment Planning III
In this course cases, special cases needing a complex periodontal-restorative and implant treatment, will be critically discussed by the group of all graduate students and instructors. The treatment will be coordinated so that the graduate students of different programs treat a patient according to the discussed and approved treatment plan. ​

 

1002571

Patient Care III

In the Patient Care III, students carry out to diagnosis and treatment planning of more complex prosthodontic rehabilitative care for patients. This is achieved via placement on, and involvement in, consultant referral clinics, as well as patient clinical treatment which will include the provision of more complex cases of fixed prostheses and complete and partial removable prostheses in addition to any preliminary restorative care. Students are supervised while developing skills in diagnosis, radiographic techniques, and treatment planning. Residents maintain a portfolio/logbook of all their clinical activity. For each patient, the patient log must be completed at each stage/appointment, including the clinical tutor's formative feedback. Among all the cases treated, cases should be selected to present for summative assessment using workplace-based assessments. As a graduate program, emphasis is placed on assessing that residents are proven competent in their clinical knowledge and patient care. Competence in providing prosthodontic patient care is undertaken in the form of continual assessment throughout the clinical courses using a variety of workplace-based assessments ​

 

1002504

Research Project I

In this course, students are expected to search for a suitable research topic, and identify a suitable supervisor to take them through the research project. They shall be guided to perform a literature survey and identify key areas and research gaps in a particular clinical or science area. The course enables students to generate research hypothesis and further introduce them to write a research proposal. They will also learn to request for relevant human ethics and animal ethics approval, and perform a preliminary research proposal presentation. ​

 

1002572	Literature Review III
This literature review course meets one hour per week throughout the semester.  Its purpose is to review articles taken from "Current Literature" as well as "Classic Literature" of the discipline of Prosthodontics. Topics covered include (but are not limited to), Complete Dentures, Fixed Partial Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, and Implant Prosthodontics. ​

 

1002661	Basic Implant Dentistry II
A basic clinical course of contemporary implant dentistry covering all fundamental aspects of implant treatment planning and patient care. ​

 

1002662	Aesthetic Dentistry
A comprehensive course covering all aspects of dental aesthetics including theory and practice to provide patients with confident smiles. ​

 

1002668	Prostho-PerioTreatment Planning IV
In this course cases, special cases needing a complex periodontal-restorative and implant treatment, will be critically discussed by the group of all graduate students and instructors. The treatment will be coordinated so that the graduate students of different programs treat a patient according to the discussed and approved treatment plan ​

 

1002663

Patient Care IV

In the Patient Care IV, students carry out diagnosis and treatment planning of more complex prosthodontic rehabilitative care for patients. This is achieved via placement on, and involvement in, consultant referral clinics, as well as patient clinical treatment which will include the provision of complex cases of fixed prostheses and complete and partial removable prostheses as well as implants. Students should use acquired skills in diagnosis, radiographic techniques, and treatment planning to treat cases demonstrating total patient care and interdisciplinary management. Residents maintain a portfolio/logbook of all their clinical activity. For each patient, the patient log must be completed at each stage/appointment, including the clinical tutor's formative feedback. Among all the cases treated, cases should be selected to present for summative assessment using workplace-based assessments. As a graduate program, emphasis is placed on assessing that residents are proven competent in their clinical knowledge and patient care. Competence in providing prosthodontic patient care is undertaken in the form of continual assessment throughout the clinical courses using a variety of workplace-based assessments ​

 

1002505

Research Project II

In this course, students shall organize and prepare their research logistics, begin their pilot study, or validate their questionnaire or run laboratory test to optimize their methods; or begin collecting data either in field work or laboratory experiments. They should ensure that they already have their human or animal ethics approval in place, or they may be needed to provide more information to satisfy the committee in order to get their projects approved. Project supervisors shall follow their research activities very closely. ​

 

1002664	Literature Review IV
This literature review course meets one hour per week throughout the semester.  Its purpose is to review articles taken from "Current Literature" as well as "Classic Literature" of the discipline of Prosthodontics. Topics covered include (but are not limited to), Complete Dentures, Fixed Partial Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, and Implant Prosthodontics. ​

 

1002666	Advanced Fixed Prosthodontics: Full Mouth Reconstruction
An advanced course in the specialty of Prosthodontics for full-mouth reconstruction covering every aspect of clinical protocols, techniques and laboratory procedures. ​

 

1002667	Digital Dentistry
This course provides a systematic approach to incorporate digital scanning and CAD/CAM technology into practice of prosthodontics. The focus of this course examines the benefits and limitations of digital technologies ​

 

1002668	Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning I
In this course cases, special cases needing a complex periodontal-restorative and implant treatment, will be critically discussed by the group of all graduate students and instructors. The treatment will be coordinated so that the graduate students of different programs treat a patient according to the discussed and approved treatment plan ​

 

1002669

Patient Care V

In the Patient Care V, students carry out diagnosis and treatment planning of complex prosthodontic rehabilitative care for patients. This is achieved via placement on, and involvement in, consultant referral clinics, as well as patient clinical treatment which will include the provision of complex cases of fixed prostheses and complete and partial removable prostheses as well as implants. Students should use acquired skills in diagnosis, radiographic techniques, and treatment planning to treat cases demonstrating total patient care and interdisciplinary management. Residents maintain a portfolio/logbook of all their clinical activity. For each patient, the patient log must be completed at each stage/appointment, including the clinical tutor's formative feedback. Among all the cases treated, cases should be selected to present for summative assessment using workplace-based assessments. As a graduate program, emphasis is placed on assessing that residents are proven competent in their clinical knowledge and patient care. Competence in providing prosthodontic patient care is undertaken in the form of continual assessment throughout the clinical courses using a variety of workplace-based assessments ​

 

1002506	Research Project III
This course shall concentrate on research activity implementation, with emphasis on data collection and tabulation of preliminary results. ​

 

1002760	Literature Review V
This literature review course meets one hour per week throughout the semester.  Its purpose is to review articles taken from "Current Literature" as well as "Classic Literature" of the discipline of Prosthodontics. Topics covered include (but are not limited to), Complete Dentures, Fixed Partial Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, and Implant Prosthodontics. ​

 

1002761	Advanced Implant Dentistry
An advanced course on complex implant treatments and advances in the field of implant dentistry building on the knowledge and skills acquired from the Basic Implant Dentistry Courses I and II. ​

 

1002762	Maxillofacial Prosthodontics
An introductory course to maxillofacial prosthodontics to allow students to gain an insight into the theory and practice of this specialized field in prosthodontics. ​

 

1002763	TMD Management
This course is intended to instruct students the contemporary knowledge on TMD disorders and their management. ​

 

1002764	Sleep Disorders
This course includes a review of sleep related breathing disorders and the dentist role in patient management including the use of oral appliance therapy. ​

 

1002765	Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning II
In this course cases, special cases needing a complex periodontal-restorative and implant treatment, will be critically discussed by the group of all graduate students and instructors. The treatment will be coordinated so that the graduate students of different programs treat a patient according to the discussed and approved treatment plan. ​

 

1002766

Patient Care VI

In the Patient Care VI, students carry out diagnosis and treatment planning of complex prosthodontic rehabilitative care for patients. This is achieved via placement on, and involvement in, consultant referral clinics, as well as patient clinical treatment which will include the provision of complex cases of fixed prostheses and complete and partial removable prostheses as well as implants. Students should use acquired skills in diagnosis, radiographic techniques, and treatment planning to treat cases demonstrating total patient care and interdisciplinary management. Residents maintain a portfolio/logbook of all their clinical activity. For each patient, the patient log must be completed at each stage/appointment, including the clinical tutor's formative feedback. Among all the cases treated, cases should be selected to present for summative assessment using workplace-based assessments. As a graduate program, emphasis is placed on assessing that residents are proven competent in their clinical knowledge and patient care. Competence in providing prosthodontic patient care is undertaken in the form of continual assessment throughout the clinical courses using a variety of workplace-based assessments. ​

 

1002507	Research Project IV
This final course in research supports the students in analyzing their research results and writing-up their thesis. They revisit their knowledge in biostatistics and apply relevant formulas/ statistical methods to evaluate and validate their research findings. ​

 

1002767	Literature Review VI
This literature review course meets one hour per week throughout the semester.  Its purpose is to review articles taken from "Current Literature" as well as "Classic Literature" of the discipline of Prosthodontics. Topics covered include (but are not limited to), Complete Dentures, Fixed Partial Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, and Implant Prosthodontics. ​