Master of Science in Clinical Dentistry (Gerodontology - Dental Hygiene)

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

3 Years

180 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

The programme is structured over a three-year academic period, inclusive of 2 semesters per year and two summer periods of eight weeks each. You will be exposed to the theoretical and scientific foundation of the profession of gerodontology and become skilful in clinical practice within the professional environment of the teaching clinics and other settings. The first year will provide you with introductory knowledge on the gerodontology and specific areas of dentistry and medicine. You will engage in the review of literature related to gerodontology and associated disciplines. In your second year, you will further develop intellectually by receiving in-depth knowledge focused on specific areas of gerodontology, including domiciliary services and gerontology. The final year of the course will be dedicated to a research project. Clinically, you will refine your intellectual and clinical/technical proficiency and will be able to seek direct employment in this specialized area, after completion of studies.

Europe is an ageing population, with many older adults living longer due to advancements in health and standard of living. These substantial improvements in life expectancy should be coupled with an improvement and maintenance of health and associated quality of life.

Dentistry is also reflecting these developments with larger numbers of older adults retaining more of their natural dentitions. These trends are eliciting more interest in the aging mouth in order to mitigate the ever-increasing prevalence of chronic oral diseases and health inequalities. Ageing societies will require adaptation in order to tackle these emerging challenges. The course intends to address these experiences by preparing dental professionals in this rapidly evolving area of Dentistry.

1st year: The first year will provide you with introductory knowledge on the gerodontology and specific areas of dentistry and medicine. The latter two areas will lay down the foundations for clinical practice. In parallel, you will perform clinical/laboratory treatment. Clinical treatment will be provided in a dental clinic set-up. You will engage in the review of literature related to gerodontology and associated disciplines.

2nd year: You will further develop intellectually by receiving in-depth knowledge focused on specific areas of gerodontology, including domiciliary services and gerontology. You will further engage in the review of literature related to gerodontology and associated disciplines, to analyse, evaluate and highlight existing gaps. The second year will provide the foundations for the research project in third year by the delivery of research methodology and submission of a research proposal. On the practical front, you will focus on the professional-patient relationship and engage in the management of older adult patients in traditional clinical environments as well as providing domiciliary services in diverse settings. The latter will allow you to further develop their clinical and technical skills.

3rd year: The final year of the course will be mainly dedicated to a research project. Clinically, you will consolidate your skills by refining your intellectual and clinical/technical proficiency so as to allow the candidate to seek direct employment in this specialized area, after completion of studies.

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Applicants must be in possession of:

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

The Degree of Master of Dental Surgery awarded from July 2018 onwards or the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery obtained with at least Second Class Honours or better, if awarded prior to July 2018, awarded by this University or any other higher education institution recognised by Senate.

The admission of applicants may be made conditional on the result of an interview.

The Admissions Board, on the recommendation of the Faculty Admissions Committee, may admit into the Course applicants not in possession of a first cycle degree, if it is satisfied that such applicants are in possession of other academic or professional qualifications and a minimum of ten years' documented professional experience, that together are deemed to be comparable to one of the qualifications indicated above. Such qualifications and experience shall be evaluated in accordance with the procedures established by the University Policy for the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Learning. The admission of such applicants may be made subject to those conditions that the Faculty Admissions Committee may impose to address any lacunae in their academic preparation. Conditions imposed may include the satisfactory completion of a preparatory programme, or the requirement to follow and pass supplementary study-units, up to a maximum of 12 ECTS credits, in addition to the programme of study.

The maximum number of applicants that can be admitted into the course is 4 students.

Prior to enrolling for the Course, accepted applicants are required to undergo an occupational health assessment, so as to ascertain that they are fit for the duties related to their proposed studies. Students who do not fulfil this requirement may be barred from progressing with their studies. Failure to disclose information about a physical or mental health problem that could affect patient safety is considered to be a serious breach of the University Suitability to Practise Regulations.

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You can submit your application online. The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta.

You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage. Access more information about our admission process and English language requirements.

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Year and Summer Period

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

ORC5000	Gerodontology 1: Introduction to Gerodontology	10 ECTS
ORC5100	Clinical Practice 1	15 ECTS


Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

DNS5100	An Overview of Geriatric Medical Conditions and their Holistic Management	10 ECTS
DNS5120	Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology	5 ECTS
DSG5018	Patient-based Seminars	5 ECTS
DSG5026	Seminars in Dental Sciences 1	5 ECTS
LIN5063	Academic Reading, Writing and Speaking in English for Postgraduates	5 ECTS
ORC5004	Clinical Governance and Ethical Issues in Oral Health 福利在线免费	5 ECTS

Requirement for regular progression to Year 2: 60 ECTS credits


Year and Summer Period

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

ORC5120	Clinical Practice 2	20 ECTS


Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

DSG5028	Directed Studies in Dental Sciences	10 ECTS
DSG5030	Seminars in Dental Sciences 2	5 ECTS
ORC5008	Gerodontology 2: Advanced Gerodontology	10 ECTS


Semester 2

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

DNS5020	Research Methods in Applied Dental Sciences	10 ECTS
ORC5140	Gerontology Perspectives for Dentistry	5 ECTS

Requirement for regular progression to Year 3: 60 ECTS credits


Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

DSG5032	Seminars in Dental Sciences 3	5 ECTS
DSG5200	Dissertation	40 ECTS
ORC5130	Clinical Practice 3	15 ECTS

Requirement for successful completion of Year 3: 60 ECTS credits

Requirement for award of M.Sc. in Clinical Dentistry (Gerodontology - Dental Hygiene): 180 ECTS credits

This programme of study is governed by the Master of Science in Clinical Dentistry - M.Sc. - Degree Course Regulations, 2022 under the auspices of the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

The objectives of the course are to familiarize you with:

Concepts of oral and general health and disease in the older person.
Demographic trends of population ageing.
The multidisciplinary approach to the management of older persons under their care.
Ethical principles when evaluating social and health care practices in ageing care.
Concepts of promoting active ageing in society.
Treatment-related skills in the field of gerodontology.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:

The primary objective of the course is to establish the profession of gerodontology on a national level. More specifically the course will provide a sufficient body of knowledge to enable recipients of the degree to undertake their prescribed work amongst older adults, with care, safety and responsibility and to recognize the full scope of their remit. The objectives of the course are to familiarize you with:

Concepts of oral and general health and disease in the older person.
Demographic trends of population ageing.
The multidisciplinary approach to the management of older persons under their care.
Ethical principles when evaluating social and health care practices in ageing care.
Concepts of promoting active ageing in society.
Treatment-related skills in the field of gerodontology.
Concepts of clinical governance in providing dental care to the older person.
Scientific and clinical research procedures in dental disease using evidence based methodology.

Intellectual Development:

The Master of Gerodontology provides you with an opportunity to acquire reflective and thinking skills, critically appraise literature in gerodontology and provide a sound basis for your practice in a multidisciplinary team. The course will provide a platform to teach theoretic and clinical skills to undergraduate students in dentistry. Specifically, it will allow you to:

Analyse the diversity in the experiences of older persons and the impact of age, gender, ethnicity, oral- and general health factors on their life course.
Identify and mitigate the barriers to oral health when treatment planning and managing patients.
Develop educational teaching skills by exposing them to undergraduate teaching.
Explain the multidisciplinary approach to working with older persons and their carers.
Develop a professional identity as a gerodontologist to effectively work within an interdisciplinary team.
Develop knowledge of relevant policy- and service-related issues in supporting and caring for older persons.

Key Transferable Skills:

The course will provide you with:

A platform for learning and refining soft skills by interacting within a multidisciplinary team providing care for older persons. These skills will be transferable to the population at large throughout their professional career.
Research skills to investigate issues within this field.
Professionalism based on ethical standards and expectations in dentistry.
Advocacy skills to participate in policy formation of oral health- and ageing-related matters.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 40,200
Yr 1: Eur 13,400 - Yr 2: Eur 13,400 - Yr 3: Eur 13,400

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The aforementioned skills will all lead to your development as a professional individual who will lead to employability within the public and private sector in our country and abroad. The opportunity to teach undergraduate students will likewise prepare you with skills to a future academic career in the field.

Master of Science in Clinical Dentistry (Gerodontology - Dental Hygiene) also provides you with the opportunity to progress to a Doctorate Degree.

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