Good oral health – a key factor in good general health.
Dentistry is not just about teeth. It is about working as part of a team to promote good oral health – a key factor in good general health.
Dentists help prevent oral diseases and diagnose and treat oral conditions. Dentists have many roles; they can have family-based general dental practices, they may work in hospitals or community clinics with patients who are medically or socially disadvantaged, or they may undertake further postgraduate study and specialise in areas as diverse as paediatric dentistry to forensic dentistry and oral surgery.
Dentistry is both an art and a science. It covers the spectrum of oral health and supports all people in our community.
Why study Dentistry?
Dentistry is a challenging profession that combines a high degree of manual dexterity and precision with a thorough understanding of craniofacial biology, anatomy, pathology, biomaterials, and excellent communication skills. As a dentist, you are the leader of the oral health team and can diagnose and carry out treatment planned for each patient's oral needs.
If you are considering a career as a dentist, you can look forward to a health profession that provides considerable variety and lifelong learning as you work to maintain your practising standards.
As a graduate there are opportunities for full- or part-time work in New Zealand or overseas, in private general or specialist practice, academic careers, or hospital- or defence-based practice.
Dentistry teaches you:
- The scientific foundations in anatomy, physiology, oral biology, and biomaterials.
- About public health dentistry and how to develop your communication skills.
- Clinical skills, first in simulation classes and laboratories, and then in patient sessions.
- About a wide range of clinical dental disciplines including prosthodontics and clinical cariology, endodontics, periodontics, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicine, oral surgery, oral pathology, and special needs dentistry.
- Otago has one of the most up-to-date dental facilities in the world.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Dentistry as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dentistry (PGDipComDent)
A coursework programme for registered dental practitioners that can be completed with full-time (one year) or part-time study (two years)
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology (PGDipCDTech)
A coursework programme, consisting of three papers, that can be completed with full-time (one-year) or part-time (two-years) study
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (PGDipClinDent)
A one-year programme (two-years with part-time study) employing clinical and academic teaching to emphasise the full nature of dental practice
Master of Dentistry (MDent)
A one-year full-time or two-year part time programme for registered dental practitioners, requiring coursework and a research dissertation component.
Master of Community Dentistry (MComDent)
An advanced degree for dental professionals seeking a specialised career in dental public health, requiring coursework and a research thesis.
Master of Oral Health (MOH)
A one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) programme providing advanced knowledge and skills in dental therapy and dental hygiene practice
Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent)
An advanced postgraduate degree that prepares graduates to become registered specialists in their chosen discipline
Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc)
A higher doctorate that recognises the results of substantial and original investigation of relevance to dentistry
Graduate qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Papers required |
|---|
| (for students withdrawing from a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry programme). |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
DENT papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DENT261 | 2026, 2027 | The Dentist and the Patient 1 | 40 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT262 | 2026, 2027 | Biomedical Sciences 1 | 65 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT263 | 2026, 2027 | The Dentist and the Community 1 | 15 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT361 | 2026, 2027 | The Dentist and the Patient 2 | 72 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT362 | 2026, 2027 | Biomedical Sciences 2 | 36 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT363 | 2026, 2027 | Dental Epidemiology and Public Health 2 | 12 points | Semester 2 |
| DENT364 | 2026, 2027 | Dentistry in the New Zealand Context | 72 points | 1st Non standard period (15 June 2026 - 7 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (21 June 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT461 | 2026, 2027 | The Dentist and the Patient 3 | 90 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT462 | 2026, 2027 | Biomedical Sciences 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 (16 February 2026 - 17 June 2026), Semester 1 (22 February 2027 - 23 June 2027) |
| DENT463 | 2026, 2027 | Dental Epidemiology and Public Health 3 | 12 points | Semester 2 |
| DENT531 | 2026, 2027 | The Dentist and Patient Care | 86 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT533 | 2026, 2027 | The Dentist in the Community | 16 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT552 | 2026, 2027 | Biomedical Sciences 4 | 18 points | Full Year (16 February 2026 - 7 November 2026), Full Year (22 February 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT570 | 2026, 2027 | Clinical Dental Practice for Honours | 86 points | 1st Non standard period (19 January 2026 - 9 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (25 January 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
| DENT572 | 2026, 2027 | Dental Research for Honours | 40 points | 1st Non standard period (19 January 2026 - 9 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (25 January 2027 - 13 November 2027) |
Contacts
Health Sciences Admissions
Tel +64 3 479 7428
Email health-sciences@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/healthsciences
Faculty of Dentistry
Tel +64 3 479 8889
Email dentistry@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/dentistry
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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