Postgraduate Dentistry

The University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry – Te Kaupeka Pūniho – has an international reputation for clinical and research excellence

We offer cutting-edge research and clinical facilities. Our brand-new Clinical Services Building houses patient-focused activities for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Dentistry, Dental Technology, and Oral Health.

The Clinical Services Building has key advantages including:

• Modern dental chairs and equipment
• The most common electronic patient records software in the Australasian health sector
• Facilities that enable our teaching to keep up with digital developments in dentistry
• Larger spaces to accommodate teaching in operating theatres, surgical procedure rooms, and areas for reviewing scans and radiographs
• A new student commons social area

The adjacent Walsh Building (opened in April 2021) houses the Sir John Walsh Research Institute, the Simulation Clinic, seminar spaces, and offices for research staff and postdoctoral students.

As New Zealand's only dental school, at the Faculty of Dentistry we offer a comprehensive suite of postgraduate programmes for practicing dentists seeking to further their careers through specialisation, and students seeking careers in dental research.

We are currently ranked 41st-best dental school in the world (QS World University Subject Rankings).

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (PGDipClinDent)

The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (PGDipClinDent) is offered over one year full-time or up to three years part-time. It can be completed on-site in Dunedin, or part-time within dental practice.

The Diploma can be awarded in the following areas:

• General Practice Dentistry
• Oral Medicine
• Oral Pathology
• Oral Surgery
• Paediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics

Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dentistry (PGDipComDent)

The Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dentistry (PGDipComDent) consists of two papers which can be taken over one year full-time or two years part-time.

The DPGDipComDent may be accepted as part of the requirements for the Master of Community Dentistry (MComDent) if the required grades are achieved.

Master of Community Dentistry (MComDent)

The Master of Community Dentistry (MComDent) encompasses the study and epidemiology of community oral health, oral health promotion, provision and funding of oral healthcare, and issues in the planning and management of public oral health services.

The MComDent consists of papers and a research thesis. It can be completed over two years full-time or three years part-time.

Students with an approved qualification (such as the PGDipComDent) may be permitted to complete the MComDent in less than two years.

The MComDent is recognised by the Dental Council of New Zealand as part of the training for registration as a specialist in public health dentistry.

Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent)

The Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent) provides graduate training in almost all specialist disciplines in dentistry. The aim of each discipline programme is to prepare graduate students to become registered specialists in that discipline.

The programmes foster development of critical analysis, research skills, and advanced clinical skills that will be recognised for specialist registration.

Within each programme, course work includes papers on research methods and practice, advanced clinical science, and advanced clinical practice. A candidate's research will be presented in a thesis and demonstrate a significant contribution to knowledge in a particular field.

DClinDent disciplines:

• Endodontics
• Oral Medicine
• Oral Pathology
• Oral Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Paediatric Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Prosthodontics
• Special Needs Dentistry

Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc)

The Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc) recognises the results of substantial and original investigation of relevance to dentistry. The work submitted shall comprise publications which form a connected dissertation.

Every candidate shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions:

• Have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery of a university in New Zealand, or
• Have been admitted with the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the degree

PhD

PhD study at the Faculty of Dentistry may be undertaken either full- or part-time, in any of our three departments.

The duration of the course of advanced study and research under supervision is at least two-and-a-half years for full-time candidates, and at least four years for part-time candidates.