Treatment involves areas such as the restoration of damaged teeth, the correction of irregularities, the replacement of missing teeth and surgical procedures such as the removal of teeth. In recent years there has been an exponential advance in dental science with greater emphasis on preventing disease as well as the development of new, minimally invasive methods and materials for restoring teeth.

Dental Science: The course for you?

If you have an ability to build caring and professional relationships with patients, co-workers and the wider community and if healthcare interests you, specifically oral healthcare and its impact on individuals, then Dental Science is right for you. You should also enjoy undertaking physically and mentally demanding clinical practice, which requires considerable attention to detail with small margins for error. The course is long (five years) and intense, requiring stamina and commitment.

Dental Science @ Trinity

This course is based in the Dublin Dental University Hospital beside Trinity campus. Clinical facilities are of a very high standard, emphasising the use of information technology. Class sizes are small, to ensure that students receive considerable staff input into their progress throughout the programme. The course is very practical throughout with lots of hands-on experience treating patients. Students commence treating their own patients (under supervision) in the second year and by the fifth year are expected to have completed a wide range of treatments similar to those provided in general dental practice. Graduates of the Trinity School of Dental Science and Dublin Dental University Hospital are highly sought after due to the extensive clinical exposure obtained during this programme.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

There are a wide range of career options open to newly qualified dentists, from general dental practice providing both state funded or private dental care, or in the salaried public dental service. Many graduates choose to continue their education, specialising in one area within dentistry. Dentistry gives scope to work and travel worldwide. Citizens of the EU who graduate from an EU dental school may practice anywhere in the EU and there is currently demand for dentists all over Europe.