The first-ever degree course for dental care professionals (DCPs) is being launched at the University of Kent.
From September, qualified professionals such as dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians will be able to enrol on a BSc course in Primary Dental Care, which will last for three years on a full-time basis, or for up to six years as a flexible learning programme.
The new course aims to provide a method for dental care professionals (DCPs) to gain new skills and widen their knowledge through improved access to higher education .
Dental staff will be given a flexible timetable for the degree programme, including weekend teaching sessions and an emphasis on work-based learning, allowing them to carry out their normal work duties while studying for a Bachelors-level qualification .
The degree, which will be taught at the university’s Medway campus, will also play a major part in the continuous professional development (CPD) of staff.
Debbie Reed, course director for the new degree and lecturer in the University's Division of Dentistry, said she was "excited" by the launch of "such an innovative new degree" .
"The BSc is really about 'whole team' dentistry," she commented. "This means that every member of the dental care team needs to keep up with new practices and to show leadership, take responsibility and enhance the quality of patient care ."
"The programme also seeks to equip dental care workers for longer and more rewarding careers, which will see more of them staying in the sector," Reed added.
"Through a mix of greater professional and academic development, including research skills, we hope to keep people interested and motivated in their jobs for the long-term."
The BSc programme has been devised by the University of Kent in response to a drive by the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery, the organisation that oversees post-graduate medical and dental education .
