Program Overview

The University of Bolton’s MSc in Digital Dental Technology offers you the opportunity to develop skills using digital dental systems to manufacture appliances in fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics and orthodontics. It will support you to further your knowledge of how digital solutions can assist with advanced techniques, including dental implants. In addition, we’ll help you build your business and transferable skills ready to take on leadership and management roles or run your own commercial dental laboratory. Overall, this postgraduate degree is an ideal academic progression for dental technicians and clinical professionals who have suitable training and experience in dental technology.

Studying this interdisciplinary course will help to develop your understanding of how principles and techniques from different fields such as engineering, materials science, and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) can be brought together to advance dental technology. We’ll support you as you gain a solid understanding of essential engineering principles, enhance your knowledge of dental biomaterials and fabrication, and explore essential areas of biomedicine, such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. We also hope to inspire you to see how these different disciplines can be combined to drive future innovations in dental technology, as well as provide you with a sound background in research methodology and critical thinking that will support you if choose to a career in dental research and development.

Our industry-experienced team will guide you as you gain an in-depth knowledge of digital technology and manufacturing practices. Your training will offer plenty of hands-on experience as you learn to design and manufacture advanced dental appliances and implant restorations that are biomechanically acceptable.

Your studies will culminate in an independent and substantial piece of research that offers you the chance to demonstrate your mastery of an aspect of contemporary dental technology. In consultation with our team, you’ll choose an area of interest to research (ideally through experiment) so you can mould your own master’s-level learning. You’ll be able to draw together concepts from across your learning as you develop your research methodology, collect and analyse data, interpret and justify your results and draw your conclusions. This exciting process not only helps to develop your advanced dental research knowledge but supports you to gain the critical analysis, problem-solving and lifelong learning skills you’ll need to adapt to new challenges, techniques and procedures throughout your career.

Highlights

• As a dental technology postgraduate, you’ll have access to industry-standard specialist equipment and advanced biomaterials in our purpose-built laboratories in the Queen’s Specialist Building, as well as high-specification engineering facilities at the main campus.
• We offer regular hands-on sessions to help develop your practical capabilities, preparing you to work independently on your dental appliance manufacturing, research case studies and research-based project.
• Our dedicated staff team, who possess a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offers face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support.
• You'll benefit from our strong industry links with dental organisations across the UK, offering opportunities for industry masterclasses and lectures, joint projects and networking.
• Our approach to teaching and learning is ‘student-centred’, so we’ll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
• On successful completion of this course, you'll be awarded the MSc Digital Dental Technology by the University of Bolton.

Key Features

• Course materials are available online, allowing you to prepare work at home and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
• By studying certain modules alongside students and professionals from other areas such as engineering, biomedical engineering and business management, you can benefit from a wider range of knowledge and experience that supports cross-disciplinary thinking.
• We offer opportunities for you to undertake advanced research into a variety of subjects. Whenever possible, we’ll support you to focus on projects that are directly linked to your personal interests and career development needs.
• If the outcomes and standard of your major research project prove to be appropriate, we’ll support you to reformat your project into an academic paper for submission to an academic journal, ready to seek publication.
• This course is based at the University of Bolton’s campus in the North West of England.
• Opportunities for progression after completing this master’s degree include dental technology PhD programmes.