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1. INSTITUTE OF DENTISTRY
1.1. ECTS Departmental Coordinator
DDS, PhD, Senior Research Fellow Virpi Harila
Tel: +358 8 537 5011
Fax: +358 8 537 5503
virpi.harila(at)oulu.fi
1.2. General description of the Institute of Dentistry
The Institute of Dentistry at Oulu University is one of three Dental Schools in Finland giving both under and post-graduate dental education. Our specific mission is to educate scientifically thinking, clinically competent professional dentists, dental specialists and doctors of dental science. The website of the Institute can be found at http://www.oulu.fi/hamm/eng1.html
Head of Department
DDS, PhD, Professor of Oral development and Orthodontics, Pertti Pirttiniemi
e-mail pertti.pirttiniemi(at)oulu.fi, tel +358 (0)8 537 5491
Research areas
The Institute of Dentistry is divided into seven departments.
All departments are headed by full professors who are in charge of
the research and training in respective areas. Research is
also carried out in
co-ordination with several departments both within and outside the
University of Oulu. For details of research projects see links to
Departments:
2. Information on Degree Programme
2.1. General description
The degree of Licentiate of Dentistry is 300 ECTS credits. An academic year consists of 60 credits. The studies are pre-scheduled and the average time required to complete the degree is five years.
In Finland, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health is responsible for awarding legal status to dentists and for overseeing the profession. After having the dental degree, the graduate applicant can apply for restricted legal recognition from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. This entitles dentist to take certain posts in health care centres under supervision and guidance. After the graduates have worked for nine months under supervision the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health grants them full recognition, which is the prerequisite for working as a private practitioner and for applying for posts and duties in the field of dentistry in Finland.
Studies in dentistry consist of preclinical and clinical phases including theoretical studies, phantom courses and clinical work with patients. Students have their first contacts with patients already at the preclinical phase of the curriculum. In order to arrange teaching to cover more comprehensive themes certain subjects from different departments have been integrated and taught together.
The theoretical studies during the first two preclinical years consist of cell biology; anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and public health. After this stage the studies continue at the facilities of the Institute of Dentistry for three years period. Clinical phase comprises of lectures, clinical demonstrations, teamwork and actual clinical work with patients. The work with the patients gives the students the necessary skills in clinical diagnostics and treatment procedures.
2.2. Qualification awarded
Licentiate of Dentistry, (Equivalent to D.D.S. degree in Anglo-American countries)
2.3. Admission requirements
The admission requirements for studies in dentistry comprise the Matriculation Examination Certificate and an entrance examination. All applicants have to participate in the national entrance examination, which is usually arranged in May. The entrance examination is based on Finnish or Swedish textbook and consists of integrated problems of chemistry, biology and physics. The language of the entrance examination is Finnish.
2.4. Educational and professional goals
The education is based on competence areas that include thorough knowledge on general medicine, oral biology, materials, society and management; good diagnostic, practical and interaction skills; ability in acquiring and assessing information as well as humanity. The competences follow the seven domains that are described by Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE). These have been identified to represent the broad categories of professional activity and concerns that occur in the general practice of dentistry.
I. Professionalism
II. Interpersonal, Communication and Social Skills
III. Knowledge Base, Information and Information literacy
IV. Clinical Information Gathering
V. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
VI. Therapy: Establishing and Maintaining Oral Health
VII . Prevention and Health Promotion
2.5.
Access to further studies
Specialization
Institutes of Dentistry are also responsible for specialist training in Finland. Before entering post-graduate training, which takes from three to six years, the trainee must have worked two years in general practice. The aim of specialist training is to provide the dentists with advanced, comprehensive theoretical and practical skills which are defined as clinical dentistry, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery and health care. A national examination is arranged and must be passed by each trainee.
Doctor of Dental Science (Equivalent to Ph.D. degree in Anglo-American countries)
Dental graduates may continue their studies to Doctor of Dental Science. This includes preparing a dissertation and completing other doctorate studies. In order to obtain the degree, a doctoral candidate must participate in theoretical research training, the extent of which is 20 ECTS credits. The training includes prescribed courses in general postgraduate training (5 credits) and special training (15 credits) according to the topic. The candidate must also conduct research, write and publish a doctoral dissertation and defend it in a public debate. Generally the minimum time needed to obtain a doctorate corresponds to 3 to 4 years of full-time work.
2.6.
Course structure diagram (with ECTS credits)
Structure of the Degree Programme
The degree programme is divided into six sections:
General studies (G) 6 credits
Language studies (L) 6 credits
Basic studies (B) 103,5 credits
Subject studies (S) 89,4 credits
Advanced studies (A) 61,1 credits
Practical training (T) 34 credits
|
|
Year 3 (1st Clinical year) |
Year 4 (2nd Clinical year) |
Year 5 (3rd Clinical year) |
|
General studies (G) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Language studies (L) |
1,5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Basic studies (B) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Subject studies (S) |
60,7 |
19,5 |
9,2 |
|
Advanced studies (A) |
1,8 |
14,9 |
35,8 |
|
Practical training (T) |
8 |
13 |
13 |
|
ECTS credits |
73,4 |
47,4 |
58 |
The preclinical phase lasts for two years and mostly consists of basic and biomedical studies and subject studies. The completion of clinical phase takes three years.
2.7. Final examination
To obtain the degree final examination has to be completed in following courses:
090302A Oral Pathology
090501A Pedodontics, Cariology and Endodontics
090502A Oral Surgery
090503A Prosthetic Dentistry
090504A Stomatognathic Physiology
090505A Parodontology and Geriatric Dentistry
090506A Oral Radiology
090510A Community Dentistry
090601A Oral Development and Orthodontics
In advanced studies the student concentrates on some specific topic, which has scientific relevance in the work of dentist. Advanced studies include thesis work (20 ECTS credits).
2.8. Examination and Assessment Regulations
Assessment is based on examinations, exercises, essays, field work, clinical work, reports or any other method determined pedagogically appropriate for the particular course. All the exams can be retaken. Additional information is given from the organizing department. Clinical work is assessed biannually.
Grades used for assessment of the courses are: 5 (excellent; ECTS A), 4 (very good; ECTS B), 3 (good; ECTS C), 2 (satisfactory; ECTS D), 1 (sufficient; ECTS E); fail.
