Dentistry Implementation at CSU

The Courses

The courses are being developed in close cooperation with the Australian Dental Council, Australian Dental Association (NSW), local dentists, local oral health practitioners and senior consultants. CSU will offer a 5 year undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Science leading to registration as a dental practitioner and additionally, a three year undergraduate Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) leading to a qualification for employment in the private or public dental health systems. The programs will accommodate a total of 60 new students per annum leading to an overall dental/oral health student body of 240 over five years, graduating 40 dentists and 20 dental hygienists/therapists.

Bachelor of Dental Science

(40 student places per annum, commencing in Orange)

The five-year Bachelor of Dental Science will provide the undergraduate curriculum foundation to qualify as a dentist. There will be a significant focus on clinical education and the program will utilise a mix of didactic and scenario-based presentation. The course will be accredited by the Australian Dental Council for registration by the Dental Board of New South Wales under the Dental Practice Act 2001.

Graduates will be registered as Dentists in New South Wales and consequently in other Australian states and New Zealand by mutual recognition.

Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene)

(20 student places per annum, commencing in Wagga Wagga)

The three year Bachelor of Oral Health will meet the needs for the education of dental hygienists/ therapists. The first year will draw substantially from Charles Sturt University's existing medical and clinical sciences degrees. A clinical program will also be undertaken by students within in-house clinical facilities early in the program. The course will be accredited by the Australian Dental Council for registration by the Dental Board of New South Wales under the Dental Practice Act 2001.

Doctor of Health Science

Doctoral level research programs would be available for suitably advanced and qualified practitioners and graduates of the dentistry course or otherwise qualified for entry to a doctoral research program in health sciences. This will constitute a significant program of study including basic research or clinical research where students will be supervised by dental research academics within the School.

Possible Future Programs

Dental Technology

A program in Dental Technology is being considered for the education and training of dental technicians in association with the profession. Potentially similar in structure to the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene), such a program would provide a thorough understanding of the science that underpins the use of dental materials. This course would have to be accredited by the Dental Technicians Registrations Board of New South Wales under the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975.

Dental Prosthetics

As a follow-on from Dental Technology the School is considering establishing post-graduate programs in a number of areas such as in Dental Prosthetics. Such a course would be accredited by the Dental Technicians Registrations Board of New South Wales under the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975.

Dental Specialists

Specialist study programs will be established over a period of time as the clinical program is developed and as specialist staff are appointed. Access to all dental specialist areas will be required within the education program. New courses could also be designed to articulate with other Charles Sturt University programs and would provide the rural dental profession with an improved professional development pathway that has not existed previously.