Educational goals

The Master's degree course in dentistry and dental prosthetics sets out to train professionals capable of working in the dental profession. The general objectives and structure of the Course described below are based on the Ministerial Decree for New Degree Classes - Rules for Master's degree courses, which sets out frameworks for Master's degree courses in compliance with European Union directives, the University of Pavia's Academic Regulations, Law no. 163 of 8 November 2021 and Interministerial Decree no. 653 of 5-7-2022. Academic regulations require the student to obtain 360 University Credits (CFUs) over a six-year period. These 360 credits are obtained in accordance with the conditions set out in the annexes to the decree, which establish CFUs to be allocated to subject areas, including educational activities deemed to be 'essential' for the dentist's training. Pursuant to Interministerial Decree no. 653 of 5-7-2022 and the Law of 8 November 2021, at least 30 CFUs will be reserved for a Professional Qualifying Internship (PQI), i.e. vocational training for the acquisition of specific diagnostic and clinical-therapeutic skills and competences in the field of prevention, diagnosis and treament of odontostomatologic diseases, relating to the subjects of oral surgery, restorative dentistry, endodontics, implantology, oral pathology and medicine, paediatric dentistry, special care dentistry, orthodontics, periodontology and prosthetics. Lecturers responsible for vocational training will deal with relative internships. The pathophysiological and clinical knowledge in the areas of general medicine and dentistry acquired through the educational activities included in the study plan and hands-on clinical activities define the professional profile of the dentist working in countries within the European Union. At the end of the six-year period, the dentistry and dental prosthetics graduate must have acquired the knowledge, technical skills and practical training needed to enter the professional ranks in the private and public dentistry sectors. The graduate must also have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies. The graduate must be able to perform activities concerning the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of congenital and acquired anomalies and diseases of the teeth, mouth, jawbones, temporomandibular joints and related tissues, as well as dental rehabilitation, prescribing all medications and aids, all necessary for practising the profession. Graduates must possess a level of autonomy in professional, cultural, decision-making and operational terms, and be capable of constantly updating their knowledge base, having followed a holistic approach to the oral health problems of healthy and sick persons, taking into due account the surrounding physical and social environment. Basic Sciences Learning Areas The student will acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities enabling him/her to interpret biomedical phenomena, also at a molecular level, in order to understand the stomatognathic system and modern-day oral health maintenance techniques. The skills acquired through the study of an individual's behaviour enhance professional communication and are useful for defining preventive and rehabilitative therapeutic approaches. In general terms, the first two-year period is devoted to basic studies aimed at familiarising students with the fundamentals of the structure and vital functions of the human body, and also addresses issues related to the doctor-patient relationship, understanding the principles underlying the scientific method and learning English. The student also learns how to deal with patients suffering from oral health issues. CORE Learning Areas of Preparatory Clinical Medical and Surgical Sciences The student learns an integrated approach to the patient that starts with a knowledge of physiology and pathology, and moves on to aetiopathogenetic, pathophysiological and microbiological aspects in order to acquire a correct 'systemic' clinical picture. This is supplemented by knowledge of laboratory methods applicable to the qualitative and quantitative study of pathogenetic determinants and biological processes, completing the multidisciplinary systemic picture of the dental patient. Having acquired knowledge of the major systems during the first two-year period and the aetiopathogenetic principles underlying organic, functional and homeostatic alterations, the course moves on to anatomopathological schemas of the most common diseases, with an introduction to the general principles of pharmacological sciences, including substances of abuse, and anaesthesiological sciences, internal medicine, radiodiagnostics and pathological anatomy, general surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery and otorhinolaryngology, ageing, gender medicine and disaster medicine. The second three-year period includes the study of subjects of medical, surgical and specialist interest, in particular clinical problems related to dental and oral diseases. CORE Learning Areas of Clinical Dental Sciences: In addition to the study of medical, surgical and specialist subjects, referring in particular to clinical issues related to dental and oral diseases, the second three-year period examines in depth the science of biomaterials and the application of biomedical technologies in dentistry to achieve clinical results with innovative solutions. The morpho-functional study of the human body and stomatognathic system under normal conditions is indispensable for maintaining the patient's health status, and understanding pathological changes related to individual, population and gender differences. The study of human body changes starts with embryonic development and ends with ageing. An effective patient examination begins with a comprehensive medical and dental history, before conducting the objective oral cavity examination in order to detect abnormalities, diagnose dental and oral pathologies, formulate a comprehensive treatment plan and perform appropriate therapies or refer the patient to another professional. The student will learn to apply the appropriate communicative-relational, organisational-managerial and planning soft skills, gradually acquiring greater autonomy and responsibility, learning about organisational and working methods and working with others (colleagues, other healthcare professionals, users and patients). Over the years, the student will develop an interdisciplinary approach to clinical cases, working in collaboration with other members of the dentistry team and with doctors from other medical specialities, increasing knowledge of the dynamics of healthcare worker groups. The educational path is organised in such a way as to ensure the student's acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences relating to: - diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the oro-maxillofacial region including temporomandibular joints; -recognition and correct management of oral manifestations of systemic pathologies and/or patient referral to another professional; - assessment of the patient's general health and the relationship between systemic pathologies and oral cavity, adjustment of the dental treatment plan to systemic pathologies and individual (age/gender) and population characteristics; - treatment of patients "at risk"; - diagnosis of oral diseases and developmental anomalies according to international community-recognised classifications; - diagnosis and clinical management of dental, orofacial and craniomandibular pain or patient referral to another professional; - screening, diagnosis and management of oral and dental diseases, including malignant neoplasms, mucous and bone pathologies, or patient referral to another professional; - dental X-rays using basic, 2D and 3D techniques; digital radiography techniques; - radiological recognition of deviations from the norm; - principles of radiation protection for the patient and the technician; - removal of hard and soft deposits accumulating on tooth surfaces and planing of root surfaces; - incision, dissection, repositioning and suturing of mucosal membrane as part of oral surgery procedures; - periapical surgery for apical and periapical pathologies; - routine tooth extraction; - surgical extraction of roots and impacted teeth, root reparation and resection; - incisional and excisional biopsies; - functional rehabilitation of masticatory ability and aesthetic rehabilitation with fixed or removable prostheses (complete or partial); - guidance on and implementation of implant therapy or patient referral to another professional; - screw-retained and cemented implant rehabilitations; overdentures stabilised by endosseous implants; - reestablishment of the functional anatomy of teeth using all available materials recognised by the scientific community; - single- and multi-rooted endodontic treatments; - reinforcement of endodontically treated teeth using fibre posts and/or abutments; - orthodontic corrections of minor occlusal problems, recognising the need to refer the patient to other professionals for more complex pathologies; - knowledge of the molecular and cellular action mechanisms of different drug classes, their therapeutic use and criteria for setting treatment schedules, also taking into account the principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and response variability in relation to gender, genetic and pathophysiological factors and drug interactions; - principles and methods of clinical pharmacology, including pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology, side effects and toxicity of drugs and substances of abuse; in-depth knowledge of drugs directly and indirectly related to dentistry practice and understanding of the implications of the pharmacological treatment of systemic pathologies on dental therapies; - knowledge and application of the full range of anxiety and pain management techniques related to dental treatment (to the extent permitted to the dentist); - scientific and technological foundations and opportunities for modern controlled drug delivery technologies and advanced therapies in dentistry; - clinical emergency situations, dental and systemic, ensuring first aid measures; - evaluation of epidemiological data and their use for health promotion and disease prevention, with a focus on data of dental interest relating to individuals and communities. Specific competences deriving from subjects in the core Clinical Dental Sciences may be acquired by doing laboratory activities, hands-on sessions and clinical simulations in the skills lab using dummies or other advanced simulation tools. In the sixth year, specific diagnostic and clinical-therapeutic skills and competences will be acquired, particularly through the PQI. PQI-related CFUs can only be acquired through activities carried out as the primary dentist, under the direct supervision of a lecturer-tutor, at university facilities or NHS-authorised facilities. Pursuant to Article 2(9) of Interministerial Decree no. 653 of 5/07/2022 PQI credits are acquired in the sixth year of the course. No more than 30 per cent of the total may be acquired in the fifth year. Internships serve to acquire theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills in real-life, vocational training settings. A particular type of internship is the Professional Qualifying Internship (PQI), in which the student must acquire the ability to independently apply professional diagnostic and clinical-therapeutic skills and abilities and achieve a level sufficient to qualify to practise the profession. Taking "know-how" concepts into consideration, the period of PQI will be assessed in terms of the level of professionalism and awareness of one's professional identity achieved during the educational path. PQI CFUs are acquired subject to certification by the tutors selected by the Course's academic board and to the validation of the President/Coordinator of the degree course, who checks correctness in terms of hours of activity, number of tasks performed, positive evaluations based on specific criteria, including: technical knowledge and operating and safety protocols; manual skills; work organisation and collaborative skills, as well as approach to the patient. PQIs, related clinical activities and competence ratings are noted and certified in a PQI record book. A careful assessment will be carried out during the Practical evaluation test (PPV), the purpose of which is to check the professional competences acquired through mandatory internships during the course of study and to ascertain the candidate's level of hands-on training in order to qualify to practise the profession. This test precedes discussion of the dissertation. The PPV entails the student's discussion of three clinical cases handled as primary dentist during the PQI, requiring multidisciplinary treatment plans and tasks relating to most of the subjects covered by the PQI. Students will also be assessed on what they have learnt during the six-year course of study. The student must obtain a pass mark for the PPV (this does not count towards the degree grade), before being able to discuss the dissertation. VOCATIONAL TRAINING / INTERNSHIP Area Specific professional competences in various areas of dentistry will be acquired through vocational training, encouraging growing professional and technical independence, for a duration of no less than 90 CFUs to be performed in coordination with other course activities at university facilities, hospitals and community-based facilities. As an integral and qualifying part of vocational training, the professional qualifying internship (PQI) is a course requirement, without which the final academic title cannot be obtained. Of these 90 CFUs, to be obtained over the entire educational path through the aforementioned vocational training, 30 CFUs will be allocated to the Professional Qualifying Internship (PQI), as per MUR decree no. 653 of 5 July 2022, required for qualifying to practise the profession. Each CFU for the PQI must correspond to at least 20 hours of vocational training, and no more than 5 hours of individual study. Internships may be undertaken in Italy or abroad, at research institutes, universities, laboratories, companies and/or public administrations, also within the framework of international agreements. Pursuant to Article 3(6) of Ministerial Decree 1649/2023, in addition to no fewer than 8 CFUs for activities of the student's own choice, a further 8 CFUs may be obtained, again at the student's choice, in compulsory internship credits available for vocational training activities. RELATED OR SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES, dealt with more extensively in the dedicated section, will enable the student to achieve the educational objectives of the course, through the in-depth study of medical topics already outlined in basic and core activities, consistent with the professional content of the course. These activities will enable students to complete their preparation in the biomedical sphere, giving priority to clinical and diagnostic aspects, and specifically to the management of clinical operating facilities. Due relevance is also given to the organisation of student training through lifelong learning, and to the development of critical thinking with regard to scientific research methodologies. As part of subjects in core and related areas, the introduction of ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS will enable Master's degree graduates to: - adopt an interdisciplinary approach in their professional activity, and collaborate with other health professionals and specialists from different sectors, applying the rules and dynamics of group work and the organisation of work in general; - develop good interpersonal skills with patients, their families and members of the healthcare team through effective communication methods and techniques, also in English; - competently use the main IT, digital and electronic communication tools; organise one's continuing education through lifelong learning and self-study, bibliographic searches, critical reading of scientific papers from international literature and scientific, methodological and technological updates.

Career opportunities

Dentist . Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics graduates have the right to establish and practise their profession in all countries of the European Union and in countries having agreements with EU countries on the mutual recognition of academic qualifications. Dentists can work in various clinical, health and biomedical professional fields. Career opportunities, governed by Law, include: - work in national health service facilities, public bodies and State/public or private companies; - research activities in clinical or preclinical dentistry areas; - private practice.

Admission requirements

Admission to the single-cycle Master's degree course in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics is subject to possession of an upper secondary school diploma or a foreign academic qualification recognised as suitable in accordance with current regulations. The initial knowledge required is that provided for in secondary school curricula in the subjects of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, as set out in the National Guidelines for "Liceo" (Grammar) schools and in guidelines for Technical and Vocational Colleges. The procedures for admission to the Master's degree course in dentistry and dental prosthetics, subject to passing the so-called "filter semester", is governed by a specific provision of the Ministry of University and Research, in compliance with current legislation.