Overview
Periodontology is the speciality in dentistry which deals with the diseases of the supporting structures of the teeth. These diseases comprise a group of inflammatory conditions of the supporting tissues of the teeth and are caused by bacterial biofilm. Periodontal diseases are thus infectious in nature and are affected and modified by environmental, physical, social and host stresses. Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease affecting mankind.
Graduates of this programme shall be able to treat all forms of periodontal disease on a biologically rational basis. It is also expected that at the end of the training, the graduates shall have attained adequate knowledge to become team leaders and managers in their work places.
PHILOSOPHY
The Master of Dental Surgery in Periodontology programme is guided by the need to develop a Kenyan based programme that produces specialists that can provide leadership and stewardship in the provision of the best care in periodontal diseases management.
RATIONALE
Periodontology is the speciality in dentistry that deals with the diseases of the supporting structures of teeth and their management including the development of dental implants sites as well as surgical placement of dental implants. Periodontal diseases destroy the supporting apparatus of the teeth and may ultimately lead to tooth loss. The 2015 Kenya National Oral Health survey reported a prevalence of gingivitis of 75.7% and ninety-eight per cent (98.1%) for children and adults respectively. Chronic periodontitis, which comprises a group of inflammatory conditions of the supporting tissues of teeth is caused by a bacterial biofilm and has been reported to affect 1-10% of the population.
Whereas these diseases are infectious in aetiology, they are affected and modified by environmental, physical, social and stressful conditions. Like most dental diseases and conditions, chronic periodontitis is largely preventable and specialised management may effectively reduce edentulousness among populations. The programme is very relevant in the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) as well as in the realisation of universal health coverage, one of Kenya’s Big 4 Agenda. It is noteworthy that this programme is in support of UNESCO’s Education 2030 framework work for Action (FFA) as well as its theme on Health, HIV and AIDS.
Structure
- The Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Periodontology shall extend over a minimum period of three and a maximum period of six academic years of full time training.
- The course shall be in three parts: Part 1 will done in the first year, part 2 in the second year and part 3 in the third year.
- The (MDS) course in Periodontology shall consist of course work, clinical work, practicals, research project, tutorials, seminars and journal discussions. All the courses in the programmme shall be compulsory.
- The course shall aim to cover the following aspects: The scientific basis of periodontal care, the relationship of periodontal care to other dental disciplines, diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with advanced periodontal problems, clinical treatment and management.
- The first year shall comprise of coursework, clinical work, preparation of a research proposal for the thesis and first year examinations.
- The second year shall comprise of coursework, clinical work, research work for the thesis and second year examinations.
Third year shall comprise of coursework, clinical work, research project report writing, examinations and defense of the thesis.
MODE OF DELIVERY
Face-to-Face Mode
Lectures, seminars, discussions, tutorials, guided practical experiments and demonstrations. clinical work, clinical teachings & tutorials, practical demonstrations, teachings in skills laboratory, on-call duties, clinical case discussions, journal clubs, case reports, seminars, multimedia resources. Most of the learning will be participatory.
Open, Distance and E-Learning Mode
Home and/or office-based media using a variety of self-instructional electronic and online self-study materials, such as; written self-instructional study modules, online interactive devices and self-tests, cloud-based content, videos of lectures mediated technical learning materials e.g. audiovisual and e-learning materials.
Blended Learning Mode
A combination of face-to-face and online learning approaches.
Admission Requirements
The common regulations for the Master’s Degree of the University of Nairobi shall apply.
- Candidates shall be holders of a Bachelor of Dental Surgery Degree of the University of Nairobi, or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution approved by the Senate of University of Nairobi. The degree must be registrable by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board.
- Candidates shall have at least two years working experience in clinical dental surgery after undergraduate training inclusive of the internship training.
Candidates shall be expected to sit and pass an entry examination administered by the Department.
Careers
Graduates can take up careers as dentists in public or private health institutions, oral healthcare product managers in dentally allied manufacturing companies or teaching at universities and colleges.
Fees and Funding
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exam Regulations
The Common regulations governing examinations for the Master’s degree in the University of Nairobi shall apply.
WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
Examinations for each course shall be held at the end of the academic year in which the course is taught and the pass mark shall be 50%.
Each course shall be examined by continuous assessment tests which shall constitute 30% of the mark and a final examination of 70%.
In course units where clinical examinations are administered, the clinical examination shall constitute 50% of the marks awarded while written examination and viva voce shall carry 40% and 10% of the marks respectively.
In course units where clinical/practical examinations are not administered, written examinations shall carry 60%, continuous assessment tests 30% and viva voce 10% of the marks awarded.
Subject to the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and with the approval of Senate:-
a) A candidate who fails in one or two papers(s) with a mark of 40% -49% shall be allowed a resit examination in the failed paper(s) within a period of six months.
b) A candidate who fails the resit examination shall be allowed to retake the failed paper(s) when the next examination is administered.
c) A candidate who fails the retake examination shall be discontinued.
d) A candidate who fails in three or more papers with a mark of 40% - 49% shall be allowed to repeat the year.
e) A candidate who fails in one or more papers after repeating the year shall be discontinued.
f) A candidate who fails in one or more papers with a mark of 39% or below shall be discontinued.
The highest final mark that may be awarded to a candidate in a resit/retake paper shall be 50%.
A candidate who fails the practical/clinical component in a paper fails that paper.
A candidate who fails to sit the examination on medical grounds shall be allowed to sit a special examination, subject to a satisfactory medical report with the approval of the School Board of examiners and Senate.
A candidate who fails to present themselves for the examination shall on recommendation of the School Board of examiners and approval by Senate be discontinued.
A candidate who fails to complete the course in the prescribed time shall, on the recommendation of the School Board and approval by Senate be discontinued.
THESIS EXAMINATION
The Common regulations governing submission and examinations of the Thesis in the University of Nairobi shall apply.
The thesis shall consist of an original research work of scientific relevance to the speciality of periodontology.
The thesis shall be considered equivalent to three course units.
A candidate who fails to gather data in the allotted time shall do so later in their own time without interfering with the designed academic year. The thesis shall be submitted at least twelve weeks before the end of the semester in which it shall be examined.
The thesis shall be assessed by the external and internal examiner(s), of whom, one should not have been the candidate’s supervisor(s). The internal examiner(s) shall submit their mark to the Chairman at least eight weeks before the examination.
The pass mark for the thesis shall be 50%.
The marks for the thesis shall be distributed as follows;-
Format and content of submitted thesis 60%
Defense/viva voce 40%
After the defense, the candidate shall correct the thesis and submit it within a period of twelve weeks.
A candidate who fails in the thesis may present the thesis again within a period of six (6) months.
A candidate who fails in the thesis at the second resubmission shall, on the recommendation of the School Board and approval by the Senate, be discontinued.
