MASTER OF DENTAL SURGERY IN PROSTHODONTICS

BACKGROUND

The discipline of Prosthodontics deals with the provision and maintenance of prostheses and/or restoration of teeth to function, aesthetic harmony and comfort utilizing a variety of techniques both direct and indirect while using the appropriate dental materials. The discipline also encompasses patients’ evaluation, diagnosis and treatment planning which includes prevention and disease control as well as the requirement of long-term maintenance of restored dentition.  In provision of dental prostheses, they are fixed to the remaining teeth or tooth analog such as implant or removable partial or complete dentures supported by teeth and soft tissues. These prostheses replace missing teeth and associated hard tissue.  They also replace soft tissue defects resulting from pathology, trauma or congenital defects. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are currently the most prevalent oral diseases which manifest as partial or total loss of teeth and their supporting periodontal structures requiring one or more forms of Prosthodontic management ranging from simple to complex restorations and/or prostheses. 

The purpose therefore of MDS Prosthodontic shall be to produce high caliber graduates who are capable of maintaining the practice of Prosthodontics in scientific research and in clinical practice.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To equip the student with knowledge, skills and competencies in patient management.
2. To equip the student with knowledge, skills and critical thinking to enable them to conduct ethical research.
3. To instil in the student integrity and professionalism in the management of patients and interaction with professional peers.

PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of this programme is underpinned by the need for advanced clinical training aimed at producing graduates competent in the practice of Prosthodontics beyond the skills of the general dentist.

The programme is a dental speciality pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.

These substitutes are called prostheses and are constructed through a variety of direct and indirect techniques using appropriate dental materials. The scope ranges from the restoration of single teeth with direct or indirect restorations to rehabilitation of the entire occlusion using removable or fixed prostheses.

RATIONALE

The discipline of Prosthodontics aims to provide and maintain dental restorations and prostheses of teeth and maxillofacial tissues in function, aesthetic harmony and comfort, through a variety of direct and indirect techniques, and utilizing appropriate dental materials. These restorations range from simple to complex in design and execution. Direct restorations are placed directly onto prepared dental cavities while indirect restorations and prostheses are constructed through several clinical and laboratory steps prior to delivery. They may be cemented onto tooth preparations, supported on tooth analogues such as dental implants and related precision attachments, or retained through a combination of support from both teeth and soft tissues.

Prosthodontists are specially trained healthcare personnel with appropriate skills to best accomplish these modes of treatment. One of the biggest challenges in managing a Prosthodontics patient in Kenya is the scarcity of specialized personnel. Therefore, there is a need to train competent Prosthodontists to bridge the existing gap and address the unmet demand for Prosthodontics care in answer to the call of healthcare aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kenya Vision 2030 and the Kenya Oral Health Policy 2021-2030.