Course Description: Master of Science in Endodontics

MED601           Applied Basic Science I

This foundational course provides students with sound evidence based background knowledge to effectively participate in the evaluation and management of endodontic patients. This course is comprised of lectures discuss selected topics in the oral physiology, anatomy, oral microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, pharmacology and biomaterial with areas of clinical importance. Knowledge gained by the student will contribute to achieving competency in rendering endodontic treatment.

MED602           Biostatistics

This course is comprised of lectures designed to aid the student to expand their knowledge of the basic principles of statistics as it applies to the understanding and interpretation of the dental literature. The emphasis of this course is on the application of statistical tests commonly employed in health research and the interpretation of their results. This enables the student to critically evaluate dental and medical research and analyze results of his/her own research project.

MED603           Research Method

The course considers the nature of scientific knowledge and investigates various processes involved in research. Both the quantitative and qualitative approaches will be studied. The course covers the sources of knowledge, the scientific method in research, and the ethics of research. The important steps in planning a research project, sampling techniques and measurement tools necessary for conducting a research project will be covered. The course also discusses the considerations involved in writing a research report and critical appraisal of the literature.

MED605           Applied Basic Sciences II

This foundational course provides students with sound evidence based background knowledge to effectively participate in the evaluation and management of endodontic patients. This course is comprised of lectures discuss selected topics in oral histology, oral pathology, oral medicine, radiology, and periodontology.

Prerequisite:  MED601

MED606                  Seminars in Endodontics I

This course is the first of three in the Endodontics seminar series. This course will be held once a week during the second semester of the graduate program’s first year. It consists of weekly seminars dedicated to review classical and contemporary literature in the field of endodontic. A series of seminars in endodontics based on comprehensive readings and reviewing in the literature/textbooks are designed to provide an in-depth level of knowledge in  contemporary endodontic treatment modalities that are developing at a pace, which is not presented in the current endodontic literature. The interrelationship between basic sciences and clinical aspects of endodontics is emphasized.

The students learn to critically evaluate the scientific evidence that supports endodontic principles and practice. By the end of this course, students will have gained an in depth knowledge essential for techniques and procedures in the clinical practice of non-surgical therapy involving steps from root canal access to root canal obturation.

Prerequisite:  None

MED701          Seminars in Endodontics  II

This  course  is  the  second  of  three  in  the  Endodontic  Seminar  series. This course is held once a week during the first semester of the graduate program’s second year. The course will generally follow a seminar format in which students will discuss specific topics in Endodontics , A series of seminars in endodontics based on comprehensive readings and reviewing in the literature/textbooks are designed to provide an in-depth level of knowledge in contemporary endodontic treatment modalities that are developing at a pace, which is not presented in the current endodontic literature. The interrelationship between basic sciences and clinical aspects of endodontics is emphasized.

The students learn to critically evaluate the scientific evidence that supports endodontic principles and practice. By the end of this course, students will have gained an in depth knowledge essential for diagnostics, and treatment planning of various pulpal and periapical diseases, management of medically compromising situations seen in practice, in addition to topics related to endodontic emergencies, surgical endodontics and management of endodontic failure.

Prerequisite:  MED606

MED704           Seminars in Endodontics III

This  course  completes the  Endodontic  Seminar  series. This course is held once a week during the second semester of the graduate program’s second year. A series of seminars in endodontics based on comprehensive readings and reviewing in the literature/textbooks are designed to provide an in-depth level of knowledge in contemporary endodontic treatment modalities that are developing at a pace that is not presented in the current endodontic literature. The interrelationship between basic sciences and clinical aspects of endodontics is emphasized.

The students learn to critically evaluate the scientific evidence that supports endodontic principles and practice. By the end of this course, students will have gained an in depth knowledge essential for treatment strategies for traumatic injuries,  implant versus endodontic outcome, endodontic therapy for primary teeth  in addition to restoration for endoodntically treated teeth.

Prerequisite:  MED701

Clinical Component Courses

The clinical component of the program consists of 7 clinical courses. The following is a description of the clinical component courses.

MED604              Clinical Skills in Endodontics

This introductory course provides the essential pre-clinical training procedures. It is held during the first semester of the graduate program’s first year prior to patient care endodontic procedures. Advanced endodontic procedures are performed on extracted teeth in order to acquire appropriate skills necessary for competent patient care. The course includes instruction on root canal anatomy and variations, materials and equipment used in endodontic procedures, and the fundamentals of non surgical   endodontic procedures.

This course will  provide the  students with  both  skill  and  confidence to  begin  treating  patients,  and will  be completed prior to clinically treating  human  patients.

Prerequisite:  None

MED607           Clinical Endodontics I

This is the first course of the clinical component of the program. It is held during the second semester of the graduate program’s first year after the completion of the clinical skill in Endodontics course. The course consists of clinical patient management and treatment plan sessions under the guidance of clinical instructors.

In the first year of the program, students are closely supervised during all endodontic clinical procedures while developing skills in diagnosis, radiographic technique, treatment planning, root canal therapy and emergency endodontics using classical and contemporary methods of treatment. By the end of this course, student should be conversant in performing diagnosis; formulating treatment plan and management of cases with minimum and moderate difficulty level. Students should maintain the records of all treated clinical cases for the portfolio that to be submitted at the end of the clinical practice component of the program.

Prerequisite: MED604

MED702           Clinical Endodontics II

This is the second course of the clinical component of the program, during the first half of the second year of the program, Students continue to treat patients and debate treatment plans under the guidance of clinical instructors. Students should have made progress toward completing treatment of some patients with a moderate difficulty level. Students should begin to demonstrate increased level of independence and self-directed learning.

Each student should review the different clinical cases under his/her care with the course coordinator. This is to ensure that he/she has sufficient number of patients to satisfy the graduation requirements. Each student should document and maintain records of all treated clinical cases for the portfolio that to be submitted at the end of the clinical practice component of the program.

Prerequisite:  MED607

MED705           Clinical Endodontics III

This is the third course of the clinical practice component of the program. Student continues to treat patients and debate treatment plans under the guidance of clinical instructors. He/she should demonstrate advanced skills in diagnosis, treatment plan, and management of patients with moderate and high difficulty endodontic level. Each student should review the different clinical cases under his/her care with the course coordinator. This is to ensure that he/she has sufficient number and variety of patients to satisfy the graduation requirements. Student should maintain the records of all treated clinical cases for the portfolio that to be submitted at the end of the clinical practice component of the program.

Prerequisite:   MED702

MED801           Clinical Endodontics  IV

This is the fifth course of the clinical component of the MSc Endodontics program. This course serves as first of the 2 capstone courses of the program. The course is designed for the student to demonstrate his/her knowledge and skills relevant to the core competencies and outcomes of the program.

The course consist of supervised clinical patient management and treatment plan sessions. Each student is assigned a number of patients that need endodontic treatment with a different level of difficulty. He/ She is required to perform diagnosis, treatment plan and management to address patient- mediated and dentist- mediated concerns. By the end of this course, student should be conversant in performing diagnosis and treatment planning at all difficulty levels of endodontics cases. This course is identified as a capstone course and qualitative assessment of the students will be performed through self-assessments and case based discussions (CBD).

Prerequisite:  MED705

MED803            Clinical Endodontics  V

This is the final clinical component of the MSc Endodontics program. This capstone course serves as the culminating experience for students in the MSc in Endodontics. The course is designed for the student to demonstrate his/her knowledge and skills applicable to the core program competencies and outcomes.

By the end of this course, student should be conversant in performing diagnosis and performing treatment plan of all difficulty levels of endodontics cases. This final capstone course will be assessed through various assessment tools such as student self-assessment, case based discussions (CBD) as well as instructor-evaluated clinical portfolio.

Prerequisite:  MED801

MED804            Clinical Teaching

The process of information transfer in a clinical teaching setting reflects many aspects of knowledge, skills, and competencies. The role of clinical instructor assumed by student during this course contributes to enforcing his/her ability to organize the transfer of sound scientific knowledge and demonstrating clinical skills. Furthermore, it enriches governance, leadership qualities and taking responsibility for critical decisions. During this, non-credit course, students are assigned teaching sessions for one semester at the undergraduate clinics of the Restorative Dentistry Department, were they will be supervising undergraduate students under the guidance of full time clinical instructors.

Prerequisite:  MED604, MED607, MED702, MED705, MED801

Research Thesis Component Courses

Research thesis component consists of 4 courses. The following is a description of the research thesis component courses.

MED703    Research Proposal

Research proposal is the initial step in the development of the thesis project. Each student will select to investigate a research topic under the guidance of a supervisor(s) who is a full time staff at the College of Dentistry. The topic of investigation can be chosen by the student and/or the supervisor, however, the topic need to be agreed with the supervising staff before the commencement of the project. Student should formulate a research proposal while observing sound research and ethical principles. The research proposal should demonstrate a contribution to existing knowledge in the field.

Prerequisite:  MED602  and  MED603

MED706   Thesis Preparation I

This course constitutes the second part of the thesis component of the program. Student should have obtained ethical approval if required, and conduct the pilot study to confirm the appropriateness of the methods and materials. Challenges faced during the pilot study should be addressed. Amendments to the proposal in light of challenges faced in the pilot study and emerging literature should be justified.

Prerequisite:  MED703

MED802  Thesis Preparation II

This course constitutes the third part of the thesis component of the program. Student will conduct the main study, collect, analyze and interpret the data analysis. He/she can begin to draw preliminary conclusions and inferences and develop comparisons of his/her results with findings in the literature. In addition, he/she will begin to evaluate the contributions of his results to the existing literature and suggest future research directions in the topic under investigation.

Prerequisite:  MED706

MED805          Thesis

This is the final course of the thesis component. Student will write the final research thesis observing the scientific and ethical methods of report writing. In the written research thesis he/she describes the investigation in different chapters including literature review, statement of the problem, methods and materials, results, conclusions and references. He/she will then submit the completed written thesis for oral defense. This course will contributes to aspects of knowledge, skills and competencies expected at the graduate level.

Prerequisite: MED802