Bachelor of Dental Prosthetics

This degree is designed for someone who has a recognised Dental Technology Bachelor degree who is ready to expand their qualification to work directly with patients. It will suit someone interested in working as an independent clinician to diagnose, design, manufacture and fit removable dentures. Graduates from the Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Technology or Bachelor of Dental Technology at Griffith University should apply for this degree to gain a Dental Prosthetist qualification and will receive advanced standing towards the program.

Through coursework and supervised clinical practice, Dental Prosthetists are educated in all facets of removable dental prosthetics in an inter-professional setting, learning and working alongside other dental and health care professionals. This degree is not suited to applicants pursuing a Dentistry qualification and is not open to applicants holding a dentistry qualification.

A number of key benefits set Griffith's Dental Prosthetist education apart from other teaching institutions. Students develop advanced critical analytical skills to solve difficult technical and clinical situations. They utilise and are trained in the latest digital techniques. They learn in an inter-professional environment from experienced dental prosthetists and specialists in their field such as:

• Oral Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Radiology
• Prosthodontics

Dental Prosthetic students practice alongside Dentistry students to develop communication and collaboration skills in individual cases. Whether this is inserting and monitoring immediate dentures or witnessing a variety of complex dental procedures. This process is managed through the Team Based Treatment Planning Process which develops patient referral skills.

To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Dental Prosthetics (Graduate Entry) program, a student must have:

• a Bachelor of Dental Technology degree (or equivalent) from Griffith University or a partner University, completed within the past ten years with a minimum GPA score of 4.00 (on Griffith University 7 point scale);

OR

• Bachelor of Dental Technology degree awarded more than ten years ago and have been registered as a Dental Technician in Australia or New Zealand within ten years of the planned date of commencing the program.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 7.0 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 7.0
• OR the Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
• OR the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 65 with no score less than 65
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 94 (no score less than 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking).

• Admission Procedure

The requirement to demonstrate an IELTS (Academic) of 7.0 or an equivalent level of proficiency in English will apply to all International students with the exception of those students who are admitted via one of the following English admission pathways which are exempt from the completion of the English language enhancement course:

• Satisfactory completion of one of the qualifications specified in the following schedule:
• English Language Proficiency Schedule
• Satisfactory completion within the past five years of at least two years full-time equivalent of post-secondary, higher education sector accredited associate degree or degree level study or equivalent in a country specified in the above Schedule A in which the language of instruction and assessment/examination for the entire two years was in English.
• Satisfactory completion within the past five years (from Canada [excluding Quebec], New Zealand, Australia, Republic of Ireland, United States or United Kingdom) of senior secondary, post-secondary, higher education sector accredited associate degree or degree level study or equivalent for at least two years full-time equivalent.

With this qualification, graduates may find employment opportunities in the public and private health sectors through government health department clinics and private practice as a Dental Prosthetist or Clinical Dental Technician.

Prosthodontic Technician and Clinician (Removable Prosthodontics)
Dental Prosthetists work directly with patients to provide removable partial dentures and the prosthodontic technician designs and fabricates the full and partial dentures in plastic or alloy. Graduates will be well equipped for the variety of procedures and techniques to replace missing teeth and will work alongside Dentists and Prosthodontists.

Self-employment
Graduates will gain an understanding of the operational issues involved in establishing a new business. Graduates may own and operate a dental laboratory or clinic. Graduates can progress onto employment in management roles such as senior or chief technician or prosthetists positions; quality control technicians/prosthetist; teaching or dental sales.

Research opportunities
Graduates can apply to progress their research skills through an Honours, Masters or PhD qualification which may lead to various roles in academia, large-scale organisations (corporations/companies, government departments, non-profit/charity organisation).

International opportunities
Graduates will be equipped to apply for dental technician registration in other countries. They will have gained the necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to the examination process required for registration.