Learn to effectively assess the oral health and preventative care requirements of individuals and communities with a JCU Dentistry degree. Formulate, implement and evaluate diagnoses, management and referral plans, particularly within the unique and diverse context of the Tropics. Advance your skills through hands-on learning in JCUâs on-site dental clinics and clinical simulation laboratory.
Study the foundational theory of dental science and the promotion of oral healthcare in underserved communities. Train alongside experienced, supportive professionals and explore issues of concern, particularly relating to tropical, rural and indigenous practice. Develop the fundamental skills required to learn how to become a dentist in Queensland or in metropolitan and regional areas across Australia.
Be equipped with practical work skills in JCUâs world-class dental teaching complex, with a state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratory. Apply your theoretical knowledge as you assess, diagnose and perform dental work on real patients. Expand your network and experience through extensive professional placements.
Discover the strength of JCUâs continued commitment to empowering regional communities and the students within them through the Rural Access Scheme (RAS). If you live or have previously lived in a rural or remote area of Queensland, you may be eligible for a rural place in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery at JCU. Learn more about the Rural Access Scheme and the application process today.
JCU Dental Surgery students graduate in high demand, with a broad range of knowledge and skills to stand out in a competitive field.
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About JCU's Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Do you have a passion for improving health? Are you especially dedicated to those with poor health access, such as Indigenous communities and remote populations? With your Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from JCU, you will be equipped with a world-class education that prepares you to work anywhere, including rural, tropical, and with Indigenous populations.
A Dental Degree with Abundant Opportunities
You want to make a difference, but you also appreciate the importance of having a solid foundation for your career. In Australia, dentists have the highest starting salaries of any profession, and with your dental degree, you will be able to make a difference and work almost anywhere.
With your BDS degree, you can work in private practices across the nation. You will also be able to work in state dental health services or move into teaching or research. After graduation, you will be ready to take advantage of the high demand for dentists throughout Australia, and particularly in Queensland.
By studying a Bachelor of Dentistry in Queensland, you will position you as a leader in facing the challenge of the stateâs oral health.
Proper Preparation to Study Dentistry
With your dental degree, you will be ready for any dental career you choose. Becoming a dentist requires the right preparation, and you can be sure of getting everything you need when you study dentistry at JCU.
As you prepare with your BDS degree, you will be able to take advantage of JCUâs world-class dental teaching complex, including a clinical simulation laboratory for practical experience and observation. You will also gain real-life experience at the universityâs public dental clinics. By the time you graduate, you will have considerable real-world experience in a variety of environments, from rural community health centres, to state-of-the-art training complexes.
Not only will you have useful practical training, you will also acquire the accredited degree you need to move into any dentistry career. JCUâs Bachelor of Dental Surgery, like a Bachelor of Dentistry, will be accredited by the Australian Dental Council, and you will be ready to register with any dental board in Australia or New Zealand.
A Dental School Offering Comprehensive Learning
As you earn your Bachelor of Dental Surgery, you will learn from the best with over 2000 hours of supervised clinical placements in private practices as well as rural and remote clinics across northern Queensland. As you train alongside experienced professionals, you will gain crucial insight into the dental health issues of rural, tropical and Indigenous people.
Your undergraduate dentistry courses will help you grasp a wide range of important aspects of dentistry. You will gain extensive training in subjects like:
- Health care in Australia
- Communication skills for health professionals
- Dental science
- Clinical dentistry experience
- Issues in rural and remote health care
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biological chemistry
- Operative dentistry
- Research for health professionals
- Clinical practice issues
- Lifespan development
- Biological science
Your comprehensive understanding of the issues facing modern health care and dentistry will prepare you for any dental career. You will have a strong mastery of the safety requirements and scientific principles needed to work across all population groups. You will be able to communicate clearly, and critically evaluate situations to attend to the specific needs of your patients.
Become a Dentist and Help Communities
With your BDS degree, you will have the social justice principles necessary to work effectively with people across the social and economic spectrum. You will also be able to work in all contexts, and move effortlessly from remote rural environments to urban environments.
You will also know how to communicate clearly, assess patient needs accurately, and make the right decisions for patients and their families. Equipped with the right training, you will become effective at promoting the oral health of individual patients and the community as a whole.
A Bachelor of Dental Science That Can Lead to Career Success
With your Bachelor of Dental Surgery (similar to a Bachelor of Dentistry), you will be able to take advantage of the high demand for dental services. At the same time, you will be ready to meet any challenge, whether it comes from a fast-moving urban practice or a remote tropical clinic. You will be ready to fulfill your dream of a profitable career while making a positive difference to people across Australia.
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View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects, as well as pre-placement requirements.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the Universityâs learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
Honours
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. For eligibility information go to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Honours) Handbook page. Complete an application through our Online Application Portal.