Foundation to Dental Therapy

Dental therapy is a registered dental care profession that provides a range of dental treatments to patients under prescription from a dentist, or as an independent practitioner within their scope of practice. Dental therapists carry out procedures including tooth fillings, extractions, and taking X-rays, as well as the full range of dental hygiene treatments focused on preventing and treating gum disease and helping patients maintain good oral health. The profession plays an increasingly important role in expanding access to dental care and in freeing dentists to focus on more complex treatments, and it is a clinical profession with real responsibility for patient health and wellbeing.

The programme at the University of Liverpool includes a Year 0, which is a foundation year that provides the scientific and clinical preparation needed before students embark on the main dental therapy degree. The foundation year builds knowledge in the biological sciences, human anatomy and physiology, and the academic skills required for clinical higher education. The subsequent years of the degree cover oral anatomy and physiology, the diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases, dental materials, radiography, periodontology, and the clinical skills required for the procedures within the dental therapist's scope.

Substantial clinical practice is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in real dental settings with supervision from experienced practitioners.

Successful completion of the programme leads to registration with the General Dental Council as a dental therapist, which is the professional qualification required to practise in the UK. Dental therapists work in NHS and private dental practices, community dental services, hospital dental departments, and public health settings. The scope of dental therapy has expanded in recent years, and there is growing recognition of the profession's value in delivering care to a wider patient population, including children, older adults, and people with particular health needs.

Continuing professional development and postgraduate study are available for those who want to develop their clinical expertise or move into education, research, or management within the dental sector.