Program Modules

This blended learning Master’s program has a modular structure and will be conducted in English. A variety of activities e.g. project work, written exams, presentations or practical skills sessions will also be used to assess your progress throughout the program.

A theory-based master thesis (literature review or clinical study) as well as 10 patient treatment cases have to be completed by each student - deadline of submission is at the end of the second academic year.

During the first academic year, the following obligatory modules will be covered:

 

In the second and final academic year, the following obligatory modules will be covered:  

 


Module Descriptions

Esthetics – Science and Daily Practice:

This module lays the foundation for general esthetic principles with an underlying focus on objective evaluation of esthetic cases. The identification of esthetic challenges and the development of coping mechanisms is also central to the module. 

Esthetics – Needs and Medical Indications:

The modules focuses on the patient-centered assessment of esthetic demand for orofacial treatment procedures. Special attention will be paid to the area of tension between the patient’s requests and the threat of potential overtreatment. You will be trained to plan and excercise treament options through a virtual patient.

Patient Documentation:

You will be given an introduction to top-notch patient treatment case documentation. Various formats of medical imaging such as CBCT, CT scan, MRI and OCT will be discussed in detail in order to provide you with the ability to create virtual simulations of your own patients to plan your esthetic treatments according to the latest quality standards in dental medicine. Applying the treatment to the virtual respresentation of your patient allows you to evaluate and therefore to improve the treatment outcome. Additionally, skills gained in this module can be directly applied to the module Patient Treatment Cases.

Patient Treatment Cases:

Within this module you have to treat a total of 10 patients in your home country, having your individual tutor on your side who is supporting you every step of the way through our eLearning platform.The treatment has to be documented according to the standards taught in the module Patient Documentation. The module has to be completed by the end of your second academic year. 

The compulsory module “Patient treatment“ requires 10 pieces of work from a complete treatment documentation of an independently carried out dental procedure as well as successful completion of an OSCE examination (Objective Structured Clinical Examination).

The following indications must exist:

- Esthetic treatment of a single tooth (2 cases)

- “Esthetic Zone“ rehabilitation (3 cases)

- Fixed restoration of an entire jaw (2 cases) - Removable restoration of a complete jaw/ up to five remaining teeth (1 case)

- Abrasion rehabilitation (1 case)

- Synoptic treatment concept for a complex case (1 case)  

Specific Esthetic Potentials of Dental Disciplines:

In-depth exposure to the esthetic potentials of all dental disciplines (Prosthetics, Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Periodontology, Implantology, Maxillofacial Surgery and Plastic Surgery) through lectures, seminars and hands-on courses allows you to grasp the significance of selecting and combining different therapy options for achieving excellent esthetic orofacial treatment results.

Digital Planning:

The module Digital Planning provides you with the skills to select and apply software for the digital planning of treatment procedures. Advantages and disadvantages of different software products will be discussed with a special focus on esthetic treatment outcomes. You will be particularly familiarized with how to select the software which provides the most security in applying the individually and digitally planned treatment to your real patient. In this context, critical and scientific evaluation of treatment outcomes will also be adressed.

Patient Handling – Psychological Aspects:

This module focuses on the psychological aspects of patient handling. As the interaction between you and your patient is characterized by a state of asymmetric information, conversational skills are a very handy tool to bridge that information gap. For that reason, you will be trained in conversation techniques which help you not only to cope with psychologically altered patients, but also to make your daily work more efficient.

Scientific Methods I:

This module allows you to become familiar with the philosophy of science and the rules of good scientific conduct. You will also learn about scientific writing, basic statistics as well as literature research, critical reflection of existing literature and its objective evaluation. 

Scientific Methods II:

Scientific Methods II is based on the contents taught in Scientific Methods I. You will be introduced to advanced statistics and clinical study design. Furthermore, you learn how to identify and deal with errors in scientific publications.

Extended Potentials of Synoptic Treatment Regimes:

This module focuses on the in-depth discussion of complex synoptic treatment regimes. It gives you the ability to value and apply different synoptic therapy concepts (facultative vs. obligatory) to the situation at hand. Moreover, you will learn to design individual synoptic therapy concepts with a given chronological order. 

Coordination of Therapeutic Teams:

The coordination of therapeutic teams is an often underestimated challenge which has a great influence on the quality of the treatment outcome, especially when it comes to esthetic cases. During this module you will be familiarized with the general principles of project management and the implementation of an effective communication/report structure to ensure a secure realization of your treatment plan. Upon completion of this module you will be qualified to identify the different resonsibilities of different team members, to select the members of your therapeutic team, to coordinate all team members, to make it short: to head the therapeutic team.

Practice Management:

With a focus on an economical view on your daily work as a dentist, this module will provide you with a tool set ranging from quality management to business development to further boost your own business. 

Surgical Techniques – Human Cadaver Course:

You will be able to improve your technical skills for esthetic surgeries under supervision of highly experienced surgeons. All procedures will be performed on fresh cadavers – from soft tissue management to minimal-invasive plastic surgeries, always aiming at the impovement of the orofacial esthetics. You will be made aware of the potentials and risks of plastic surgery procedures, getting a deeper understanding of whether and how to ingetrate those procedures into your synoptic treatment concept.

Master Thesis:

Using the research skills gained in the Scientific Writing Modules, each student is required to conduct independent scientific research and submit a master thesis by the end of the second academic year. You are free to chose your own research objective within the field of esthetic dentistry, e.g. a literature review or a clinical trial. Students with exceptional master theses will be encouraged and supported to publish their work in international journals.

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