EPN

Bachelor Programme in Dental Technology Programme description

Programme name, Norwegian
Bachelorstudium i tannteknikk
Valid from
2021 FALL
ECTS credits
180 ECTS credits
Duration
6 semesters
Schedule
Here you can find an example schedule for first year students.
Programme history

Introduction

The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Dental Technology is a three-year programme of professional study (180 credits). Students who complete the programme are awarded the degree of Bachelor in Dental Technology, which forms the basis for authorisation as a dental technician in accordance with the Act relating to Health Personnel etc. The study programme is the only programme of professional study in dental technology in Norway.

The programme description has been drawn up on the basis of the National Regulations relating to a Common Curriculum for Health and Social Care Education and the Regulations on national guidelines for dental technology education adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research. The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

The purpose of the programme is to educate candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills required to work independently as dental technicians, in addition to a general academic understanding of healthcare professions. Dental technicians shall be able to plan and organise comprehensive measures in cooperation with dentists, patients and other service providers. The programme will be characterised by a fundamental view that is critical, evidence-based and professional. At the same time, the focus will be on the patient’s oral function and aesthetic needs.

Change competence and an understanding of the meaning of research and innovation are important in order to adapt to an industry that is developing quickly in relation to process and material technology. The content and organisation of the programme takes into account prognoses and projections in relation to the population’s dental health, goals and priorities outlined in the national dental health plan.

Dental technology is a programme of professional study in the field of health technology in which natural science, production technology and design are important core areas. Design consists of understanding the tooth’s three-dimensional form and recreate it in a given case. To address the need for academic breadth and in-depth competence in line with the labour market’s needs and development, we emphasise knowledge about digital production technology and skills in using Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM).

Dental technicians work on assignment from a dentist and creates individually adapted medical equipment in the form of different dental structures intended for occlusal rehabilitation of individual patients. The patient’s needs for individual solutions can be influenced by socio-economic factors and variations in the population’s health competence and dental status. The programme must impart knowledge, skills and attitudes that form a basis for equitable provision of services for all groups in society in light of social development, increased diversity, internationalisation and a globalised labour market. The programme will also provide an understanding of different cultures, including the status of the Sami as an indigenous people and their rights to linguistically and culturally adapted services.

Relevance to working life 

The degree forms the basis for authorisation as a dental technician and qualifies for work in dental technology companies or dental health clinics. After completing the programme, dental technicians can apply for work in the global labour market.

Relevance to further education 

A bachelor's degree in dental technology qualifies students for admission to several master’s degree programmes, both at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University and at other institutions in Norway and abroad.

Target group

The target group is anyone who wishes to work as a dental technician and who is interested in a health technology profession characterised by the production of dental prostheses and tooth replacements individually adapted to the patient. The production takes place in cooperation with the dentist and other dental health personnel.

Admission requirements

The admission requirements are the Higher Education Entrance Qualification or an assessment of prior learning and work experience.

The use of clothing that covers the face is incompatible with taking the programme's theoretical and practical training courses. During the skills training at the university and external practical training, the students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at all times at the university laboratories and relevant practical training establishment.

Learning outcomes

After completing the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Dental Technology, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge 

The candidate

  • can explain the teeth's macroscopic anatomy, anatomical variations, terminology and dental notation systems
  • can explain the anatomy and function of the oral cavity, and recognise and describe normal and relevant pathological conditions in the oral cavity
  • can explain the properties of dental materials in relation to the satisfactory choice, treatment and processing of materials
  • can assess fundamental treatment procedures and presentations of dental structures based on clinical and theoretical knowledge
  • has knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and guides in their practice, at a national and international level
  • is familiar with the discipline's history, traditions and distinctive nature and place in society
  • is familiar with international research and development work and can relate this to the professional practice dental technology and the choice of material in the production of dental structures
  • is familiar with principles for inclusion, equality and non-discrimination so that the candidate can contribute to the provision of equitable services for all groups in society

Skills 

The candidate

  • can apply precise specialist terminology orally and in writing
  • can apply knowledge about the anatomy and biology of the oral cavity to produce clinically acceptable dental structures
  • can apply evidence-based practice, research results and knowledge of dental materials
  • when producing dental structures in different clinical cases
  • can assess the risk of undesirable incidents related to dental materials, production equipment and processes
  • can apply, assess and refer to scientific knowledge to shed light on practical and theoretical issues and to make comprehensive professional decisions
  • can produce ordinary prosthetics at a clinically acceptable level with satisfactory functionality and aesthetic results.

General competence 

The candidate 

  • can present important subject matter and document their academic knowledge, both orally and in writing
  • can communicate and exchange professional opinions and experience and in this way contribute to the development of good practice and interprofessional cooperation (IC)
  • has insight into consequences in the event of incorrect treatment of dental materials and how this might affect the patient
  • can plan and implement dental technology tasks and projects that take place over time, alone or as part of a group, and in accordance with ethical requirements and guidelines.
  • can explain the connection between health, education and living conditions, and the psychosocial significance of teeth, both for the individual and for groups in society in relation to good public health and work inclusion
  • has insight into digital technology and the expertise to make use of suitable technology both at the individual and system level
  • can identify, reflect on and handle ethical dilemmas and conflicts of values relating to dental health practice (professional responsibility) 
  • is respectful of people's integrity and rights and communicates with people across differences in age, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds
  • is familiar with the importance of having a sustainable environment when innovating dental technology production concepts and of systematic and quality improving work processes in dental technology production

Content and structure

Learning outcomes have been defined for the Dental Technology Programme in the following areas:

  • Oral health
  • Professionalism
  • Dental material science
  • Prosthodontics

The programme is a comprehensive course of study in that its academic content, teaching methods and practical training are linked. There should be a clear link between the learning outcomes described, learning activities and forms of assessment. The work and teaching methods used and the areas covered in the programme are organised in such a way as to promote both theoretical understanding and practical action competence. The expected academic progress is expressed through a rising taxonomy in the learning outcomes and an increasingly independent performance of complex work processes.

First year of the programme 

The first year of the programme comprises basic prosthetics and natural science courses relevant to the practice of dental technicians. The common course Public Health and Health Management is taken in the first semester and teaches the fundamentals of legislation, frameworks and risk factors related to general health and dental health. Causal connections and variations in the population’s oral health and chosen dental treatment are also elucidated.

Second year of the programme 

Over the course of the second year, the students will continue learning about dental technology processes, systematic quality assurance of dental materials and dental technology production and start to develop a scientific understanding. Both the common course Evidence-Based Practice in Health Care (EBP) and Technology and Society are taught in the second year of the programme. During the fourth semester, the student chooses to specialise in either fixed or removable prosthetics.

Third year of the programme

Over the course of the third year of the programme, the students will undertake a long period of practical training in the fifth semester (20 weeks) which includes interprofessional cooperative learning. In the last semester, the focus will be on clinical prosthetics with product production in the chosen specialisation. The academic year concludes with a bachelor's thesis.

Common courses and teaching activities 

The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Dental Technology has the following common courses and common teaching activities: 

  • TAB1050 Public Health and Health Management, 5 credits 
  • TAB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits 
  • TAB1070 Technology and Society I, 5 credits 

In the courses TAB1050 Public Health and Health Management (5 credits) and TAB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care (5 credits), different academic environments at the Faculty of Health Sciences join forces to provide the students with a common competence platform in line with national guidelines. In TAB1050, focus is on the health services’ organisation, health legislation and health administration, as well as preventive and health promoting work. In TAB1060, students will learn about the rationale for evidence-based practice, with a focus on critical thinking and shared decision-making. For more details, see the individual course descriptions. 

TAB1070 Technology and Society (5 credits) forms part of most bachelor’s degree programmes at OsloMet. The course provides a basic understanding of the digital world and how technology influences people’s lives and the way we work, and will help students to enter the labour market with a basic understanding of technology. The Department of Computer Science at OsloMet is responsible for the practical implementation of the course. See the course description for more detailed information.

The structure of the programme

The programme is divided into 18 courses and incorporates both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and external practical training. Halfway into the study programme, the student chooses to specialise in either fixed or removable prosthetics. Each year of the programme has a scope of 60 credits.

The courses build on each other with gradual progress both in terms of theoretical and practical skills. All courses have a final exam and/or assessment. Reference is made to the course descriptions for more detailed information about of the content of the individual courses in the programme and the credit distribution between theory, skills training and practical training. The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity and exams.

Study progress

The following progress requirements apply to the programme:

  • Students must have passed the first year of the programme before they can start the second year.
  • Students must have passed the second year of the programme before they can start the third year.
Optional course Spans multiple semesters

Teaching and learning methods

The work and teaching methods used in the programme are intended to facilitate the integration of knowledge, skills and general competence and have considerable transfer value to professional practice. Health and natural science theory is placed in a dental technology context and related to the profession right from the start of the programme.

Teaching activities are intended to stimulate active learning and engagement. Good learning outcomes are first and foremost dependent on the students’ own efforts. Own effort means both benefiting from teaching and academic supervision and following this up with independent work in the form of theoretical studies and practical skills training. Normal study progress requires students to make great personal efforts in the form of study groups and individual work.

Different types of digital learning resources are used in the programme to stimulate student activity and cooperation. These resources can among other things be used in students’ preparations for teaching activities, as support in cooperation processes and for podcast production and digital storytelling. It is also an express expectation that all students should contribute to creating a good learning environment for their fellow students through active participation in the different work and teaching methods.

More detailed descriptions of the most common work and teaching methods used in the programme are provided below. The individual course descriptions state which work methods each course employs.

Skills training

Supervised skills training is a key part of the study programme and usually takes place in the university production laboratories. Through practical exercises and reflection, students shall acquire manual skills and learn dental technology procedures. Skills training includes drawing and exercises that are used to develop an understanding of form and colour. Through problem-based tasks, the students will practise cooperation through oral or written communication about case descriptions, proposals for choice of materials and reasons for production method and design choices.

Self-study and group work

Learning requires a high degree of own activity and self-study, including both individual work and cooperation with fellow students in groups. Through activities such as exchanging ideas, presentations, discussions, writing assignments and problem-based assignments, students will be stimulated to learn by communicating knowledge and experience, expressing their own opinions and, together, reflecting on their own attitudes, actions and understanding of the field. Active participation in group work gives students an opportunity to develop their cooperation skills as well as their academic understanding and analytical skills.

Lectures 

Lectures are used to shed light on main elements, concepts, principles and important issues. Lectures can be held in auditoriums or made available in a digital format. Special demonstration lectures take place in the laboratory and are held in connection with the introduction of new techniques and work processes.

Seminars

In seminars, students are able to engage in relevant topics to deepen their knowledge and practise their skills in academic formulation and reflection. This is done through academic contributions, solving assignments and discussion.

Flipped classroom

Flipped classroom is used as one of the teaching activities in several of the courses in the programme. This means, for example, that a lecture is substituted with digital learning resources such as video clips or digital lectures. These resources are made available to students in advance and the students prepare by watching the videos before attending a teaching session. The students can use demonstration videos to familiarise themselves with methods and approaches in preparation for skills training.

Written assignments

Assignments are written both individually and in groups. Students work on different forms of written assignments throughout the programme. Through this work, the students learn to see connections, develop more in-depth knowledge and understanding, and develop their specialist terminology. Students are expected to supplement subject matter from teaching activities and the syllabus with research and scholarly articles, reference works and online resources. In some courses, the students will assess each other’s work and provide feedback to each other.

Portfolios

During a course, the students collect their practical and/or written theoretical assignments in individual portfolios. The portfolio will demonstrate the student's progress. In courses with portfolio examination, parts of the portfolio will constitute the student's 'exam portfolio'.

Project work

Through project work, the students will learn to identify connections and gain a deeper understanding of the field. They will prepare research questions and work systematically on the problem-solving process over time, both individually and in cooperation with others. Projects and other forms of group work are normally concluded with the submission of a written report and an oral presentation.

Practical training

Practical training is the parts of the programme that take place in real-life working situations. The practical training is compulsory, and must have a scope of at least 20 weeks (30 credits). The practical training is carried out in the fifth semester and consists of 16 weeks of supervised practical training in an enterprise and four weeks of observational practice. Practical training is an important arena for learning and development of the students’ understanding of the profession. Through the practical training, the student is to develop professional skills and knowledge, professional socialisation skills, insight into interprofessional cooperation and professional communication skills.

Practical training in an enterprise in the chosen specialisation, fixed or removable prosthetics, normally takes place in private dental technology laboratories/companies. The practical training is supervised by an authorised dental technician, hereinafter called the practical training supervisor, through dialogue on solutions and forms of production. Students will participate as much as possible in the day-to-day production of tooth replacements.

Clinical observational practice is carried out continuously or is divided into different periods in the fifth semester. The complexity of clinical dental treatment, the diversity of patients and how to safeguard their rights are key aspects of this training. Emphasis is placed on professional communication and responsible cooperation between the dental health professions. Students will complete their clinical observational practice at one of more different enterprises, such as a public dental clinic, private dental surgery, orthodontist practice, hospital or with a clinical dental technician. Clinical observational practice is a compulsory part of the practical training, but the students can choose the practical training establishment for the clinical observational practice themselves, provided that the programme approves the practical training establishment.

Students are entitled to supervision and assessment from the practical training supervisor and follow up from the contact lecturer from the programme both during practical training in an enterprise and during observational practice. The assessment of the student will be based on the student’s achievement of the learning outcomes for the practical training period and suitability assessments on a continuous basis in line with the university's assessment system. This means that a supervisor will follow up the student in cooperation with a contact lecturer from the university. The midway and final assessments are made by the practical training supervisor in cooperation with the contact lecturer.

The dental technology programme is nationwide and is only available at OsloMet. The institutions that make up the programme’s practical training arenas are spread all over the country. The students must therefore expect to commute and/or move during the period of practical training. Students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at the practical training establishment. Special requirements for tests or vaccination may apply at individual practical training establishments. Separate requirements for attendance apply to practical training, see ‘Assessment of practical training’.

Internationalisation

Internationalisation contributes to raising the quality of education and strengthens the academic community on the programme, at the same time as it prepares the students to become global citizens. The increasing globalisation of the labour market also makes international professional experience and knowledge of languages and cultures more and more important. Internationalisation takes place both through activities on campus in Norway and through mobility to institutions abroad.

Focus on multicultural and global issues in the programme contributes to increased understanding and improves the students' ability to cope with diversity professionally in a multicultural society. International course literature in English also provides an opportunity for the students to become familiar with terminology and international research. The programme participates in several international networks related to research cooperation and the education of dental technicians. In some courses, the students can attend lectures given by foreign guest speakers. The Dental Technology Programme at OsloMet has cooperation agreements with several universities and university colleges in and outside Europe.

International semester/incoming exchanges

The programme can receive students of dental technology who have been admitted to foreign institutions of higher education. Students who are admitted to the programme can be offered to take parts of the programme in the course TAB2300 Prosthodontics 3 – Fixed Prosthodontics in the fourth semester. The course material will be available digitally in English, and is particularly adapted to international students. Furthermore, incoming students can choose one or more adapted courses in English that in total make up one semester, TANNPRAINN1A External Practical Training in Fixed Prosthetics, TAB1060 Evidence-Based Practice, TAB3900 Bachelor Thesis, and the course TAB1070 Technology and Society, which can be taken alongside other students at OsloMet.

Exchanges

Students can normally complete up to three to five months of the programme abroad. Student exchanges generally take place in the fifth and sixth semester, in connection with the completion of the course TABPRA 1A, TABPRA 1B or TAB3900 in the sixth semester.

The students who participate in the course Fixed Prosthodontics at OsloMet can choose whether they want to write the theoretical assignments in English or Norwegian. Students who go on exchanges must write their theses in English if the exchange is in a country outside Scandinavia. The bachelor's thesis must be written in English in cases where the student is on an exchange abroad during the whole or parts of the period. Reference is made to the criteria that apply to student exchanges and the information about stays abroad: https://student.oslomet.no/utveksling-hv

Work requirements

Required coursework is all forms of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for a student to be assessed/permitted to take the exam or complete practical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description.

The purpose of coursework requirements is to:

  • promote progress and academic development

  • encourage students to seek out and acquire new knowledge

  • facilitate cooperation and communication on dental technology issues

The programme has coursework requirements in the form of compulsory attendance, written assignments, practical exercises and laboratory reports. The coursework requirements are set to help students to develop their competence in accordance with one or more of the expected learning outcomes of the course. Required coursework is carried out individually or in groups.

Compulsory attendance

Attendance is compulsory for all parts of the programme where the students cannot achieve the learning outcomes on their own. This is necessary in order to ensure that patient safety and quality assurance of dental technology products are based on both theory and supervised skills training.

The minimum attendance requirement for demonstration lectures and lab exercises is 90%. The minimum attendance requirement for external practical training, skills training and patient-oriented work, in scheduled group work, seminars and compulsory supervision is 80% Detailed provisions on compulsory attendance are included in the course descriptions.

If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the lecturer will consider whether it is possible to compensate for the absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example individual oral or written assignments. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student's absence and which activities they have missed. Absence from compulsory teaching activities that cannot be compensated for may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Written assignments and compulsory activities

Several courses have written and/or practical exercises and tests as coursework requirements. Written and practical work that is not approved must be reworked again before resubmission. If re-submitted written work or a retaken presentation/test is not approved, the student cannot take the ordinary exam/assessment.

The student is entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If a piece of required coursework is not approved, this may lead to delayed progress in the programme. More detailed requirements for written work, oral presentations and tests, deadlines etc. are set out in the teaching plan for the course in question.

Assessment

Different forms of assessment are used in the programme that are adapted to the learning outcomes of the different courses. The forms of assessment used are intended to support learning and document that the students’ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcomes. The students will receive advice and supervision and have their performance assessed during the programme. It is important and necessary to assess students’ knowledge and skills often, so that the students receive feedback on whether their performance is in line with the programme's requirements and whether they have achieved the learning outcomes.

Exams and practical training are assessed in accordance with the applicable rules set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

The forms of assessment and criteria are described in the individual course descriptions. All exams taken will be stated on the diploma, along with the title of the student's bachelor's thesis.

Assessment/exam

All courses conclude with an exam and/or assessment. The student's performance is assessed on the basis of the learning outcomes defined for the course. The grades used are pass/fail or letter grades from A to F, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

In some courses, the exam consists of more than one part. The student's performance in each part of the exam is assessed by a separate grade, before a final overall grade is awarded. For courses that use exams consisting of more than one part, the course description will state how the final grade for the course is arrived at on the basis of the separate grades awarded for the different parts of the exam.

Most courses have required coursework that must be approved before the student can take the exam. See the course descriptions for more details.

Resits/rescheduled exams

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description. In special cases, resit and rescheduled exams in courses with group exams may be held as individual exams.

For exams where a percentage of the exam papers are selected for assessment by an external examiner, the external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students. In such cases, one external and one internal examiner will first grade the selected papers. The internal examiner then continues grading the remaining papers together with another internal examiner. The assessments from the first part are summarised to serve as guidelines for the assessments carried out by the two internal examiners.

Grades awarded for written exams can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. In a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who have submitted the appeal. This means that all members in the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of practical training

Practical training is assessed as pass or fail. The assessment is based on the course’s learning outcomes and the continuous suitability assessment that students are subject to throughout the practical training period.

To pass the practical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirement. A minimum attendance requirement of 80% applies to practical training courses. If the maximum limit for absence is exceeded, the student can make up for the practical training/teaching activities missed if practically possible. This must be clarified with the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer at the university. If it is not possible to compensate for the absence, the whole period must be retaken. The student will fail the practical training period and deemed to have used one of their attempts. This will result in delayed progress in the programme.

For more information about practical training, see the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

External programme supervisor 

The study programme has an external programme supervisor in accordance with the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet. The external programme supervisor is charged with evaluating the programme's structure and coherence, including the relationship between the learning outcomes as described in the programme description, the work and teaching methods and assessment arrangements. The external programme supervisor should normally supervise all the courses in the programme over the course of a three-year period and provide feedback and advice that the academic environment can use in its further work on the quality of education.

Suitability Assessment

Diplomas for the completed programme will only be awarded to graduates who are suited to practise the profession. A student who represents a potential threat to the physical or mental health, rights and safety of their patients and colleagues is not suited for the profession.

Suitability assessments are made on a continuous basis throughout the study programme, and will be included in the overall assessment of the students' professional and personal suitability for work as health personnel. Students who demonstrate little ability to master the dental technician profession must be informed of this at the earliest possible stage of the programme. They will be given supervision and advice on how to improve, or be advised to leave the programme.

Special suitability assessments are used in special cases, cf. the Regulations concerning Suitability Assessment in Higher Education. For further information about suitability assessments, see: https://student.oslomet.no/skikkethetsvurdering

Other information

Training in the use of the university laboratories is required. The HSE handbook is available digitally and the student must sign to confirm that all required training has been completed. The machines and equipment in the laboratories have QR codes which describe the correct handling and use. Digital product data sheets provide necessary information about correct use, recommended personal protection equipment and health risks, correct storage and waste management related to all materials used in the laboratory.

Dental technology students are recommended to get vaccinated against Hepatitis B and adhere to general advice regarding revaccination from the vaccination programme for the population in Norway: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio (DTP-IPV), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and the flu.

Clothing 

The programme’s skills training and practical training components make requirements of students’ clothes, hairstyle, skin exposure, hand hygiene, use of jewellery etc. For health, safety and environmental reasons, or out of consideration for patients, customers and users, students are required to use a specific uniform or work clothes (lab coat and trousers), including head wear if relevant, while working in the skills laboratories, workshops, training facilities and clinics, and during clinical training and other practical training. The use of head wear that covers the face is incompatible with taking the programme.