The Department of Dental Sciences offers a Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting, a National Diploma in Dental Technology (which is being phased out with our last intake in 2019) and a Masters of Health Sciences in Dental Technology. with new HEQSF aligned qualifications in Dental Technology awaiting approval.
The Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting addresses the need in the dental profession for dental assistants with recognised qualifications and relevant education and training. A dental assistant will support dentists in treating patients and will therefore be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
The National Diploma in Dental Technology will graduate dental technicians who will be part of the oral health team responsible for making various dental prostheses. Dental technology students are engaged with patient-specific dental work and must register with the South African Dental Technicians Council. (SADTC). The Masters of Health Sciences in Dental Technology (MHSc) is a 180 credit qualification, offered at the NQSF level 9, and students will conduct independent research under the guidance of an appointed supervisor who also is an authority in that specific area in which the intended research will be conducted.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology Dental Programme
Higher Certificate Dental Assisting
If you are a student who embraces a neat appearance, good personal hygiene and loves working and interacting with people and patients in a clinical setting, then this course might be for you. The purpose of this qualification is to supply the dental profession with competent dental assistants who can be employed in dental practices or dental clinics to assist dental practitioners. The qualification addresses the need in the dental profession for dental assistants with recognised qualifications and relevant education and training. As a dental assistant, you will support dentists in treating patients and will therefore be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Dental assistants can find employment with dental practitioners and other auxiliaries in dental practices, hospitals, and clinics, in both the private and public sectors. The international demand for trained dental assistants is increasing with many students working abroad.
National Diploma Dental Technology – (phased out, the last intake was 2019.)
The purpose of this course is to educate and train competent, responsible and accountable dental technicians for the dental profession. The course addresses the needs of the dental profession for qualified dental technicians with relevant qualifications that are recognised both nationally and internationally. Dental technology students are engaged with patient-specific dental work as early as their first year of study. This is done in collaboration with the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape and includes community projects. Dental technicians must register with the South African Dental Technicians Council. (SADTC). Graduates register as dental technicians and work for a dental technologist in a registered commercial dental laboratory or a registered government dental training hospital (such as the Dental Faculty of UWC).
Masters of Health Sciences in Dental Technology
This research qualification aims to develop scholarship in the fields of dental material sciences, dental technology, new and future technologies, the business of dental technology, professional jurisprudence, professional ethics and conduct, dental technology-specific education/teaching and learning and any other profession-specific focus areas.
Ultimately, the graduate will make a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge and initiate change that will help to develop and advance the profession of dental technology.
Minimum Entrance Requirements
| APS score | English(HL or FAL) | Maths | Maths Lit | Life Science | |
| HC Dental Assisting | 25+ | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
MHSc Dental Technology:
A four-year profession related qualification equal to the BTech: Dental Technology or a BHSc professional degree in dental technology. In the case of non-South Africans qualifications, a SAQA http://www.saqa.org.za/evaluation is required before such an application can be considered. Depending on the nature of the research study an applicant may have to be registered with the SADTC as a dental technologist. Apart from this being a full research qualification, the university may expect students to do subject-specific coursework that will underpin their research endeavour as and when such needs are identified. One such area may be research methods, techniques and statistics.
Recognition of Prior Learning
RPL processes will apply to applicants who have studied Dental Technology at a different institution and would like to further their studies at CPUT.
Postgraduate studies information
Masters of Health Sciences – Dental Technology (MHSc)
This 180 credits qualification is offered at the NQSF level 9, and students will conduct independent research under the guidance of an appointed supervisor who also is an authority in that specific area in which the intended research will be conducted.
Where the intended research cuts across different disciplines, the university will appoint a co-supervisor/s as and when required.
Assessment
The final assessment will be based on the thesis or dissertation submitted which will be externally assessed by examiners appointed by the university.
In preparation for your registration
Prospective students are encouraged to develop a clear idea of what it is that they would want to research before registering for the said qualification. This implies that a basic problem statement must exist with clear outcomes identified.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Department of Dental Sciences for guidance before submitting their application for registration. Doing so will prevent unnecessary waste of time and funds.
Ultimately, the graduate will make a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge and initiate change that will help to develop and advance the profession of dental technology.
Registration with the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC)
The nature of the research may require from prospective students to be registered with the SADTC who is the statutory regulator of the dental technology profession. Please seek clarity in this regard if you are not registered as a practitioner in South Africa. This authority can be contacted via the website http://www.sadtc.org.za/
Study period
The minimum study time is one year fulltime or two years part-time.
Fees
Study and other fees are available here
Enquiries
Mrs M Anthony mailto:[email protected]
Po Box 19111
Tygerberg Campus
Tygerberg ;7505
Phone.+27 (0)219595571