Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry PG Cert

This programme explores the most important topics in aesthetic dentistry, making it ideal for practitioners looking to expand into this sought-after field. It covers current scientific documentation, clinical applications, treatment planning, modern materials, and step-by-step clinical procedures. This one-year course is available either part-time with regular on-site attendance, or by distance learning / mixed-mode with regular online lectures and three week-long hands-on training sessions in London.

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This programme is for dental practitioners who want to work at the cutting edge of contemporary dentistry and extend their knowledge and skills into aesthetic dentistry. It gives busy professionals the ability to complete their training while studying at their convenience.

Applicants can study part-time or by flexible mixed mode. UK or London-based applicants are encouraged to choose the part-time mode and attend campus most Thursdays between October and July. Applicants based overseas and those less able to travel to London each week will benefit from the mixed-mode option.

Part-time students will attend lectures in the morning and then hands-on training for the rest of the day. The lectures and interactive discussions are livestreamed for mixed-mode delegates and then made available on-demand. For mixed-mode students, the hands-on training is condensed into week-long sessions in December, March, and June.

UCL's aesthetic dentistry programme offers the most hands-on training from similar programmes in Europe. You will receive extensive small-group training in lab and clinic, honing your skills in state-of-the-art facilities and learning from UCL’s internationally acclaimed dental specialists. 

The programme places particular emphasis on developing your skills in aesthetic restorations, contemporary biomaterials and evidence-based clinical procedures and techniques.

Who this course is for

The programme is best suited for dentists who want to extend their knowledge and skills in aesthetic dentistry to become a competent practitioner in the field, either within or outside the UK. It is ideal for practitioners looking to incorporate aesthetic dentistry into their daily practice and work confidently with patients with high aesthetic demands.

Dentists can apply from any country. GDC registration is not a requirement to join the course.

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.

• Develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in aesthetic restorations, contemporary biomaterials and evidence-based clinical procedures and techniques. 
• Material is delivered through lectures in seminars, with hands-on training, interactive case studies, treatment planning of complex patient cases, and video patient demonstrations. 
• State-of-the-art facilities in skills labs and clinics.
• Teaching from internationally recognised specialists.
• The opportunity to explore topics in depth, with extensive practical teaching in small groups.
• Step by step, interdisciplinary patient case treatment planning sessions and case mentoring.
• Password protected portal with teaching materials and videos.
• Free textbook.

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The programme can improve graduates' prospects of moving to better dental practices, setting up their own dental practices, progressing to full-time master’s and specialty training programmes, or developing a career in teaching. According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (2018-2022), 94% of graduates from this programme have either remained in, or progressed onto, highly skilled dental practice work.

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Successful graduates gain confident clinical skills, evidence-based theoretical knowledge and understanding of modern clinical techniques and materials, to incorporate aspects of aesthetic dentistry into their daily practice. Our graduates will be confident in their abilities to meet the realistic expectations of patients with high aesthetic demands and to make clinical choices for bespoke treatments on challenging patient cases.

You will gain a good understanding of why patients might choose such procedures, the expected results, and the most suitable materials. You will be well equipped to meet patient enquiries on their treatment and minimise patient complaints. You will also master the use of veneers, anterior layered composites, ceramic crown and bridges and start to treat more complex interdisciplinary cases.

Our graduates are prepared to thrive in private dentistry, either as practice principals or associates. Some seek to progress in academic dental careers in the UK or the US. Some combine private dentistry with teaching in dental CPD courses or combine aesthetic facial non-surgical procedures into their practice. You can also evolve your career through specialty training in prosthodontics and other disciplines.

_Networking

There are regular networking opportunities, including events where you can hear from expert speakers. We encourage students to broaden their skills and expand their networks by attending and participating at conferences.

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The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, interactive seminars, treatment planning, a skills laboratory and clinical hands-on training.

The programme has 24 teaching days.

Part-time students attend in-person almost every Thursday between October-July. Mornings are dedicated to theoretical teaching, and afternoons are dedicated to practical study.

Mixed-mode students attend the theoretical teaching online at the same time as part-time students. For practical teaching, mixed-mode students are expected to join in-person residential blocks throughout the academic year. There are three residential blocks of one-week each. Overseas students should also select the mixed mode option.

The rest of the time is for independent study from the course textbook (Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry by Terry/Geller, which students receive free of charge), online reading materials, videos, articles etc, and for work in practice (where relevant).

There is ample hands-on training during the programme. Invasive procedures such as preps, composites etc are carried out in skills labs on mannequins. Non-invasive procedures such as occlusal records, digital design and Michigan splints are completed in clinic on each other. Patient cases are treated in each candidate's practice.

To be awarded this UCL PGCert degree, you will need to complete:

• A written exam of 50 multiple-choice questions in June.
• A written exam of 50 multiple-choice questions in early September.
• A 2,500-word essay on a topic we assign to you in February (deadline for submission of topic is 1 August).
• A viva exam in early September on a patient case you will present to the examiners.

You will be expected to complete around 600 study hours to complete the PG Cert programme.

Around 30% of this will be contact teaching hours. Each of the 24 teaching days has a lecture in the morning and hands-on training in the afternoon, which is attended by the part-time cohort. There are also online treatment planning sessions (on Zoom) which take place on most Thursdays during the weeks without theoretical teaching.

The hands-on training for mixed-mode students is delivered during three residential training weeks.

You will also need around 12.5 independent study hours per week (over 33 weeks), where you review the theory from your teaching and apply in practice the techniques that you have learnt.

Compulsory modules

 Science and Properties of Dental Composites and Ceramics

 Interdisciplinary Clinical Dental Aesthetics

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

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We are a world-leading, academic centre for postgraduate dentistry and translational research. We offer high-quality postgraduate education, including Master's degrees, speciality training, certificates, diplomas, research degrees and CPD courses. Our clinically-intensive programmes are led by international specialists. As a world-class research centre, we are continually improving systemic and oral health by developing novel treatments, therapies, diagnostics and smart materials. Our new state-of-the-art facilities at Bloomsbury campus ensure that our students, researchers and academics have exceptional access to patients and opportunities for education and research. The UCLH Eastman Dental Hospital is part of the largest hospital in Europe specialising in complex oral health care and advanced ear, nose and throat treatments.

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UK Students

Fee description Part-time Tuition fees (2025/26) £18,250

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

All students on this programme on a part-time or flexible basis are required to pay a fee deposit of £500.

Students will be able to use articulators on site or in their dentists' labs, so may not need to purchase the equipment. Some will wish to invest to be able to work at a more precise level in the future. Prices for a new semi-adjustable Denar articulator and face bow can range from approximately £1,300 to £3,000 (based on current discounted prices from local suppliers), but they may also be found second-hand at about 25% of the cost.

The deposit fee upon successful application and acceptance of the offer to enrol forms part of the tuition fee and is not an additional cost.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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Delegates can self-fund or seek external scholarship funding or professional loans.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

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Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for Eastman Dental Institute programmes of £120 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

• about your academic background in basic restorative procedures and occlusion
• why you want to study this programme at graduate level
• what particularly attracts you to this programme
• what important elements are you looking for in the programme
• where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Dentistry enthusiasts who would like to provide bespoke contemporary evidence based treatment plans to their patients and who would like to remain in the cutting edge of dental technology.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.