DENTISTRY

www.imu.edu.my

Dentistry
Dentistry is a dynamic health profession that provides a rewarding career especially since currently there are insufficient dentists available in Malaysia to provide adequate oral healthcare to its population. Dentistry is concerned with taking care of all health and aesthetic problems pertaining to the mouth, teeth, gums and other hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and the upper and lower jaws. Dentists are both artists as well as scientists as not only are they required to have the scientific knowledge and technology available to diagnose, prevent and treat oral diseases and various oro-facial anomalies but also need to be skillful in handling a wide variety of materials, instruments and equipment to execute treatment. The dental programme in IMU is innovatively designed to provide early clinical exposure and various forms of learning activities to promote critical reasoning, develop professionalism and lifelong learning.
PROF TOH CHOOI GAIT Dean, School of Dentistry BDS Hons (Singapore), MSc (London), FDSRCPS (Glasgow), DRDRCS (Edinburgh), FDSRCS (Edinburgh), FAMM (Malaysia)

Dentists work is not confined to filling and pulling out teeth. The care that dentists are trained to provide greatly improves the quality of their patients lives. Oral diseases like tooth decay, gum diseases and oral cancer, malocclusion (when teeth in the upper and lower jaws do not fit properly), genetic deformities and anomalies affecting the oro-facial complex, and other oral problems can cause a great deal of discomfort, pain and adversely affect oral functions such as chewing food, talking or playing of musical instruments. A patients appearance, self esteem and confidence can also be greatly enhanced through various types of dental procedures. Dentists are usually not required to be on call at night nor to make house calls. Thus it is easier for dentists to achieve a perfect balance between their professional and personal lives.

01 | Why choose this programme? The dental programme focused on excellence committed to meeting international standards. The education programme is planned to provide a choice of 2 tracks for the dental student. The first track is implemented jointly by the IMU, Malaysia, in collaboration with English speaking overseas universities (Partner Universities), with the students spending the first phase (5 semesters) in Malaysia and the later years in the partner universities. On successful completion, the students will receive the degree from the respective Partner University. The second track is the student will spend the full 5 years of the undergraduate programme in IMU and receive the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from IMU. A student-centred approach is adopted in which the needs of the individual students are met, and they are supported by the use of study guides. Active learning methods are used including problem-based learning, e-learning, role play, self-directed learning and community-based education.

KEY FACTS
DEGREE Bachelor of Dental Surgery (IMU) or Dentistry Degree from Partner Dental Schools (PDS) TOTAL DURATION 5 - 5 years INTAKE February

D EN T I S T RY 2

02 | What is the structure of the programme? The IMU Dental programme is structured in two phases. In Phase 1 (2 years), the programme focuses on the basic biological, behavioural, dental and medical sciences required for the practice of dentistry. There is also an introduction to the basic clinical skills required for the practice of dentistry and the skill required of the practising dentist in managing the health of the family and the community. In Phase 2 (2 years), the clinical experience will be further increased for the students to develop a patient-centred approach in the management of comprehensive primary dental care for patients of all ages. Students will not only have clinical experience of treating patients at the IMU dental facilities located in the Bukit Jalil campus but will also be exposed to the government dental clinics and centres, private dental clinics, mobile and other dental clinics for a wide experience to develop their ability in improving the oral health of the individuals, families and community. Note: Students are required to indicate whether they wish to complete their Phase 2 in IMU or prefer to transfer to Partner Dental School (PDS) at the time of application. Their options would be indicated in the letters of offer. 03 | What are the aims and key features of the programme? The aim of the dental programme is to produce graduates with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes for competent dental practice. The key features are: Innovative curriculum with an integrated approach Outcome-based education Technology-enabled learning Highly qualified and experienced staff Well-equipped dental simulation and technique laboratories Dental clinics equipped with digital radiography and electronic patient management systems to operate in a paperless environment Practice of close-support dentistry Well-equipped learning resources Mentoring of students by staff 04 | What are the semester contents?
Semester 1 Foundation Dental Sciences 1 Community Oral Health 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development Semester 2 Foundation Community Oral Health 1 Dental Practice 1 Dental Sciences 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development Semester 3 Medical Sciences Community Oral Health 1 Dental Practice 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development Elective Semester 4 Medical Sciences Community Oral Health 1 Dental Sciences 2 Dental Practice 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development Selective Semester 5 Medical Sciences Community Oral Health 1 Dental Sciences 2 Dental Practice 1 Professional & Personal Development Semester 6 Dental Practice 2 Human Disease Restorative Dentistry Childrens Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Diagnostic Sciences 1 Community Oral Health 2 Professional & Personal Development Semester 7 Dental Practice 2 Restorative Dentistry Childrens Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Human Disease Oral Diagnostic Sciences1 Community Oral Health 2 Professional & Personal Development Special Study Module Semester 8 Restorative Dentistry Childrens Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Diagnostic Sciences 2 Community Oral Health 2 Outreach Posting Professional & Personal Development Special Study Module Semester 9 Restorative Dentistry Childrens Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Diagnostic Sciences 2 Community Oral Health 2 Outreach Posting Professional & Personal Development Semester 10 Restorative Dentistry Childrens Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Diagnostic Sciences 2 Outreach Posting Professional & Personal Development

PHASE I in IMU

IMU Dentistry Programme

PHASE II in IMU PHASE II in PDS

D EN T I S T RY

BDS from IMU

Dental degree from PDS

I would describe dentistry in IMU as exclusive, challenging, self-directed but most of all enjoyable. The lecturers are not only knowledgeable and experienced but they are also dedicated and confident in delivering their best for their students. The facilities are also well-prepared, complete and are of the highest quality. I have immense faith that doing dentistry in IMU will lead me on to greater heights in my future career as a dental surgeon and help me succeed in the world of professional healthcare.
D EN T I S T RY 4

Vincent Lee Han Hing 3rd year Dental student

05 | What is the duration of the programme? The duration of the Phase 1 of the dental programme in IMU is 2 years. The total period of study is dependent on the university selected for completion of Phase II as provided in the following table. The duration of the BDS (IMU) programme is 5 years.

DURATION OF DENTISTRY PROGRAMME Full duration of study: 5 to 5 years (depending on the University) Phase 1 (IMU) MALAYSIA International Medical University AUSTRALASIA University of Adelaide, Australia University of Queensland, Australia University of Western Australia, Australia University of Otago, New Zealand Phase 2 TOTAL

2 years

2 years

5 years

2 years 2 years 2 years 2 years

3 years 3 years 3 years 2 years

5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years

D EN T I S T RY 5

06 | What are the teaching-learning approaches used? A wide variety of teaching-learning approaches are employed in the dental programme to provide a stimulating environment for learning. These include lectures, problem-based learning (PBL), practical classes, patient simulation practicals, clinical skills sessions, e-learning, independent learning, clinical dental treatment of patients and postings to various hospitals and clinics. The students will be learning together with the medical students for common subjects such as Foundation and Medical Science courses which will promote interprofessional understanding and working relationships. 07 | When do students get clinical exposure? The students will have early exposure to the clinical environment right from Year 1 and will start treating patients from Year 2 after passing some defined competency tests. 08 | How do students select a Partner Dental School (PDS) and when is the selection made? At the beginning of Semester 5, students will provide their choices of dental schools in order of preference. A matching exercise will be carried out through a computer matching programme specially designed to take into primary consideration the students choices as well as requirements set by the PDS to provide the closest match to the students choice of PDS. 09 | What is the medium of instruction? The medium of instruction is English. Students who come from a system of education in which the medium of instruction is not English are strongly recommended to improve their proficiency in English by making their own arrangements to attend additional English Language classes before entering the IMU. D EN T I S T RY 6

10 | Who will award the dental degree? The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree is awarded by IMU to students who have successfully completed the full dental programme of 5 years in IMU. The Partner Dental Schools will award their respective degrees to students who transfer to their schools. Degrees from these schools are recognised internationally as well as locally by the Malaysian Dental Council for full registration. 11 | What sort of jobs/careers can be undertaken with this degree?

Career Paths for Dentists in Malaysia

Basic Dental Degree (BDS, BDSc, BD, BOH)

Dental Officer (Compulsory 3-year government service)

D EN T I S T RY

Postgraduate Degree
(Master, MDSRCS, FDSRCS, PhD, etc)

Dental Officer (Min. of Health / Min. of Defence) Tutor / Trainee Lecturer (Academic) General Dental Practitioner (Private)

in one of the specialty fields e.g. orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, prosthetics, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry, oral & maxillofacial surgery, oral pathology, oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial radiologist, forensic dentistry, dental public health

Dental Public Health Administrator/Clinical Consultant (Min. of Health / Min. of Defence) Lecturer (Academic) Dental Specialist Practitioner (Private)

12 | What personality traits are best suited for a career in dentistry? Dentists should have good health, manual dexterity, a methodical and scientific approach, ability to establish easy relationships quickly with people of all ages, ability to infuse confidence in nervous patients, especially children, organising ability and ability to work in a team. 13 | When do I attend a student interview? All students applying for the dental programme and have pre-university qualifications that meet IMUs minimum requirements have to attend an interview. The interview is to gauge the students aptitude and motivation for pursuing a career in Dentistry as well as communication skills in English. Students will be informed of the date and time of interview after the application form and all other necessary documents are received by the IMU.

D EN T I S T RY 8

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS For admission into the dental programme, applicants are required to satisfy the Science subjects and English language requirements as well as perform satisfactorily at the Admission Assessment Interview. Please note that the grades required for admission into the BDS programme may be higher due to the competitiveness of the admission exercise. Only applicants who satisfy the subjects and language requirements would be invited to attend the Admission Assessment Interview. Science Subjects Requirement: Students are normally required to offer Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics at SPM/O-Level/equivalent examinations. All qualifications should include any three out of the four science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics) at STPM/A-Level/equivalent examinations. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS In accordance with Malaysian Dental Council recommendations, applicants who test positive for Anti-HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus), HBsAg (Hepatitis B virus) or HCV RNA (Hepatitis C virus) will not be accepted for the dental course. REQUIREMENT TO TRANSFER TO PARTNER DENTAL SCHOOL Students shall need to complete the Phase I programme successfully d and fulfill the English requirement of Partne Dental Schools before Partner ey t they are eligible to transfer to Partner Denta Schools to continue transfer Dental eir d ion. their dental educatio education. D EN T I S T RY 9

The International Medical University (IMU) began in 1992 as the International Medical College, or IMC, Malaysias rst private medical college. IMC became a University in 1999, but the University has remained true to key elements of the IMC vision, which are to widen access to professional healthcare education, and to use innovative, integrated and student-centred means in providing that education. This vision required strong links to be forged, from the outset, with reputable Partner Medical Schools committed to excellence and who share our educational philosophy. It was our progressive, systems based, integrated medical curriculum that rst caught the imagination of our Partner Medical Schools, and today we collaborate with partner universities in Australasia, North America, Ireland and the United Kingdom. This successful collaboration then expands to the pharmacy and health sciences programmes at world-class universities in Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and China. Since 1999, the Universitys growth and development has been in developing clinical schools in Seremban, Batu Pahat and Kuala Pilah, our own Honours degree courses in Pharmacy and Nursing, and in establishing research as a core activity, together with development of postgraduate research Masters and PhD programmes. We are already the preferred private school for medicine and pharmacy in Malaysia. Our growth has been supported by heavy investment in infrastructure development and expansion at Bukit Jalil and Seremban, and in the recruitment of staff of high calibre. In 2008, we have introduced Honours degree courses in Dentistry, Nutrition & Dietetics, Medical Biotechnology, Psychology, Biomedical Science and in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. In common with our MBBS, BPharm and BNursing, these courses have been designed from rst principles by our faculty. Bachelor of Nursing Science (Hons) was introduced in 2009, a programme targeted solely for registered nurses to upgrade their qualication from diploma level to a degree level. In 2010, we introduced Chiropractic programme, the rst of its kind and only complete educational programme in Malaysia as well as in all of Southeast Asia. Then, in February 2011, IMU launched the Chinese Medicine programme. The programme will focus on combining medical education and scientic research, offering the full array of medical both Chinese Medicine and Western. To date, the University offers undergraduate degree programmes in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Nursing, Nursing Science, Nutrition & Dietetics, Psychology, Biomedical Science, Medical Biotechnology, Chiropractic, Chinese Medicine as well as postgraduate degrees MSc Medical Sciences or Community Health by research and PhD in Medical & Health Sciences by research. We believe our courses to be progressive and innovative, and we strive to use best practice in their delivery and assessment. We continue to seek to widen access to healthcare education, and to grow into a centre of healthcare educational excellence in the Asia-Pacic region.

IMU Clinical School, Batu Pahat

IMU Clinical School, Seremban School

IMU Bukit Jalil Campus

Main Campus, Kuala Lumpur 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel : +60 3 8656 7228 Fax : +60 3 8656 7229 Clinical School, Seremban Jalan Rasah, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia. Tel : +60 6 767 7798 Fax : +60 6 767 7709 Clinical School, Batu Pahat 12, Jalan Indah, Taman Sri Kenangan, 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia. Tel : +60 7 432 2787, +60 7 432 0580 Fax : +60 7 432 5575 Clinical School, Kuala Pilah Lot No. 1743, Tingkat 1, Bangunan Persatuan Hainan Kuala Pilah, Jalan Wira 2/1, Taman Wira Jaya, 72000 Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia. Tel : +60 6 481 9635 Fax : +60 6 481 9639 enquiry@imu.edu.my www.imu.edu.my All enquiries regarding student admissions should be directed to: Department of Student Services and Marketing INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel : +60 3 2731 7272 Fax : +60 3 8656 1018
KP/JPS/5195/US/2, KP(JPS)/DFT/US/W03

Programmes Available: Medicine

KPT/JPS(KR10935)09/2014

Dentistry
KPT/JPS(KA8358)12/2012

Pharmacy
KP/JPS(KR6707)10/2010, KPT/JPS(A1746)7/2014

Pharmaceutical Chemistry
KPT/JPS(KA8229)12/2012

Nursing
KP/JPS(A4675)4/2014

Nursing Science (for registered nurses)

KPT/JPS(KA9377)01/2013

Medical Biotechnology
KPT/JPS(KA8228)8/2012

Nutrition & Dietetics

KPT/JPS(KA8176)8/2012

Psychology
KPT/JPS(KA8177)8/2012

Biomedical Science
KPT/JPS(KA8230)11/2012

Chiropractic
KPT/JPS(KA9294)7/2014

Chinese Medicine
KP/JPS(KA10260)12/2015

Postgraduate (MSc & PhD by research)

KP/JPS(A1468)12/2010, KPT/JPS(KR10625)01/2015

The IMU has been certied with MS ISO 9001:2000 for the provision of tertiary education in medicine, pharmacy and health sciences. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this brochure but it is subject to alteration without notice. The University reserves the right to alter or delete any of the information included at any time and it shall not be bound by any errors or omissions and cannot accept liability in respect thereof. Please consult the Department of Student Services and Marketing for the most up-to-date information.
Printed in February 2011 Ver 1. Published by The Marketing & Communications Department, IMU.

Obtain latest information on the IMU programmes (including tuition fees), submit an online application or download application forms via www.imu.edu.my