Dentistry, Staatsexamen

 

Teeth, mouth, and jaw – field of duties in dentistry is very special and differs greatly from other medical fields. Dentistry studies at RWTH Aachen consist of both an academic and practical component, which prepare students for work in application, teaching, and research.

It teaches information about what consists of a healthy person and the most important health disorders, especially those in the teeth, mouth and jaw. Building on this foundation, attention is then paid to the causes and types of sicknesses and preventative medicine. This fundamental knowledge is supplemented by core knowledge, abilities and skills to assume tasks relating to prophylaxis and prevention, diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation.

• From an academic perspective students acquire the technical skills to research illnesses related to the mouth, jaw, and face.
• The practical component focuses on learning preventative and treatment methods and critically evaluating research results to implement them in everday practice.

In order to be competent both from scientific and practical standpoints, it is important to acquire relevant basic knowledge in the natural sciences as well.

After the new dental licensing regulations came into force in 2020, the degree program was completely revised. The new dentistry program offers a special curriculum, particularly in its preclinical part, which distinguishes it from how dentistry studies are organized at other universities. Here, experiences from the human medicine model course of study, which dropped the traditional subject-by-subject approach in favor of a more innovative, interdisciplinary and organ-centered one, are evident in the dentistry program.

As part of the implementation of the new dental licensing regulations, phantom head courses are now offered not only in preventive dentistry and dental prosthodontics, but also in orthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery. These are enriched – as permitted by the new dental licensing regulations – by student-friendly digitally based teaching activities: Dental techniques, for example, are vividly presented using videos. With the help of motion-based games – similar to videogames – students have the opportunity to develop practical skills in a playful way. Mixing alginate and palpation of the head and neck muscles, for example, can thus be easily learned.

 

Degree Content

Dentistry studies at RWTH are more fun as the classic theory subjects are supplemented by many practical exercises and innovative teaching and learning concepts: faculty web page about teaching methods.

Project funding makes it possible to continually to create new e-learning modules. This additional funding also enables us to provide students with articulators as well as straight and contra-angle handpieces free of charge.

Curriculum (simplified)

Semester	Contents
1-2	Preclinical Section The Basics of Emergency Medicine: Introduction to Emergency Medicine (First Aid) Tutorials: Medical Terminology, Chemistry, Physics: Lecture and Lab Course, Cellular Biology (Physiology I Lecture, Physiology I Lab Course, Physiological-Chemical Lecture I, Physiological-Chemical Lab Course I), Cellular Biology II (Physiological-Chemical II Lecture, Physiological-Chemical II Lab Course, Physiological-Chemical Lecture II, Physiological-chemical Lab Course II, Microscopic Anatomy I Lecture, Microscopic Anatomy Course l), Interdisciplinary Propedeutics of Organ Systems (Physiology III Lab Course, Macroscopic Anatomy I Lecture, Macroscopic Anatomy I Course) Dental Propedeutics Course, with a Focus on Preventive Dentistry
3-4	Macroscopic Anatomy II - IV and Microscopic Anatomy II - III (Phantom Head Course and Situs/Position, Neuroanatomy, Histology), Physiology IV and V, Dental Propedeutics with a Focus on Dental Technology, Career Options for Dentistry Graduates
	First Section of the Dentistry Examination (after 4 semesters)
5-6	“Phantom head semester”: dental conservation using the phantom head, dental prosthodontics using the phantom head, lab course: orthodontic propedeutics and prophylaxis; lab course: dental-surgical propaedeutics and emergency medicine
	Second Section of the Dentistry Examination (after 6 semesters)
7-10	Clinical courses in the four fields of Dentistry (Integrated Courses: Dental Conservation and Dental Prosthodontics, Surgery Lab Course, Orthodontics – Diagnostics and Therapy, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Treatment Planning), Electives, Cross-sectional Areas, Human Medicine Subjects (Pharmacology, Pathology, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, et cetera)
	Third Section of the Dentistry Examination (State Examination)

Electives

The new dental licensing regulations allow students to follow their special interests and take at least one elective during the course of their studies. The following options are offered at RWTH:

• Implantology and Implant Prosthetics
  Clinic for Dental Prosthetics and Biomaterials
• Science and Research in Orthodontics
  Clinic of Orthodontics
• Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Protection
  Clinic of Dental Preservation, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry
• Ward Internship: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Other innovations in the dentistry degree program:

• First aid training: to be completed by the time of the first dental examination
• Nursing service of one month in duration: to be completed before the first dental examination
• Four weeks of clinical traineeship: to be completed between the first and third dental examinations.
• Electives
• Organization in modules

Study Abroad Programs

The Faculty of Medicine promotes student mobility and maintains partnerships with high-ranking universities within the Erasmus+ mobility program and in Brazil. In addition, students can apply for study abroad at numerous other non-European partner universities.

Those interested in a volunteer clinical traineeship abroad have the possibility to do so. The dentistry exchange program or Zahnmedizinische Austauschdienst offers training options in Europe and outside of Europe – including in development assistance. In addition, the International Association of Dental Students arranges clinical exchanges and research stays in Europe.

Material Costs During the Program

• Material costs in the pre-clinical section: roughly 1,100 Euros
• Material costs in the clinical section: roughly 1,500 Euros
• Materials used per semester: drills, dental milling machines, prosthetic teeth and so on - roughly 200 Euros

The Dentistry Student Representative Council can provide students enrolled at RWTH with information about good deals for materials.

 

Individual Qualification Profiles

A particular characteristic of dentistry studies at RWTH is the possibility to acquire further knowledge in a specialization in the so called qualification profiles during your studies.

• In the qualification profile Digital Practice and Full Ceramics, budding dentists focus on dental ceramics and their application, biomaterial aspects in dental implants, dental ethics, and business administrative aspects of dentistry.
• The Implantology profile offers a look into diagnostics, planning, and the biomaterials aspects if dental implants.
• In maxillofacial surgery students attend a stitch course, a microsurgical training course, and acquire an in-depth introduction to emergency dental treatment.

Additional qualification profiles are pediatric dentistry and gerodontia.

 

Decision Aids

Dentistry is very specific and has to be regarded independently from other disciplines. There are close links to human medicine, but dentistry deals specifically with the teeth, mouth and jaw. This point should be considered in the decision-making process.

Attention: If you enroll in dentistry with the intention of transferring to medical school, please note that commencing studies in dentistry does not mean you can forgo submitting an application for medical school. You can only transfer if you have been admitted to medical school.

 

Prerequisites

Personal Prerequisites

A good natural science background in biology, chemistry and physics will make for an easier start to medical school. You can refresh your knowledge in advance and as you study with the Bridge Courses

Formal Prerequisites

The prerequisite for enrollment in the course of study is formal admission.

German citizens, citizens of a EU or EEC country, applicants with a German university entrance qualification/Abitur

German citizens and citizens of a EU or EEC country as well as anyone with a German university entrance qualification/Abiturcan apply for admission to Hochschulstart, the Foundation for University Admission – in German Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung.

Further information with regard to the University selection procedure can be found on the Faculty of Medicine website.

International Applicants

Applicants from countries that are not part of the EU or EEA must - if they are not German citizens - submit a valid TestAS (Test für Ausländische Studierende) in German for their application for the winter semester 2016/17. Please note that you need to register in time for TestAS and include the TestAS in your application. You must take the TestAS in German and as well as the module "Mathematik, Informatik und Naturwissenschaften" in addition to the core test. TestAS homepage

 

Media Library

Do you want more impressions? Use the diverse information available! You can find our recommendations in the media library.

 

Career Prospects

The palette of dental professionals is quite large. Of course, you can be a dentist in a hospital or in a practice. Those who don't necessarily want to work with patients can research and teach at a scientific institution. The pharmaceutical industry also offers entry-level jobs in the development and distribution of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, administrative activities at insurance companies or in public health can be a good alternative for many dentists, who don't wish to practice.

 

Course of study regulations

Course of study regulations regulate academic goals and prerequisites, the course of study layout, and exam procedures at RWTH.

 

Faculty

The course of study in Dentistry is offered by the Faculty of Medicine. It is ranked at a high niveau for medical training. Its course of study in dentistry is a one of a kind model and distinguishes itself through modern and effective teaching and learning methods. The effects of innovation on teaching and studies are evident in students' involvement and exam results – Aachen graduates have been among the top graduates in nationwide rankings in recent years.