The degree title to be awarded is the Licentiate of Dentistry (LicDent). The overall scope of the Licentiate of Medicine degree is 360 credits, with 330 credits as the minimum scope for the Licentiate of Dentistry degree.
Studies in dentistry are divided into two stages: preclinical (the first and second year of studies, partly identical with the studies completed by students of medicine) and clinical (beginning from the third year of studies). The clinical stage is mostly comprised of theoretical studies organised by various disciplines in dentistry, related skills lab assignments and demonstrations, as well as patient work (clinical training).
Specialising dentists train as tenured specialising dentists in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, primarily at the Surgical Hospital of the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Specialisation programmes in dentistry include the following: oral and maxillofacial surgery (six years), clinical dental care (three years) and orthodontics (three years), and health care (three years).
In Finland, the right to practise dentistry as a licensed professional is granted by Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. In order to be granted a licence, the applicant’s professional competence must correspond with the qualifications given by a dentist’s degree completed in Finland. For verification, Valvira may require that applicants complete a competency examination with a passing grade.
The examination is organised by dental training units at Finnish universities. The examination consists of four parts. At the University of Helsinki, the examinations on theoretical knowledge (May), practical skills (November), administration (in spring) and radiation safety legislation (in spring) are all arranged once a year.
Examination on theoretical knowledge will be held on the 6-7th of May 2021. Registration is completed by filling out a billing request form and submitting it by email to meilahti-student@helsinki.fi at the latest on the 6th of April 2021.
The examination on theoretical knowledge contains ten categories: cariology, endodontics, prosthetics and occlusal physiology, periodontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral health care, paediatric dental care, orthodontics, oral radiology, and oral pathology.
The academic affairs office of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases will announce examination results by email no later than a month after the examination event. Results from passed examinations of theoretical knowledge are valid for five years.
The one-part practical examination (covering all knowhow in five disciplines required by dentists in clinical work) will be held in the autumn 2021. The examination will be held on two different days.
The practical examination is available to those who have completed all theoretical knowledge examinations with a passing grade. The schedule for the practical examination depends on the number of participants. In any event, it will take more than one day. The examination also includes an oral part.
The practical clinical examination constitutes a unified whole that must be completed as such. If deficiencies in the candidate’s skills in terms of a specific discipline are observed, an opportunity for a single retake examination will be granted (the fee for retaking the examination is €250). If deficiencies are observed in terms of two or more disciplines, the entire practical clinical examination must be completed again.
Registration is completed by filling out a billing request form and submitting it by email to meilahti-student@helsinki.fi.
After completing all the categories of the examination on theoretical knowledge and the practical examination with passing grades, applicants may take the examination on administration. The examination on radiation safety legislation will be arranged in connection with the administrative examination. The next examinations on administration and radiation safety legislation will be held on the 5th of March 2021. Registration is completed by filling out a billing request form and submitting it by email to meilahti-student@helsinki.fi at the latest on the 5th of February 2021.
Those who have completed all examinations with passing grades can apply for a licence to practise the profession of a dentist in the operational units of health care and social services under the leadership and supervision of a dentist licensed to practise the profession independently from Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. To those who have completed their dental science degree outside the European Economic Area, Valvira can grant the right to practise their profession independently in Finland after they have completed the examinations with passing grades and worked for no less than nine months in a public health care or social services unit mentioned above (also known as practical service).
Examinations observe the University of Helsinki regulations on examinations, in so far as they are not in contradiction with those rules and instructions given by Valvira regarding these particular examinations.
Regulations on Degrees and the Protection of Students’ Rights at the University of Helsinki
Any person found guilty of cheating will receive a failing grade on the entire examination, with no fees reimbursed. A separate decision will be made on other potential consequences, such as restrictions to completing the next available examination.
Examinations will be held at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases at the University of Helsinki (address Haartmaninkatu 1). Participants should arrive at the main lobby of the building 15 minutes before the examination starts.
Questions related to examination arrangements should be directed by email at meilahti-student@helsinki.fi.
Examination fees are set in accordance with the Ministry of Education Decree on Fees Charged for University Services (17.12.2009/1082).
Examination fees will be invoiced based on the billing request form completed at the time of registration. When registering for examinations, participants must include the name, personal or business ID, street address, post code and city of the bill recipient. If the recipient is not the person taking the examination, the participant must submit a statement of commitment signed by the recipient.
Examination fees must be paid before completing each examination stage. A receipt of payment must be presented at the examination event. The payment acts as a binding examination registration. Payments will be reimbursed only on the basis of a doctor’s certificate or other written proof provided by an official party. If the payment is processed abroad, please use the bank’s SWIFT code.
The wide-ranging and diverse research activities of the Department include both clinical and basic research. One of their most important objectives is the promotion of clinical research with the methods of molecular biology and biotechnology. The Department houses well-equipped laboratory facilities in the Biomedicum Helsinki building, whereas clinical research is primarily centred at the Surgical Hospital on Kasarmikatu. In addition, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases has an extensive research cooperation network with both Finnish and international partners.
Its research subjects range from issues of public health and epidemiology to basic research in dental and oral diseases, as well as applied and clinical research.
Professor David Rice
david.rice@helsinki.fi
PO Box 41 (Haartmaninkatu 1)
00014 University of Helsinki
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases
PO Box 41 (Haartmaninkatu 1)
00014 University of Helsinki
Tel: +358 294 1911
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases
Scientific Research Laboratory
Biomedicum
PO Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8)
00014 University of Helsinki