MRES KESS2 Scholarship: The Application of Digital Dental Technology to Community Dentistry

Applications are sought for a full time one year fixed term research scholarship position. The successful applicant will enrol on the Cardiff Metropolitan Master of Research (MRes) programme. (KESS MRes Scholarship holders do not pay fees.) Applicants should hold a first degree at 2.1 level or above (or equivalent) in a relevant dental area and be registered with the General Dental Council. Experience with digital dentistry and/or special needs care may be an advantage.

Project Team:
Jeffrey Lewis (Academic Lead Supervisor)
Prof Bob Williams (Academic Supervisor)
Quentin Jones (Academic Supervisor)
Prof Sue Bale (Lead Company Supervisor, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board)

Project Outline:
Amongst those in greatest need of dental care are, for example, people with special needs, with attention deficit disorders and other learning difficulties, those with certain types of autism and older patients. For these and similar patients, activities required for impression taking can present a huge physical challenge. However, achieving a quality impression is the foundation of producing all dental restorations. The project aim is for improved quality dental treatments for the above patient groups by the application of new digital technologies and for a decrease in clinical time spent on impression taking.

Digital technology has been widely and successfully adopted within some fields of dentistry. Over the last few years, intraoral scanners have been reduced to a size making it possible to move them around the whole arch of the patient, capturing many images. The advantages such an application could bring to the disadvantaged groups discussed above are many. Impossibilities with conventional techniques may well become possible with digital methods. The project will trial and evaluate the use of digital oral scanners to the benefit of patients receiving treatment under the auspices of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. The research project will focus on clinical problems encountered in treating vulnerable patients with oral health problems. Under careful supervision, the student will aim to arrange and assess trials of the new technology with vulnerable patients within the Health Board.

Application Deadline: 11th August 2017

Proposed work as detailed below:

Modules (70 credits) comprising the M Res (health) will be undertaken, preparing the student for the research project.
•To begin the research project (110 credits) the student will spend periods at relevant sites within the Health Board methodically analysing the difficulties of the groups of patients discussed above.
•Trials within the Health Board area to obtain digital impressions will be undertaken and advantages and disadvantages analysed.
•Methods of incorporating physical models built from scans into current techniques will be refined.
•The research project will be written up and submitted.

The scholarship offers the successful applicant:
•A monthly stipend in line with RCUK rates: 1 year funding @ £11,472
•An additional budget to support your research of £3,000 for travel, conference attendance, minor equipment, consumables and training
•An opportunity to access a suite of higher level skills training & attendance at a residential KESS Grad School
•A minimum of 30 days a year working with the company partner on their allocated project
•Students must complete & submit their thesis
•The achievement of a Postgraduate Skills Development Award (PSDA) is compulsory for each KESS scholar. (The PSDA is based on a 30-credit award, which is an additional award to the MRes).

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants should have UK or EU Citizenship, and should have the right to work in the region on qualification. Additionally the student should be resident in or working in the convergence area of Wales on appointment. (The position is offered jointly with Aneurin Bevan Health Board which is in the convergence area and an honorary contract can be sought for the successful candidate if they are not already eligible through residency or current employment). Residence, where relevant, will be confirmed by providing documents such as driver’s licence, tenancy agreement or recent statement from bank or building society.

To obtain an application form (Participant Application Form) and for further information regarding KESS2 at Cardiff Metropolitan, Please click here for ‘Application Forms and Guidance Notes’.

To apply, please submit completed application form to Prof Bob Williams / Jeffrey Lewis (Academic Lead Supervisor) Email: [Email Address Removed]

Interviews for this post will take place on 24 August 2017, with a proposed commencement date of 1st October 2017.