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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Dental Surgery 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
117091  Bachelor of Dental Surgery 
ORIGINATOR
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First Degree(Min 480)  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  480  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Primary purpose:
To provide qualifiers with specific knowledge, skills and competence in the field of Dentistry that will enable them to register as Dentists with the Dental professional board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Subsidiary purpose:
To provide South Africa with an adequate supply of Dentists. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning:
Access may be gained to the qualification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Entry requirements:
  • National Senior Certificate, Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's Degree Studies with the following:
    > Biology.
    > Physical Science.
    > English.
  • National Certificate Vocational, Level 4 with a relevant specialisation, granting access to Bachelor's Degree Studies with the following:
    > Biology.
    > Physical Science.
    > English.
  • Senior Certificate, Level 4 with Matriculation Exemption with the following:
    > Biology.
    > Physical Science.
    > English. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Know-how and be able to promote oral health and be competent to apply supportive methods of health education and communication skills.
    2. Know-how and be able to determine the prevalence of oral diseases and abnormalities and apply appropriate preventive strategies on both an individual and a community basis.
    3. Know-how and be competent to examine for and identify correctly all oral and dental diseases and abnormalities, the management of which falls within the permitted scope of practice of a Dentist.
    4. Know-how and be competent to recognise and refer clinical problems the management of which does not fall within the permitted scope of practice of a Dentist.
    5. Know-how and be competent to plan and implement the oral health services essential to the total care programme of the individual patient.
    6. Know-how and be competent to function within the structures of public Dentistry, and be able to function within the mission and mode of primary health care systems in the public health services in South Africa.
    7. Know-how and be competent to function within the private practice setting and understand the business, logistical and ergonomic principles of practice administration.
    8. Be able to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up to date techniques and procedures.
    9. Know the laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling the practice of the oral health professions in South Africa, with specific reference to the scope and nature of Dentistry as set out by the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
    10. Know how to engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Oral health programmes are supported.
  • The prevalence of oral diseases and abnormalities are determined and appropriate preventive strategies on both an individual and a community basis are applied.
  • Oral and dental diseases and abnormalities are examined for and identified within the permitted scope of practice of a Dentist.
  • Clinical problems which do not fall within the permitted scope of practice of a Dentist are identified and referred to the appropriate professional.
  • The oral health services essential to the total care programme of the individual patient are planned and implemented.
  • The mission and mode of primary health care systems in the public health services in South Africa are applied with.
  • The business, logistical and ergonomic principles of private practice administration are understood.
  • The laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling the practice of the oral health professions in South Africa, with specific reference to the scope and nature of dentistry as set out by the Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa are known and applied.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessments are done throughout the study period. These include simulations, work-place assessments, achievement of certain minimum clinical procedures, portfolios and written and oral tests and examinations. The Exit-Level Outcomes of each year must have been achieved before a student can proceed to the next year of study and training.
    In the case of clinical competence, a qualifier is assessed to ensure that s/he has mastered all the relevant procedures and techniques.
    In the case of knowledge assessment samples of the qualifier's knowledge is tested for depth and width of knowledge. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Degree is comparable with the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and Baccalaureus Chirurgiae Dental (BChD) Degrees in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Degree in the United States of America. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Dentistry, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Dentistry (Community Dentistry), Level 9.
  • Master of Dentistry (Maxillo-facial and Oral Surgery), Level 9.
  • Master of Dentistry (Oral Pathology), Level 9.
  • Master of Dentistry (Orthodontics), Level 9.
  • Master of Dentistry (Periodontics and Oral Medicine), Level 9.
  • Master of Dentistry (Prosthodontics), Level 9.
  • Master of Dental Sciences, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.