SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Dentistry: Orthodontics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
2357  Master of Dentistry: Orthodontics 
ORIGINATOR
Medical University of Southern Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  768  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
SAQA 2663/05  2006-07-01  2009-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30   2013-06-30  

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.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
1. To provide qualifiers with specific knowledge, skills and competence in the field of Orthodontics that will enable them to register as specialists in Orthodontics with the Medical and Dental professional board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
2. To provide South Africa with an adequate supply of specialists in Orthodontics.

SUBSIDIARY PURPOSE

To provide future teaching staff for the dental schools of South Africa. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Applicants who want to register for the M Dent (Orthodontics)degree must be in possession of a BDS or equivalent degree and must be registered as dentists with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Applicants must have suitable experience as dentists. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
A newly qualified oral orthodontist must:

1 Know the causes and aetiology of malocclusion.
2 Know how and be able to prevent the development of preventable malocclusions.
3 Know how and be able to diagnose all forms of malocclusion.
4 Know how and be able to develop a treatment plan that will address the problems of each individual patient according to the specific circumstances.
5 Know how and be able to complete a treatment plan successfully.
6 Know how and be able to liase and work in conjunction with other specialists such as Maxillo-facial and Oral surgeons, Prosthodontists, Periodontists and Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons.
7 Know and be able to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up to date techniques and procedures.
8 Know the laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling the practice of the oral health professions and the specialty of Orthodontics in South Africa.
9 Know how to engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Integrated assessment.

In order to assess whether the exit-level outcomes have been achieved a range of formative and summative assessment are done throughout the four years of study. These include seminars, research projects, practical and clinical work in the Medunsa Oral Health Center, portfolios, and oral tests and examinations. In the case of knowledge assessment samples of the qualifier's knowledge is tested for depth and width of knowledge. A qualifier must have, through the above assessment procedures, proved that s/he has achieved the NQF level 8A standards. 

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
Not all countries recognise, train or register dental specialists. In general terms the specialist qualifications offered in those countries where specialists are registered can be compared to the Mudunsa M Dent degrees. It must be remembered that reciprocity as far as registration of specialist between countries is rare 

ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
9.1 Articulation with qualifications at other institutions
Presently none

9.2 The qualification toward which the M Dent (Orthodontics)graduate may
proceed is the PhD degree.

9.3 Exit level outcomes articulating with other qualifications are
None 

MODERATION OPTIONS 
The Faculty maintains a bank of external examiners as approved by Council, in orthodontics with the necessary knowledge, academic qualifications and clinical/practical expertise and national and international standing, from which the external examiners are appointed.

Inspectors appointed by the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa inspect the exit level outcomes of this qualification on a regular basis to ensure that all the criteria necessary for registration as a specialist in orthodontics with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions
Council of South Africa are met. 

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
Registered specialists in orthodontics on the staff of the Faculty of Dentistry with the necessary academic qualifications and experience are used as internal assessors. 

REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006. 

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.
 
NONE 



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.