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: 

Bachelor of Dental Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
9287  Bachelor of Dental Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand 
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  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  660  Level 7  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
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

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 
Purpose:
The first purpose of the qualification is to produce dental qualified learners who will be professionally equipped at nationally and internationally recognised standards to serve any community, specifically in South Africa, and to function independently in the community. The second purpose of the qualification is to train dentists who will meet the requirements to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and will be able to specialise further in specific dental of health care management fields. The third purpose of the qualification is to produce dental qualified learners who will have been trained appropriately to pursue a rewarding career in dentistry which provides continued personal intellectual growth. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition Of Prior Learning (RPL):
Learners who fall outside of the regular admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the institution that they have a qualification or experiential- or work-based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification specified above (under Formally Accredited Learning), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning. Learners who, after such assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but need further academic development, may be required to broaden their curriculum to include preliminary qualification before admission or parallel qualification after admission.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Advanced Diploma in Community Dentistry, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Bachelor of Dental Therapy, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1) Cognitive Goals:
    The qualifying learner has acquired and shows evidence of a sufficient knowledge and understanding of the scientific bases of matters relevant to the practice of dentistry and understands the professional's responsibility for continuous, self-directed and relevant learning.

    2) Psychomotor Skills:
    The qualifying learner has acquired and shows evidence of adequate skills in the performance of appropriate procedures relevant to the practice of dentistry, and understands the professional's responsibility for continuous, self-directed and relevant upgrading of skills.

    3) Affective goals:
    The qualifying learner has been exposed by example to, and shows evidence of, the possession of attitudes and values appropriate to a member of the health professions. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. The qualifying learner demonstrates:
  • Understanding of the structure and function of the human body, and specifically of the mouth, the jaws and related parts in relation to the whole.
  • Knowledge of the more common systemic and generalised diseases, disorders and anomalies of the oral, dental and maxillo-facial region in particular.
  • Ability to interpret laboratory, radiographic and other special investigations relevant to all disciplines of dentistry.
  • Ability to formulate a comprehensive treatment plan, with regard to the general health status of the patient, and knowledge of the appropriate indications and protocol for referral.
  • Understanding of the principles of the promotion of health and of the prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral, dental and maxillo-facial region.
  • Knowledge of the environmental and community-based factors determining the prevalence of oral and dental diseases; and the changing oral health demands and requirements of all sections of the population.
  • Understanding of the ethical, legal, political and financial issues that affect dentistry and the delivery of dental services.
  • Understanding of research methodology, and the critical interpretation of research-based publications.

    2. The qualifying learner demonstrates:
  • Competence in the taking, recording and analysis of a medical and dental history.
  • Competence in the physical examination of a patient, and specifically of the oral, dental and maxillo-facial region, and the systematic recording of findings.
  • The skilful performance of, and an understanding of the theoretical basis of operative procedures required in the practice of general dentistry.
  • Facility in the operation/manipulation/administration of the wide range of instruments, equipment, drugs and materials used in dentistry.
  • The ability and knowledge to appropriately apply methods of management of oral and dental diseases.
  • The ability to recognise and manage emergency situations.
  • The ability to apply the skills of dentistry either to the individual patient, the family or the community, either as a practitioner or as part of a team, to the service of a community, thereby contributing to providing for the growing oral health demands of the whole population.

    3. The qualifying learner:
  • Exhibits qualities of initiative, confidence, reliability, trustworthiness, truthfulness and consideration.
  • Demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues.
  • Shows respect for all patients without prejudice.
  • Shows an awareness of the rights of all patients with regard to confidentiality, and informed consent to treatment.
  • Shows respect for other health care workers and the essential roles which they play.
  • Has perception of the ethical and moral responsibilities inherent in the right to care for patients and to participate in the collaborative treatment of patients with other practitioners.
  • Shows responsible use of resources with an awareness of a professional's responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Has an awareness of personal limitations, the need for peer interaction and the need constantly to improve professional knowledge and skills.
  • Shows sensitivity to the need to participate in reducing inequalities in oral health care delivery.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment occurs primarily in the clinical years of study of the degree when learners work with patients and are assessed clinically on an on-going basis as well as by practical and written tests and exams.

    Learners are expected to demonstrate, under supervision, the cognitive and clinical reasoning skills, clinical psychomotor skills and sensitivity to the "world of the patient" required of a dentist. These include the ability to solve problems, generate hypotheses, formulate provisional diagnoses, make decisions about patient management, examine their practices in the light of current evidence (Evidence-Based Dentistry), reflect on decisions and modify them where appropriate and apply this knowledge with sensitivity in various social and clinical contexts. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Cognate Bachelor, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Dental Science, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal University requirements govern how and by whom moderation is performed. For example, external examiners are appointed on an annual basis. Such moderation seeks, inter alia, to ensure that, where appropriate, our graduates will be able to comply with professional and statutory requirements. Further, the Health Professions Council of South Africa performs moderating functions and/or whether an academic entity has a professional orientation or not, the University ensures that its activities are moderated by internal and external review quinquennially. The moderating body for qualifications of the University is the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education, currently represented by the Interim Higher Education Quality Committee. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Internal University quality requirements govern how and by whom assessment may be performed to ensure that assessors have the competence required to assess a qualification of this nature. Once the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education is constituted and ready to pronounce on issues of quality, the University will respond to the HEQC guidance on the registration of assessors. In the interim, the academic staff of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, are regarded as registered assessors since SAQA has registered the institution as a public higher education provider. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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. University of Witwatersrand 


    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.