Trinity College Dublin was founded in 1592 after a small group of citizens obtained a charter from Queen Elizabeth I, making it the oldest university in Ireland and one of the oldest in Europe.

Two years later, a few Fellows and students began to work in the new College, which then consisted of one small square. Over the next century, a curriculum was devised and statutes were framed. Endowments, including considerable landed estates, were secured, new fellowships were founded and the books that formed the beginning of the great library were acquired.

A 1882 mandate was passed to establish a School of Dental Science. In 1884, its first Professor of Dentistry was appointed and the first institution was established. It moved into a new purpose-built dental facility in 1899, which served the three Dublin dental schools (University College Dublin, University College Dublin and RCSI). In the 1970s, these three dental schools were united into one School of Dental Science at Trinity College Dublin.

Present day Trinity College Dublin has over 40 departments offering a wide variety of courses. The College's library is currently one of the largest in Europe housing over 3 million volumes in its collection. Today's enrollment at Trinity stands at approximately 13,000.

About The Dental School

The course is based in the Dublin Dental School & Hospital, which is part of Trinity College Dublin.

The curriculum is based around Problem Based Learning (PBL) and small-group tutorials. These are implemented by considerable emphasis on clinical competence in primary oral health care based on appropriate, prioritised and scientifically acceptable treatment methods.

The dental degree program at Trinity College Dublin is five years in length. The early years focus more on the required dental science, while ensuing years concentrate on developing appropriate clinical experience.

First year builds a theory of dental science through themes that incorporate subjects such as microbiology, histology, immunology and genetics), as well as courses such as ethics, anatomy, behavioural science, physics and information technology.

In second year, students continue to gain knowledge through the theme-based theory of dental science. Ethics/legal training continues, and clinical exposure begins. Goals for the year include: interpreting symptoms, introducing clinical skills, developing patient communication, and understanding experimental design.

Third year builds practical training, both in laboratory stations, and through treating several patients per week. Disciplines include: periodontal therapy, pharmacology, pediatric dentistry, partial dentures, and prosthodontics. There is some amount of theoretical concepts, mainly delivered via PBL.

In fourth year, students build hands-on experience by treating patients in mentored clinic and operating room settings, as well as through adjunct related laboratory training. Disclipines include adult patient care, periodontology, oral medicine, oral surgery, emergency dentistry, anaesthetics, prosthodontics and public dental health. PBL-delivered theoretical concepts continue.

Fifth year focuses on completing the clinical training of a dental practitioner who is safe to carry out the full range of dentistry independently. By the end of the year, the graduate will possess all the required clinical competences and core knowledge required, in areas such as: oral medicine, oral surgery, radiology, anaesthetics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, prosthetics, and therapeutics.

Trinity College Dublin
TCD School of Dentistry