BDS Program

Vision, Mission and Goals

Program Objectives

To provide undergraduate and graduate programs that are comprehensive and reviewed periodically.
To utilize a structured evaluation and assessment system for student performance.
To appoint and retain qualified faculty.
To expedite student, intern, and faculty research.
To increase the number of research publications in peer-reviewed and indexed journals.
To engage students, interns, and faculty in outreach programs
To organize dental health education programs in schools, social centers, rehabilitation centers, and the community.
To deliver treatment that meets the standards of patient care and satisfaction.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes

King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, has six Graduate Attributes developed in alignment with the institutional Graduate Attributes (GAs). KKUCOD GAs are as follow:

Ethical responsibility
Scientific knowledge and clinical skills
Creativity and Innovation
Patient care
Health promotion
Professionalism

#	GA	Interpretation
GA1	Ethical responsibility	Responsible citizenship
		Integrity
		Coexistence and respect for diversity
GA2	Scientific knowledge and clinical skills	A broad range of oral health knowledge and skills
		Autonomous, self-directed learning
		Work and think productively without supervision.
		Lifelong learning
GA3	Creativity and Innovation	Research under supervision
		Critical thinking and creativity
		Use of the latest equipment and material
GA4	Patient care	Competent in providing patient care
		Practice evidence-based dentistry
GA5	Health promotion	Promote oral health in the community.
GA6	Professionalism	Leadership qualities
		Project management
		Oral and written communication skills
		Digital literacy

GA 1: Ethical Responsibility

Responsible citizenship – The graduates must develop the responsibility of being accountable for their actions as community members. They should be aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens and as General Dentists.

Integrity – This quality requires the graduate to be honest and have strong moral principles.

Coexistence and respect for diversity – This is an important attribute which enables the graduate to live together with others peacefully despite differences in race, religion, or culture. It is the acknowledgement that every person is unique and contributes to society uniquely.

GA 2: Scientific knowledge and clinical skills

A broad range of oral health knowledge and skills – This attribute ensures the graduate has a wide range of dentistry knowledge and skills that make them competent for general dental practice.

Autonomous, self-directed learning – The graduate must autonomously develop the skills of self-directed learning.

Work and think productively without supervision – In the real world, the graduate must work without supervision.

Lifelong learning – This attribute encourages the intentional self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal and professional development.

GA 3: Creativity and Innovation

Research under supervision – The graduate must be able to conduct research under the guidance of a supervisor who provides support throughout the research process.

Critical thinking and creativity – The graduate must demonstrate the ability to analyze information and facts objectively and make a rational judgment.

Use of latest equipment and materials – The graduates must possess the skills to learn how to use the newest equipment and materials in general dental practice.

GA4: Patient Care

Competent in providing patient care – The graduate must be competent in delivering patient care as a general dental practitioner.

Practice evidence-based dentistry – The graduate must be able to practice general dentistry by integrating their clinical proficiency with the accessible external clinical evidence from the research literature.

GA5: Health Promotion

Promote oral health in the community – This attribute requires the graduate to educate the community members about oral health and disease prevention. It involves providing oral health care for those members of the community who may not have access to it.

GA 6: Professionalism

Leadership qualities – The graduate must possess leadership qualities like accountability, respect, empowering team members, self-confidence, courage, compassion, and gratitude.

Project management – This attribute requires the graduate to be able to plan, organize, and manage resources to complete a project successfully.

Oral and written communication skills – The graduate must possess the skills to communicate effectively through verbal and written means.

Digital literacy – This attribute enables the graduate to search, assess, and communicate information using the internet and digital media platforms.

Program Structure

The KKUCOD offers an exciting combination of didactic lectures and preclinical and clinical chair-side teaching. In this program, you will learn the science and pathology underlying oral and dental diseases and get trained in managing the different diseases and conditions. In this program, there are a total of 194 credit hours distributed in 71 courses over six years, and each course has a duration of six months. Of the 71 courses, 8 are institution requirements, and 63 are program requirements. The graduation is followed by a compulsory internship for one year.

LEVEL 1 & 2:

During the first year, the students will learn English and Arabic, Islamic culture, and basic science subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, and biostatistics. These basic sciences and languages will help them in the future learning process, as they are the basis of any medical education

LEVEL 3 & 4:

At this level, students will learn about human anatomy, physiology, and medical biochemistry, along with a course in Islamic culture. During this period, they will be given an introduction to dentistry, and a course on dental anatomy will be started.

LEVEL 5 & 6:

This year students will be given training for restorative and prosthodontic procedures in simulation labs along with didactic lectures. The basics of oral diagnosis radiology and oral pathology will be taught this year. Dental pharmacology, local anesthesia, applied surgical anatomy and tooth extraction are other subjects taught at this level.

Level 7 & 8:

This is a transition stage in which the students are trained in dental subjects in clinics as well as preclinical simulation labs, especially for prosthodontics and restorative dentistry. Endodontics, Periodontics, and Pedodontics subjects are introduced at this level. Oral surgery, Oral Diagnosis, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, and oral pathology are the other subjects taught at this level. A very important topic CPR is taught as a student must start with patient care.

LEVEL 9 & 10:

The students are given training in clinics on live patients under close clinical supervision, almost all the clinical topics and procedures are covered during this year. Clinical microbiology and Islamic culture are other topics covered during this period.

LEVEL 11 & 12:

This year more emphasis is given to training the students to perform autonomous dental procedures and community outreach programs. Prepare the students to be competent enough to practice without supervision.

INTERNSHIP:
The internship training program is a 1 2-month intended to improve the graduate dentist's (interns) knowledge and skills in their general dentistry practice. It prepares the interns to deliver high-quality dental care with the required guidance from different specialties. It provides them an insight, particularly in the area of their planned future
specialty. It offers interns to be involved in research projects to show their innovative ideas and develop their scientific writing abilities. The program provides an opportunity for the interns to participate in community health programs and have their views on the latest oral health programs. Dental students who have finished their Bachelor of Dental Sciences degree are required to complete a twelve-month internship training as an essential requirement for full registration as a dental practitioner by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Upon successful completion of the program requirements, the candidate will receive an internship training certificate issued and sealed by the College of Dentistry. King Khalid University.

Admission

The admission process is carried out through the Deanship of Admission and Registration, which requires attaining the following conditions:

The applicant must be a Saudi national or born to a Saudi mother.
To be eligible, the applicant must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent from within or outside the Kingdom.
Admission to health specialties requires that the student be a graduate of the same year only.
To be eligible for admission to a chosen specialty, students must meet the medical requirements. If a student is found medically unfit, the admissions and registration deanship can either change their acceptance to a suitable specialty or revoke their admission.
The applicant must not be academically or disciplinarily dismissed from KKU or any other Saudi university.

For more information regarding admission rules and guides, please visit the Deanship of Admission and Registration website.