Brandenburg's future: New dentistry course starts with high excitement!

Brandenburg's future: New dentistry course starts with high excitement!

On April 23, 2025, a new course of study in dentistry will be launched at the Brandenburg Theodor Fontane Medical School (MHB) in Brandenburg an der Havel. This innovative training follows the current licensing regulations for dentists, but brings with it significant innovations that make learning precise and practical.

Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schmalz, the first dentistry professor in Brandenburg, begins his studies with a high proportion of practical teaching. Students have the opportunity to work on dental simulators in the first semester, which is a key feature of the dentistry model course (BMZ). The course of study is modular and includes a total of ten semesters in which theory and practice are closely linked. The course begins with basic training that focuses on scientific and dental subjects.

Study structure and content

The course is divided into three sections: The first two semesters are dedicated to basic training in topics such as dental development, chemical principles and initial care in medical emergencies. In the following semesters, the focus is on preclinical-clinical training, covering topics such as diagnostics and evidence-based medicine. In the final section, semesters seven to ten, the focus is on clinical practice.

• 1. – 2. Semester: Naturwissenschaftliche Grundlagen und Erstversorgung.
• 3. – 6. Semester: Diagnostik und präklinische Therapie.
• 7. – 10. Semester: Klinisch-praktischer Unterricht.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the course implements problem-oriented learning (PBL), which enables students to learn independently and acquire practical knowledge at an early stage. A simulation course on dental conservation takes place in the third semester, which promotes early entry into practical work.

Integration of communication and social medicine

A central element of this training is the promotion of communicative skills and the integration of socio-medical content. Students learn to appreciate the importance of communication in dental studies, as it is essential for patient care. Topics such as the patient perspective and psychological aspects are regularly integrated into the courses.

In addition, practical days in family and dental practices are an integral part of the program. Overarching medical topics, such as the connection between oral health and general health, are also covered. Lectures on periodontitis and its impact on systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis are planned to support the interdisciplinary approach to dentistry. A planned “Smoking Week” project is intended to illustrate the effects of smoking on oral health.

The comprehensive curriculum aims to prepare students for work with patients from the seventh semester onwards. In an interprofessional team, those responsible are continuously working on the further development of the degree program in order to take both the medical and social aspects of dentistry into account.

The opportunity to do a doctorate and work on questions about oral and general health during the scientific internship also opens up promising research perspectives for future dentists, which makes the course not only practical but also scientifically sound.

Overall, this new path in dentistry offers exciting and integrative training that is tailored to the needs of future physicians and the requirements of the healthcare system. The combination of theoretical knowledge, practical application and a strong focus on communication makes this course in Brandenburg an der Havel an innovative and future-oriented choice for aspiring dentists. Information about the new course of study can be found on the MHB website, while the iMED-DENT program structure is of interest to better understand the modular processes.