Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Conscious Sedation and Pain Control)

1. Hold a recognised dental qualification (e.g., BDS, DMD) from an approved institution.
2. Have at least 2 years of general dental practice experience.
3. Be registered or eligible for registration with a dental regulatory body (e.g., Dental Board of Australia) for postgraduate training.
4. For international applicants: meet English-language proficiency and overseas qualification equivalence.
5. Demonstrate commitment to the speciality of conscious sedation and pain control.
6. Able to meet the “inherent requirements” for the programme (clinical competence, monitoring patient sedation, management of emergencies).

The Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Conscious Sedation and Pain Control) at the University of Sydney is designed to provide practising dentists with both theoretical and clinical training in sedation, analgesia and pain management within dental practice.

Delivered at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health (or affiliated specialist settings) it includes units in advanced life support, differential diagnosis of collapse (sedation-related emergencies), safe administration of conscious sedation, monitoring of patients under sedation, pain control modalities, and patient-centred management of anxiety and sedation in dental settings.

Graduates of the programme are equipped to apply for endorsement of their dental registration in the area of conscious sedation with the Dental Board of Australia. The programme is ranked as part of the Sydney Dental School’s specialist/diploma programmes and is fully accredited for this purpose.

The curriculum emphasises patient safety, evidence-based practice, inter-professional communication (especially with anaesthesia teams), and management of challenging patients (e.g., high anxiety, medically compromised, special needs). This enables general dentists to expand into sedation practice or strengthen their capabilities in pain and anxiety management in complex cases.