BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy
- UCAS code: B750
- Mode of study: Full time
- Duration: 3 years
- Entry requirements 2013: 300 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent, including 100 points from a pure Science subject. All applicants are subject to interview. All offers are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and Occupational Health clearance.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5550
Email: sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: Dental Academy
This course is only available to UK and EU applicants.
Course overview
This programme allows students to gain professional accreditation as a combined dental hygienist/dental therapist, within a recognised academic framework. Students will not be required to pay tuition fees.
Admission is limited to a total of 24 students per year. Of the 24 places eight are held for successful students completing the Foundation Award in Science and Dental Therapy with the University of Portsmouth.
Due to the large number of applicants, admissions tutors will select the 50 most qualified for interview, using criteria listed on our webpage. This selection will take place in January with interviews held in February and March. The School reserves the right not to consider applicants who apply after the 15 January UCAS deadline and to reject applicants who have been interviewed on two prior occasions for this course.
At interview candidates will be asked to present a topic of their choice for five minutes. The aim of the presentation is to grade the candidate for communication skills; the topic is not graded and the choice of topic does not affect the outcome of the interview.
At interview all potential applicants to the programme are expected to demonstrate the following:
- motivation and commitment towards the role of the dental hygienist/therapist
- an understanding of the work of a dental hygienist/therapist
- effective communication skills
- ability to operate as part of a team
- a genuine interest in the care and treatment of patients
Professional accreditation
Our courses are validated by the University of Portsmouth and accredited by the General Dental Council, which enables you to register and work in the dental care sector.
Course content
The programme is designed to ensure that the student is safe and competent to progress into practice on qualification. As such, knowledge, skills and professionalism are the three key elements within the award. During the three years of the programme the following are examples of subject areas that will be covered:
- academic skills
- general and oral anatomy and physiology relevant to the dental hygienist/therapist
- operative techniques supporting the practice of the dental hygienist/therapist
- oral health education
- dental radiography
- reflective and professional practice
- behavioural sciences
- pharmacology
- IT and health informatics
- law and ethics
Career prospects
The dental hygienist/therapist operates as a healthcare professional who, from a treatment plan provided by a registered dentist, delivers a range of treatments to enhance the oral health of the patient. Examples of the treatments they may administer are dental local anaesthetics, extraction of children’s teeth, provision of fillings for both children and adults, taking of radiographs, scale and polish and the provision of oral health education.
On qualification, employment opportunities exist within a variety of settings that include the NHS, independent general practice, corporate dental practice, specialist periodontal practice, hospital staff hygienist/therapist and health promotion. Additionally, due to the recognised academic framework of the programme, successful qualification may also lead to application and progression to Master’s, Professional Doctorate and PhD studies.
Facilities and features
The Dental Academy also provides dental training for undergraduate King’s College London Dental Institute students. Joint training for dental care professionals and undergraduate dentists will take place under the same roof to develop the concept of a dental team working within a primary dental care setting.
Our programmes are delivered in recently expanded purpose built clinical and academic facilities. The building includes two clinics (44 dental treatment bays), two individual surgeries, a phantom heads room, radiography suite, four radiography booths and excellent teaching rooms.
To broaden the range of hands-on experience, some student learning occurs outside the University in community settings. Outreach increases the diversity of practise, widening your skills base. It may take, for example, the form of work placements in community surgeries, oral health promotion and supervised toothbrushing in infant schools, helping staff to develop oral care plans in residential homes, working along side others in the dental team to provide dental screening to offenders in the probation service and work experience in maxillofacial departments in local hospitals
You will also have access to resources within the Faculty of Science and the University Library, student advice services, sports facilities and the Students’ Union.
The School does not offer shortened courses for applicants with dental hygiene, dental therapy or dental qualifications gained overseas.