Dental Hygiene*
BSc (Hons)

Full-time

B750 BSc/DH

Nursing & Health

International students: Due to high volumes, any international applications received after 25 June can't be considered for September 2021 entry. You are welcome to apply for the next available intake (details below).
Note: this course closed for applications for September 2021 intake. September 2022 full-time applications through UCAS opened from mid-May 2021.

Course overview

As a dental hygienist you will be proactive in the prevention and maintenance of periodontal disease and improving ‘smiles’. The course blends equal theoretical and practical learning within the on campus phantom head skills lab and the Student Dental Facility.

The course is designed to ensure you meet the standards and skills necessary to enable you to register with the General Dental Council and hold the title of dental hygienist.

A dental hygienist is a rewarding career where your skills to deliver current oral health promotion, periodontal and preventive treatment to a wide range of patients makes a difference. As a competent, accountable, problem-solving and evidence-based practitioner, you need excellent manual dexterity and communication skills to meet the high expectations and demands of the modern dental practice. You need to be able to effectively communicate with the public and other healthcare providers at all levels. As with all healthcare professionals the public place a high level of expectation and trust in their dental hygienist and therefore to work in this sector it is essential that you are able to demonstrate the core values embedded within the NHS Constitution.

Supporting information for applicants

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* Subject to University approval

Course details

Course structure

Year 1 core modules

An Introduction to Evidence-based Practice for Health Professionals

You examine the role of evidence-based practice and sources of evidence: primary and secondary research, guidelines, audits and evaluations to support clinical decision making. You develop skills in formulating focused questions, developing effective search strategies and literature retrieval.

Fundamental Clinical Skills for the Dental Hygienist

You examine the underpinning theory and the practice of clinical skills, required in the scope of practice of the dental hygienist. You gain the required knowledge and skills for the safe treatment of patients including instrumentation, dental indices to monitor periodontal disease and to assist in the treatment of a patient. Oral hygiene instruction will be applied when you demonstrate the various methods of plaque control, including both chemical and mechanical means and incorporating appropriate modifications for patient needs. Initially you are introduced to the theoretical aspects of clinical skills, patient management and oral health promotion before undertaking practical clinical experience and assessment in the phantom head skills lab, which includes the treatment of periodontal disease.

Alongside the clinical experience oral health promotion will be a key component. You will be introduced to education, designing, and planning oral health promotion sessions to develop learning resources, including presentations, videos and supporting information for a variety of target audiences.

Introduction to Human Physiology for Healthcare Professionals

This multidisciplinary module introduces basic processes principles and concepts of human physiology required by a range of health professionals, including healing and repair processes.

Professionalism for Health Professionals

You develop an understanding of your role in the delivery of contemporary health and social care within the context of interprofessional practice and behaviour, preparing you for the demands of practice and ensuring you are sufficiently informed and equipped to practice safely. The module will also introduce you to the concepts of continuous professional development and lifelong learning and the tools to demonstrate this through the use of the e-portfolio. This will prepare you to produce evidence of professional development to maintain your professional registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council or General Dental Council.

Year 2 core modules

Dissertation Planning for Health Professionals

You develop a sound understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methods (and data analysis) which will enable you to plan your primary research protocols. You will also develop skills in devising an appropriate research question, developing a rationale for a research project, and critical appraisal of research evidence.

Enhancing Dental Radiology and Radiographic Practice

You gain the depth and breadth of theoretical and practical knowledge in the setting up, taking and processing of dental radiographs as well as exploring the physics, radiation protection, equipment, quality assurance and patient care and safety involved in the procedure. You learn about the importance of health and safety, ethics and clinical audit which surrounds the subject.

Exploring the Aetiology and the Dental Hygienists Management of Oral Disease

and further investigate those manifestations of common oral disease and disorders that may impinge on dental treatment. You acquire detailed knowledge of the classifications, aetiology, pathogenesis and process of common oral diseases/oral surgery, allowing you to employ balanced and logical decisions on patient treatment needs, as well as analysing, applying and interpreting knowledge of drugs administered and prescribed, identifying how their unwanted effects can affect the management of patients and the oral manifestations which may occur from them. You explore, analyse and interpret communication skills and behavioural techniques, which help you to become a proficient practitioner.

Professional, Legal and Ethical Obligations of the Dental Hygienist

You reflect on current and contemporary issues and explore the implications for personal and professional practice. Ethical and dento-legal responsibilities will also be explored to equip you for your future practice as a dental hygienist. You examine the role of the dental hygienist within the NHS, and the roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team.

The Clinical Experience of the Dental Hygienist

You consolidate and build on the knowledge, understanding and skills that you have gained in Year 1, and further develop dental hygiene skills including decision-making skills, providing appropriate advice, assessment, treatment, management, and care for service users. You focus on the wider scope of dental hygienist practice involving the application of fissure sealants, fluoride varnish and the delivery of local anaesthetic.

Year 3 core modules

Clinical Theory for the Dental Hygienist

You advance your theoretical knowledge to apply comprehensive and detailed consideration to a broad scope of clinical problems of increasing complexity. Comprehensive oral care is covered, including geriodontic and paediatric patients and those who have physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems or those who are medically compromised. You also explore the domiciliary care provision and variety of clinical settings. The principles of restorative techniques are examined and the disorders associated with dental exfoliation and eruption and oral diseases in childhood.

You are required to do your CPR training in this module, to comply with national protocols and guidelines.

Developing Leadership and Service Improvement Skills for the Future Ready Practitioner

You gain knowledge and understanding of healthcare policy, statutory and professional policy and explore the impact of these policies with respect to patient care, professional practice and service delivery. There is a strong emphasis on personal and professional development with an exploration of the theories and concepts underpinning continuous professional development, leadership, human dimension of change and quality improvement. You provide evidence of your personal and professional development using an e-portfolio, to demonstrate critical reflection and action planning to ensure you are prepared for the demands and expectations of your role as a future ready healthcare professional that could seek employment in both traditional and non- traditional settings.

Dissertation for Health Professionals

You explore, in depth, an area specific to your practice in this module. It is designed to further develop your ability to critically appraise, integrate and apply evidence to the practice of dental hygiene and oral health improvement.

Being a self-managed assignment, you are provided with a dissertation supervisor to collaborate and develop an appropriate literature search and critique strategy up on a focused aspect of your professional practice.

Enhancing the Dental Hygienists Clinical Development

You consolidate the clinical skills of the dental hygienist introduced in Years 1 and 2 enabling the application of a comprehensive scope of clinical procedures of increasing complexity. Through the management of differing patient groups, you develop your periodontal and preventive clinical skills, and your autonomy to effectively plan and manage the care of their patients.

Modules offered may vary.

How you learn

The course comprises 50% theoretical study and 50% practical work.

You will learn by attending key lectures, seminar groups, small study groups, practical sessions and e-learning. You are also expected to carry out significant and additional self-directed study to enhance and complement your learning. Occasionally this will be directed study where the module leader will set an individual or group task or problem to solve. All your learning is delivered by expert lectures, practitioners and researchers. Multidisciplinary working is core and you will share modules and study with other healthcare students such as physiotherapists, radiographers and occupational therapists. The phantom head skills lab is the foundation of your clinical development to allow you to progress to treat patients in the Student Dental Facility where you will be closely supervised by GDC-registered clinical supervisors who will help you to develop your knowledge, skills and understanding for your practice as a dental hygienist.

How you are assessed

Assessment is varied and includes practical examinations, written examinations, essays, poster presentations, group presentations and clinical competencies. You will be assessed after each patient you see in the Student Dental Facility to demonstrate your ability to work safely and effectively within your scope of practice as a dental hygienist and the grades contribute to your end of year competencies.

Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

Entry requirements

Level 3 in a relevant subject and applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the dental hygienist role.
a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English language and maths. Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 in Communication and Application of Number can be accepted in place of English and maths GCSE.

Plus any of the following qualifications:

GCE and VCE Advanced Level
112 points from two or three A levels.

AS Level
These are only acceptable when combined with other qualifications. One AS level can be accepted when combined with two or three A levels to meet the 112 points required.

NVQ
Level 3 in dental nursing plus any of the following - dental radiology (Level 4), sedation (Level 4), oral health promotion (Level 4), special care dental nursing (Level 3), K101 (understanding health and social care), SK277 (biology). NVQ 4 in Leadership and Management is acceptable on its own.

The National Examination Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) supports Level 4 post-registration dental nurse qualification. The British Dental Association (BDA) supports Level 4 post-registration dental nurse qualifications.

Access course
A pass in a QAA-recognised Access course in a science or health subject equivalent to 112 UCAS points.

*We can accept Level 2 Access units in communication and maths in place of English and maths GCSEs.

BTEC QCF Extended Diploma
112 points (DMM), preferably in a science or health subject.

CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care
120 points (B) in health and social care.

Foundation degree
A pass in a relevant subject.

Irish Leaving Certificate
112 points from four or five Highers/Honours subjects including a science or social science.

NVQ
Level 3 plus 40 credits at Level 4 - a health and social care subject is preferred.

Scottish Highers
117 points from five Highers including a science or social science subject.

Advanced Scottish Highers
112 points from three Advanced Highers including a science or social science subject.

EU applicants must meet International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at Level 7 with no element below 6.5. You must also:

be aware you need to declare any convictions, cautions or allegations to the relevant professional body before you apply to register
provide an enhanced DBS check

If you have no dental working experience, you're strongly encouraged to shadow a dental hygienist before you apply.

The selection process includes shortlisting of your application, following which, if successful you will be invited for an interview.

Shortlisting criteria
Your application will be measured against the following criteria:

your ability to complete all sections of the application form fully and correctly
the level of all qualifications and grades are specified
appropriate academic entry requirements achieved or predicted
personal statement supportive of chosen course and demonstrates an understanding of the uniqueness of the profession and the role of the professional
satisfactory references.

If you are invited to interview and the date is not suitable we may not be able to offer you an alternative date due to the high volume of applications received for this course - but it is important that you contact the admissions office immediately.

Interview criteria

At the interview you will be measured against the following criteria which is mapped against the NHS Constitution:

knowledge of chosen profession/career
an appreciation of the demands of the course and chosen profession
enthusiasm for the course/profession
ability to communicate effectively verbally and non verbally
potential to become a professional.

If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you will receive an offer which is subject to the following:

evidence of achievement of the required academic qualifications.
a successful work-based risk assessment which will reflect the appropriate HEOPS recommendations. Find out more about all of the HEOPS standards
an enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. Where an enhanced DBS check is required, applicants will cover the cost of these checks which can only be processed through the University.
satisfactory references.

Please note until 1 to 4 have been successfully completed the offer of a place on the course remains conditional.

International applicants

International applicants must have IELTS 7.0 with a minimal score of 6.5 in all sections or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 100/120 (in conjunction with a Teesside University English language test)* before an unconditional offer is made
If you are successful at shortlisting you will be invited to attend an interview (which may be in person OR video call) in one of our international offices in either India, Malaysia or China, or through a secure web link (which will be arranged by the University).
If you can not attend an interview as stated, you will be unable to proceed with your application.

*Students holding TOEFL qualifications at the required grade will be able to combine the qualification with a Teesside University English language test to meet the English language requirement. The English language test will assess listening and speaking competency.

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country

You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

Employability

Work placement

After developing periodontal instrumentation skills within the phantom head skills lab you progress to your professional placement in the Student Dental Facility to treat your own patients under close supervision. This is the core of your practice experience. You also undertake oral health promotion placements where you will develop and deliver sessions to improve oral health in a variety of community settings. In Year 2 you have a one-week radiography placement at Newcastle Dental Hospital. In Year 3 you are allocated placements within local dental practices to prepare you for employment.

Career opportunities

Employment prospects are excellent; once registered, you will be eligible to work in general dental practice, private practice, hospital departments, community dental services, specialist practices, defence medical services, dental access centres and research.

You may also consider postgraduate study in specialist subjects. Graduates have returned to Teesside University as lecturers, and as clinical supervisors to support students during their clinical development in the Student Dental Facility.