BSc (Hons) Dental Therapy and Hygiene

• Your learning will be integrated with dental students throughout the programme; this inter-professional approach to education will prepare you for working in a multi-disciplinary team
  
• Benefit from a programme mapped against the General Dental Council's 'Preparing for Practice'.
• Prepare for your future role as a healthcare professional.
• Become skilled at communicating with patients and colleagues.
• You'll be well prepared to approach clinical problems holistically, appreciating personal social dimensions as well as the biomedical basis of oral diseases.
• Your clinical supervision is underpinned by a team of consultants in clinical dentistry in each of our Dental Education Facilities.
• Extensive e-learning, library and other facilities which include videos, CDs, DVDs, books, publications, access to electronic journals and facilities for telematic conferencing.
• Engage directly with participants and service users in a unique and meaningful way with the Community Engagement Team.
• Benefit from the state of the art facilities provided by established Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE), a Community Interest Company (CIC).
• Strong partnerships within the University and NHS.
• Graduates from the course who achieve a distinction, are invited to apply to join Year 2 of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree. This bespoke entry route is valid for two years post BSc completion. For further information about this entry route please visit the BDS entry requirements page.   

• Year 1
• In your first year, you'll explore the scientific basis of normal structure, function and behaviour, focusing on dental health, prevention of dental disease and the underlying principles of personal and professional development. You'll be introduced to the clinic and the Simulated Dental Learning Environment (SDLE) at an early stage, and gain insight into the importance of team working in dentistry as you integrate with other members of the team and work in small study groups.

  Core modules

  • DTH411 Integrated Dental Science 1

    This module introduces basic and clinical sciences and the principles of human disease prevention which underpin dental skills, the safe use of ionising radiation together with the properties and usage of biomaterials in dentistry.

  • DTH412 Introduction to Clinical Practice 1

    This module provides an introduction to clinical dentistry and the management of medical emergencies and by the end of the module, at the mid-point of the year, students will be ready to commence providing dental care for patients. All learning and assessment in the module take place in the simulated setting to enable students to practice clinical skills.

  • DTH413 Introduction to Clinical Practice 2

    This module continues the students' introduction to the essential range of basic skills needed for the safe practice of primary dental care by dental therapists and hygienists and provides the clinical basis for the student's first experiences in caring for patients. From the beginning of this module, each time a student is successful at a capability assessment within the simulated environment they may start to provide that procedure for patients in the clinic.

  • DTH415 Professional Development 1

    This module introduces students to reflective adult learning and assists with the development of professional behaviour and attitudes appropriate to dentistry. Every term the student will meet their Academic Tutor and reflect on and review their performance in all aspects of professionalism within the programme by presentation of a reflective questionnaire and discussion.

  • DTH416 Inter-Professional Engagement 1

• Year 2
• In your second year, you'll build on the foundations you've put in place so far - you'll consider common dental problems, as well as disease mechanisms, in much greater depth. You'll develop your clinical skills further and apply what you have learnt to the realities of dental practice.

  Core modules

  • DTH521 Applied Dental Therapy Knowledge 1

    This module enables students to further develop their depth of knowledge and understanding of the scientific principles underpinning dental practice and includes oral disease, pharmacology and dental materials. The module continues to support the application of basic biomedical, clinical sciences and disease prevention principles which underpin dental skills and the effective and safe care of patients in the dental environment. Topic areas include basic sciences as applied to dentistry, knowledge of the comprehensive delivery of clinical dentistry for dental therapists and hygienists including restorative dentistry for children and adults, dental radiology, pharmacology and therapeutics, oral medicine, oral pathology, professionalism, law and ethics

  • DTH522 Developing Clinical Practice 1

    Continuing clinical experience caring for patients and the development of further skills in the simulated environment. Following each patient visit students will reflect on their clinical and professional performance and receive feedback. Further support is provided for individual students who have difficulty with any particular procedure.

  • DTH523 Developing Clinical Practice 2

    This module enables students to acquire the clinical, administrative and communication skills relevant to the safe and effective practice of an increasing range of treatments within primary care dentistry for a student in preparation for their final year.

  • DTH525 Professional Development 2

    This module supports students to further develop reflective adult learning skills and assists with the development of professional behaviour and attitudes appropriate to dentistry. Every term the student will meet their Academic Tutor and reflect and review on their performance in all aspects of professionalism within the programme.

  • DTH527 Clinical Audit

  • DTH528 Inter-Professional Engagement 2

    In year two of the programme, students are able to build on their learning from the year one project by focusing on a single community-based organisation within Devon and Cornwall. Students in small groups visit organisations to develop an understanding of how these organisations support particular community gropus and/or individuals to adopt positive healthy lifestyles and how they help their clients/service users to overcome the social and organisational barriers that prevent them from achieving this.

• Final year
• Your final year is devoted to furthering your clinical experience and is the final preparation for dental practice. You'll become much more confident with clinical situations, healthcare teams and the principles of practice. You’ll plan multidisciplinary case presentations, designed to demonstrate that you’re capable and confident in the planning and delivery of all procedures necessary to provide optimal oral healthcare for patients. 

  Core modules

  • DTH631 Applied Dental Therapy Knowledge 2

    This module enables students to achieve the level of knowledge of clinical and communication skills, professionalism and management and leadership skills required of a graduate entering primary care as a dental therapist and hygienist. Topic areas include basic sciences as applied to dentistry, knowledge of the comprehensive delivery of clinical dentistry including restorative dentistry for children and adults, dental radiology, pharmacology and therapeutics, oral medicine, oral pathology, medicine and surgery applied to dentistry, professionalism, law and ethics.

  • DTH632 Proficient Clinical Practice 1

    This module provides students with continuing clinical experience treating patients with more complex needs.

  • DTH633 Proficient Clinical Practice 2

    This module provides students with continuing clinical experience treating patients with more complex needs, working closely with dental students and dental nurses in the dental team.

  • DTH634 Professional Development 3

    This module supports students to further develop reflective adult learning skills and assists with the development of professional behaviour and attitudes appropriate to a dental therapists and hygienist. Every term the student will meet their Academic Tutor and reflect and review on their performance in all aspects of professionalism within the BSc programme.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene programme specificaton 4627

UCAS tariff

ABB

• A minimum of six GCSE passes A-C/9-4 which must include English language or literature, mathematics and either GCSE double award science or two from single award chemistry, biology, or physics. Plus suitable Level 3 qualifications as outlined below.
  
• The typical offer is ABB at GCE A level which must include biology. General studies at GCE A/AS level is not included in any offer.
  
• Applicants holding a National Certificate or Diploma in Dental Nursing will need a minimum of 2 A levels at grades BB, one of which must be biology.
  
• BTEC National Diploma in a predominantly science subject area predicted or achieved at a minimum D,D,M.
  
• Access course in a predominantly science subject area to include 45 level 3 credits, 33 of those at merit or distinction to include 15 in biology or human biology.
  

All applications must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All applications for the BMBS and BMS programmes must reach UCAS between the beginning of September and 15 October annually. Applicants should apply to no more than four clinical degree programmes.

The remaining choice on the UCAS form may be used for any alternative course. The UCAS code for the Faculty of Health is P60 PLYM. All applications for the BSc in Dental Therapy and Hygiene and programmes in the School of Biomedical Sciences, must be received by UCAS no later than 15 January annually.

Information for DTH applicants.

BDS brochure (PDF)
BMBS brochure (PDF)

For more information contact the Admissions Team: