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• Dental Hygiene, 2 Year(s) Full Time, Closing Date: 08/FEB/2013




What is a Dental hygienist?

The dental hygienist provides preventative oral care to both children and adults including those with special needs in collaboration with a registered dentist in a clinical setting. This includes treatments to prevent or control periodontal (gum) disease and dental decay, advice and counselling in relation to lifestyle habits such as diet and smoking. The dental hygienist also provides oral health education to both individuals and groups of people and can be involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of oral health promotional programmes. The dental hygienist works within the dental team and with other groups of health care workers to provide a holistic approach to patient care.

Is this the right course for you?

If you have an interest in working in oral health, and particularly preventative oral health, then this course is right for you. You will need to be able to develop good patient care skills, so an empathic personality and good communication skills are important. You need to be a good team player and show initiative to achieve the best for people in your care.

Course overview

This two-year course is based in the Dublin Dental University Hospital at Trinity College. It has academic, project-based and clinical components which are carried out in the Dublin Dental University Hospital, Health Services Executive and general hospital settings. Emphasis is on small-group interactive learning, health promotion projects, evidence-based learning, and clinical practice. You will be integrated with undergraduate dental science students and dental nursing students for some elements of the programme.

Course content

The curriculum has a modular design and some modules are prerequisites for others.

First year modules

Module 1: Introduction to applied clinical science (20 ECTS)

• Introduction module
• Microbiology and cross-infection control
• Dental pathology and disease
• Physiology and medical emergencies
• Psychology and social concepts
• Introduction to orthodontics
• Head and neck anatomy
• Pharmacology

Module 2: Introduction to clinical practice (25 ECTS)

• Basic preventive and therapeutic oral care
• Restorative and prosthetic materials and therapy
• Dental radiography

Module 3: Clinical practice and health promotion (15 ECTS)

• Computer skills
• Public dental health services
• Presentation and communication skills
• Clinical practice

Second year modules

Module 4: Health promotion practice (15 ECTS)

• Applied psychology
• Health promotion & project work
• Smoking cessation counselling
• Professional responsibilities

Module 5: Evidence based practice (10 ECTS)

• Human diseases and general pathology
• Periodontology & implantology
• Research methods
• Cariology & paediatric dentistry

Module 6: Clinical practice II (30ECTS)

• Clinical experience in a variety of settings
• Radiography - portfolio of experience
• Administration of local anaesthesia

After qualifying as a dental hygienist you will be able to:

• Describe the role of the dental hygienist and function within a dental team in oral health promotion and the provision of primary health care
• Plan, implement and evaluate oral educational activities for groups and individuals
• Carry out procedures to measure and assess the levels of oral health and oral hygiene
• Debride and polish the teeth
• Place fissure sealants
• Apply fluoride-containing preparations and desensitising agents to the teeth
• Recognise abnormalities in the mouth and inform the dentist
• Take dental radiographs
• Administer local anaesthetic for dental hygiene procedures
• Place temporary dressings and re-cement crowns temporarily

Assessment

Assessment is by written examinations during the two years, a community-based health education project, competence tests in various clinical procedures, completion of various logbooks, clinical credits demonstrating of a reasonable level of patient care and a final written and clinical examination.

Your degree and professional practice

The Diploma in Dental hygiene conferred by Trinity College Dublin entitles graduates to register immediately after graduation as a dental hygienist on the Register of the Irish Dental Council. This registration is mandatory for working as a dental hygienist in Ireland.

Career opportunities

As a dental hygienist, you have the option of being self employed or employed. You may find employment in general or specialist dental practices, in the Health Services Executive, in hospitals and institutional settings and within the commercial sector.

Further information

www.dentalhospital.ie (Select the Education link)
Contact: Lecturer in Dental hygiene: Catherine Waldron RDH, MSc.
E-mail: catherine.waldron@dental.tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 612 7369