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Dental Hygiene & Therapy

Dental hygiene and therapy are critical fields within dental care, different from dentistry, focused on maintaining and improving oral health. If this sounds like a career path you are interested in, or something you'd like to learn more about, keep reading to find out the ALSA insights from two of our very own volunteers Sadije and Lenda.

Where to Study

Universities that offer only Dental Hygiene:

  • London Southbank University

  • Teeside University, Middlesborough

  • University of Essex

  • University of Portsmouth

Universities that offer both Dental Hygiene and Therapy:

  • London South Bank University 

  • Newcastle University 

  • Queen Mary University of  London 

  • Teesside University,  

  • Middlesbrough

  • University of Birmingham 

  • University of Bristol 

  • University of Dundee 

  • University of Edinburgh 

  • University of Essex 

  • University of Leeds 

  • University of Liverpool 

  • University of Manchester 

  • University of Plymouth 

  • University of Portsmouth

  • University of Sheffield

  • University of Suffolk

Grade Requirements

  • General Entry Requirements (subject to vary with each university)

  • 6 GSCE’s at grade C/5 or above 

  • Grades ABB at A-Level. This must include A-Level Biology 

  • Alternates to A-levels:

  • BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma 

  • Access to Higher Education Diplomas - 45 distinction credits  in Biology and Chemistry  

  • Additionally: Work experience - usually as a dental nurse - work experience  can usually be obtained by contacting your local practice and  asking to shadow. 

Dental Hygiene 

Scope of Practice

  • Provide dental hygiene care to a wide range of patients 

  • Complete periodontal examination and charting and use indices to  screen and monitor periodontal disease 

  • Diagnose and treatment plan within their competence 

  • Prescribe radiographs 

  • Provide preventive oral care to patients and liaise with dentists over  the treatment of caries, periodontal disease and tooth wear

  • Undertake supragingival and subgingival scaling and root surface  debridement using manual and powered instruments 

  • Carry out oral cancer screening

Dental Hygiene AND Therapy

Scope of Practice

Everything included above and:

  • Carry out a clinical examination within their competence • Place temporary dressings and re-cement crowns with temporary  cement 

  • Apply topical treatments and fissure sealants 

  • Carry out direct restorations on primary and secondary teeth

  • Carry out pulpotomies on primary teeth 

  • Extract primary teeth 

  • Place pre-formed crowns on primary teeth

For more information...

The following links elaborate on the above information and go into more detail about the exact requirements of rach university as well as the scopes of practice for these roles.

Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene programmes 

Scope of Practice

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