Program Overview
This program equips dental hygienists trained outside the UK with the theoretical knowledge and clinical competencies required to register and practice in the UK. It combines classroom teaching with supervised clinical practice, covering topics such as patient assessment, preventative care, and scaling. Successful completion enables students to submit evidence to the GDC for entry to the UK dental hygienist register.
Program Outline
It is also appropriate for dental hygienists, already registered in the UK, who wish to bring their skills and knowledge up to date after time away from the profession. On this module, you will engage in a combination of supervised clinical practice and classroom teaching which will cover the contemporary underpinning theoretical knowledge required to meet the GDCs requirements. You will learn in a variety of settings including the University’s academic dental clinic where you will undertake supervised clinical practice.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain theoretical underpinning knowledge necessary to practise contemporary dental hygiene competencies.
- Competently demonstrate the clinical competencies of a dental hygienist practising in the UK.
- Be able to critically reflect upon own strengths & weaknesses.
- Develop an ability to select appropriate methods to address and evidence professional development to meet the required GDC learning outcomes.
- Develop a critical understanding of current UK policy in relation to dental hygiene practice.
Accreditation and Professional Recognition:
Satisfactory completion of this module allows the successful student to submit the evidence required of them to the GDC assessment panel, with a view to facilitating entry to the GDC register as a dental hygienist.
Outline:
Module Outline:
The course is delivered over 3 days a week over 3 months. It combines teaching on theoretical underpinning knowledge with supervised clinical practice, treating patients at the university’s academic dental clinic.
Topics Covered:
- History taking and interpretation of medical and social history.
- Examination and charting.
- Preventative care.
- Smoking cessation.
- Inferior dental block and local infiltration analgesia.
- Dental biomaterials.
- Antimicrobial therapy.
- Scaling and root surface debridement.
- Fissure Sealants.
- Dental Impressions.
Assessment:
Assessment Strategy:
- Work based assessment of each relevant GDC competence using Direct Observation of Performance (DOPs) and Case Based Discussion (CbDs). This module is taught by experienced staff who teach on many of the oral health science programmes at the University of Essex, including the 2 year GDC accredited pre-registration dental hygienist qualification.
Other:
- The Academic Dental Clinic where the module is based is located on Bromley Road, Colchester, CO4 3JE.
- We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you.
