BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene
University of Portsmouth
Key Information
Campus location
Southsea, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* for UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students/EU residents | £18,300/year: international students
Scholarships
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Introduction
Dental hygienists treat and prevent oral diseases. They support people in maintaining their oral health by providing treatments and advice designed to improve the health of the mouth, teeth and gums.
If you want a career as a dental hygienist, this BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene degree course is for you.
Studying in our Dental Academy, you’ll get the skills and knowledge for registration with the General Dental Council (GDC), which is essential for practising as a dental hygienist.
Course highlights
- Be taught in our Dental Academy, complete with the latest technology used in dental practices, including 2 clinics with 44 dental treatment bays, 2 individual surgeries, a phantom head room, a decontamination suite, and radiography booths
- Build your experience working as part of a dental team, studying alongside dental therapy, dental nursing and dental students as well as qualified professionals
- Get out of the classroom to work with real patients, perform dental procedures and take part in local community outreach projects
Accredited by
General Dental Council (GDC)
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Modules
Year 1
Core modules in this year include:
- Core Skills Training Framework – 0 credits
- Tutorials – 0 credits
- Foundation of Evidence-Based Practice (dental) – 20 credits
- Foundations of Dental Hygiene Practice – 40 credits
- Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene Practice – 20 credits
- Integrated Clinical Practice – 0 credits
- Science Informing Practice – 40 credits
- UPDA Events – 0 credits
There are no optional modules this year.
Year 2
Core modules in this year include:
- Applied Dental Hygiene Professional Practice – 40 credits
- Communication for the Dental Team – 20 credits
- Core Skills Training Framework Repeat Level 5 – 0 credits
- Dental Radiography – 20 credits
- Tutorials – 0 credits
- Engaging With Service Improvement – 20 credits
- Evidence-Based Decision Making – 20 credits
- Integrated Clinical Practice – 0 credits
- UPDA Events – 0 credits
There are no optional modules this year.
Year 3
Core modules in this year include:
- Behaviour Management – 20 credits
- Core Skills Training Framework Repeat Level 6 – 0 credits
- Tutorials – 0 credits
- Enhancing Dental Hygiene Professional Practice – 40 credits
- Leading Safe and Effective Care (dental) – 20 credits
- Project – 40 credits
- UPDA Events – 0 credits
There are no optional modules this year.
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry, and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Work experience with patients in the community
To help you gain professional experience, you'll help to provide free dental health services to the public at the Dental Academy and work with patients in local community settings.
You'll have the chance to offer preventative and educational dental support within institutions such as school clinics and hostels for homeless people, enabling you to gain a better understanding of the social impact of good dental care.
Our community work experience projects include:
- outreach activity in community surgeries and maxillofacial departments in local hospitals
- oral health promotion
- supervised tooth brushing in infant schools
- helping staff to develop oral care plans in residential homes
- providing dental screening to offenders in the probation service
- providing dental checkups to elite athletes, including first-team players from Portsmouth Football Club
Career Opportunities
As the title suggests, dental hygienists help patients keep their teeth clean, but there's much more to the role than this alone.
Dental hygienists provide treatments, carry out procedures and give dietary and oral hygiene advice to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. Patients are often referred to dental hygienists by dentists, although many opt to see a hygienist regularly themselves.
Dental hygienists are needed in both the NHS and private healthcare. Once you graduate, you'll be ready to take your skills into areas such as general dental practice, hospital dental services or the Armed Forces, so you'll have great employment prospects as you embark on your dental career.
Looking to study dental hygiene and learn how to carry out additional procedures such as fillings and extractions? Take a look at our BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy degree.
What areas can you work in with a dental hygiene degree?
When you graduate, you'll be qualified to work in areas such as:
- general dental practice
- hospital dental services
- the Armed Forces
- the NHS
- health promotion
What jobs can you do with a dental hygiene degree?
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- dental hygienist
- oral health educator
- practice manager
- practice owner
You could also continue your studies or do research at the postgraduate level.
Potential salary
As an NHS dental hygienist in 2021, you could expect a Band 5 starting salary of £25,655, moving up to £31,534.
With more experience, you could earn from £32,306 to £39,027 (Band 6) and with role training, you could make up to £45,839 (Band 7).
In the private sector, dental hygienists make from £16.56 to £31.18 an hour.
Ongoing careers support
After you graduate, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability Service as you advance in your career.
Facilities
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English Language Requirements
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