DIPLOMA IN DENTAL HYGIENE

The course is intended to enable students to acquire the competencies necessary to meet the requirements for entry to the Dental Council Register of Dental Hygienists. The role of the hygienist is to improve oral and dental health for individuals as well as for groups in collaboration with and under the supervision of a registered dentist. The dental hygienist works with preventive and therapeutic procedures aimed to prevent and/or control dental caries and periodontal diseases. The dental hygienist plans, implements and evaluates oral health in promotional and educational activities for groups and individuals.

Duration
The duration of the course is two years commencing the first week in October and ending in July of the second year.

Admission
Application for admission to the course must be made to the Admissions Office, West Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin 2 by 1 March of the year of proposed entry.

Entry requirements
Admission to the course is competitive, will usually involve an interview and is available to those in the following categories:

(a) Leaving Certificate results containing the following minimum qualifications; 
A minimum of grade C3 on two higher level papers of the Leaving Certificate and four other subjects at a minimum grade ordinary level include Mathematics, English and one of the subjects physics, chemistry, physics/chemistry, biology or agricultural science.

(b) Certificate in Dental Nursing qualification;
Applicants who hold the Certificate in Dental Nursing may be exempt from certain modules in their first year of the course.

(c) Mature applicants;
Special consideration will be given to those who have:
—experience in community health, patient care, teaching and communication.
—working experience in dental nursing following qualification as a dental nurse.
 

Courses

The educational and ethical policy of the school stresses disease prevention and an holistic approach to patient care. The curriculum has a modular design and some modules are prerequisites for others. Emphasis is placed on small group interactive learning, design and implementation of community and health promotion projects, and evidence based learning and clinical practice. Students of the various dental professional categories are integrated during their education, thus enhancing the prospect of effective teamwork in their future careers.

First year - Modules

• Infection and immunity (5 credits)
• Delivery of primary care (5 credits)
• Dental and oral pathology (5 credits)
• Masticatory system (5 credits)
• Oral health care and healthy life style (5 credits)
• Practice management and computing (5 credits)
• Delivery of secondary care (5 credits)
• Medical and dental emergencies (5 credits)
• Basic preventive and periodontal care (5 credits)
• Dental public health (5 credits)
• Communications and health education (5 credits)

Second year - Modules

• Human diseases and oral pathology (7 credits)
• Pharmacology and cross infection control (7 credits)
• Clinical prevention for the child and behavioural science (7 credits)
• Periodontology and research methods (7 credits)
• Dental public health (7 credits)
• Communications and health education (7 credits)
• Dental radiography (7 credits)

Examinations

Students are required to achieve credit for each module of the course before they may be awarded the diploma. Some modules are prerequisites for others. The student may not proceed to vhich must include mathematics, clinical practice before the basic preventive and periodontal care examination is passed (Hilary term, iemistry, biology or agricultural first year) and the student cannot proceed to the final examination until an appropriate level of patient care is demonstrated (Hilary term, second year). This is assessed by means of competence tests and demonstration of a reasonable level of patient care and of liaison with the referring dentist. Information on courses and examinations will be given to students at the commencement of the course.