Diploma in Dental Hygiene

The course covers both the practical and or theoretical aspects of the following subjects which are relevant to Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists. During over 400 hours of academic and classroom practical teaching the following areas of the syllabus will be covered.- General Histology, Anatomy & Physiology- Oral Histology, Anatomy & Physiology- Dental Histology & Anatomy- Microbiology & Infection Control- Diet & Nutrition- Oral Hygiene- Periodontal Disease- General Pathology- Oral Pathology & Oral Medicine- Microbiology- Immunology- Preventive Dentistry- Pharmacology & Therapeutics - Local Analgesia- Pain & Anxiety Control- Medical Emergencies and their Management- Tooth Deposits & Stains- Dental Caries- General Dentistry- Restorative Dentistry- Dental Biomaterials Science- Child Dental Health- Oral Surgery- Medical Disorders of Oral Significance- Dental Radiography- Dental Public Health- Behavioural Science & Communication Skills- First Aid - Preparation for Employment- Epidemiology- Law, Ethics & ProfessionalismA large part of the students’ time is spent on practical and clinical work, initially on phantom heads and then with patients. The second and third years are mainly clinical and students work under supervision as part of the dental team, with courses in oral medicine, oral pathology, restorative dentistry, children’s dentistry and prevention, general dentistry, radiography, practice and employment.The Dental Public Health syllabus includes visits to schools, other hospitals and clinics so that the student can gain wide practical experience. For short periods students will be placed in clinics of the Community Dental Service to give them an opportunity to experience the range of treatment provisions available. Students will be expected to pay their own travel expenses.Students are continually assessed during the course including end of term examinations. A First Year Examination must be passed before proceeding to second year. Any candidate repea

How much will it cost?
Students do not receive a salary but a grant may be awarded by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or the student’s own Local Education Authority(LEA). Tuition fees for the course are £1,700 per year. Students will be responsible for any portion of the tuition fee not paid by funding authorities. It is the responsibility of the student to organise any financial assistance, not the School.

Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements are:1. Five Scottish Standard Grades at Grade 3 or above, plus at least three Scottish Highers at Grade C or above.or2. Five GCSE passes at Grade C or above, plus two ‘A’ level passes at Grade E or above.The five Scottish Standard Grade passes or five GCSE passes should include English and Biology or Human Biology with three other separate subjects.Applicants for places on the course should normally be aged 18 years or over. A high standard of health is required. Successful applicants will need to pass a medical examination and Hepatitis B vaccination must be up to date with the relevant documents from a UK source as proof.

Equipment and Materials
All students are required to wear a uniform for clinical work. Tops and trousers are supplied by the hospital for the duration of the course. Flat navy blue shoes must be provided by the students.Students are given a booklist and are expected to purchase most of their own textbooks.

Year	Papers	Points
1st year	DAHP 103 DAHP 104 DAHP 105 DAHP 106 Three of ANTH 103, BIOC 111, BIOL 111, BIOL 115, CHEM 112, COMF 111, EDUC 102, ENGL 124, MAOR 102, PHSI 110, PSYC 111, or other approved papers	18 18 18 18 54
2nd year	DAHP 202 DAHP 203 DHYG 204 DHYG 205	30 24 30 36
3rd year	DAHP 301 DHYG 301 DAHP 302 DHYG 302 DHYG 303	18 12 12 18 6

The Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy is part of the School of Clinical Dentistry. This 27 month full-time course has been offered by the University of Sheffield since 1996 and enables students to gain professional accreditation as dental hygienists and dental therapists. The course has one intake per year in April. The next intake you can apply for is April 2010.

Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque and tartar from teeth in order to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Severe gum disease causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss.

Generally, dentists recommend that teeth be cleaned professionally at least twice per year. Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling, tooth polishing, and, if too much tartar has built up, debridement. This is usually followed by a fluoride treatment for children and adults.

Between cleanings by a dental hygienist, good oral hygiene is essential for preventing tartar build-up which causes the problems mentioned above. This is done by carefully and frequently brushing with a toothbrush and the use of dental floss to prevent accumulation of plaque on the teeth.

The use of dental floss is an important element of the oral hygiene, since it removes the plaque and the decaying food remaining stuck between the teeth. This food decay and plaque cause irritation to the gums, allowing the gum tissue to bleed more easily. Flossing for a proper inter-dental cleaning is recommended at least once per day, preferably before bedtime, to help prevent receding gums, gum disease, and cavities between the teeth.