Course Descriptions

The Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene and the Associate Degree in School Dental Therapy both run over 2 academic years and are available only on a full-time basis. Both courses commence with a study of relevant biomedical sciences together with preventive dentistry and preclinical dental hygiene/school dental therapy techniques. These subjects are developed with behavioural units in second year and cover a broad field relating to practical and clinical aspects of dental hygiene and to community dentistry.

In the first year students study:

Details of units studied in the Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene may be found at

http://www.handbook.curtin.edu.au/courses/15/150221.html  and at http://www.handbook.curtin.edu.au/unitList.html

Details of units studied in the Associate Degree in School Dental Therapy may be found at

http://www.handbook.curtin.edu.au/courses/30/302930.html  and at http://www.handbook.curtin.edu.au/unitList.html

Contact hours

As in most dental courses contact hours are high. The contact hours in first year are approximately 24 hours per week for Dental Hygiene and 27 hours / week for School Dental Therapy. The contact hours in second year are approximately 30 hours / week for Dental Hygiene and 33 hours / week for School Dental Therapy. Both courses involve additional weeks of study outside of normal semesters.

Clinical practice

Practical sessions run throughout the two years. Clinical experience commences late in the second semester and continues through the second year. Clinical practice is undertaken in a variety of settings. Dental Hygiene students mainly undertake clinical practice in the Department’s clinic and in the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia clinics, with occasional visits to private dental practices. School Dental Therapy students mainly undertake clinical practice in the Dental Health Services’ clinic at Mt Henry and the Department's clinic, with occasional visits to private dental practices.

Location and travel

There is some travel involved in both courses. The Dental Hygiene course is delivered at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia with approximately one half day per week at the Bentley campus and occasional travel to private dental clinics in the Perth area in the second year. In the first year, most of the School Dental Therapy course is delivered at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia with approximately one half day per week at the Bentley campus and one half day per week at Dental Health Services, Mt Henry. In the second year, most of the School Dental Therapy course is delivered at Dental Health Services, Mt Henry with approximately one half day per week at the Bentley campus, one half day per week at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia and occasional travel to private dental clinics in the Perth area.

Special requirements

Students are required to practice techniques on one another before being permitted to move into patient care. Prospective students will need to be able to work as part of a team and should enjoy communicating and establishing rapport with persons of all cultural backgrounds and ages. A certificate showing successful completion of a Senior First Aid Certificate is required before students proceed to second semester studies. For future employment, candidates for School Dental Therapy must be aware of the need to undertake a period of country service with Dental Health Services.

Course expenses

The main course costs for both courses are the prevailing Student Contributions* required by the Commonwealth Government for higher education http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/ and   http://www.fees.curtin.edu.au/index.cfm. In addition students are liable for a number of other course expenses, including the cost of protective clinical uniform and shoes and the cost of text books / course manuals. Dental Hygiene students also purchase and retain some clinical instruments. For further details of other fees and charges refer to http://www.fees.curtin.edu.au/otherfeescharges.cfm.

*Approximately 50% of the unit load in the second year of the School of Dental Therapy course is exempt from the Student Contributions because Dental Health services, as the employer of the School of Dental Therapy graduates, provide a large part of the clinical training. In addition School Dental Therapy students are paid a stipend by Dental Health Services (currently approximately $1700). In return, School Dental Therapy graduates are required to undertake a minimum period of 2 years country service.

Infectious diseases

Dental professionals may be exposed to serious infectious conditions like Hepatitis B and C, and TB. Please refer to the Division of Health Sciences website for details of required vaccinations http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/students/Immunisation/index.cfm. Standards of infection control in the Department's clinic are extremely high.

Criminal Record Screening and Working With Children Clearance

Students are advised that a Criminal Record Screening and a Working with Children Clearance is a requirement for clinical practice. For further details refer to http://handbook.curtin.edu.au/academic.html .