Outline
Outline
Promote oral health in the community and provide a range of clinical services, including dental examinations, preventative treatments, scaling and cleaning, the management of gum disease, fillings, simple extractions for children, dental radiography, taking dental impressions and a range of orthodontic duties.
This course starts with a study of preventive dentistry and oral health therapy techniques, together with relevant health, research and communication units that form part of your interprofessional first year.
In your second and third years your studies will combine theory, practical sessions and clinical practice.
You will undertake more than 750 hours of clinical training during the course in a variety of settings such as the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, community clinics, private dental practices and the Dental Health Services’ clinic.
When you graduate you will have the practical industry skills and experience you need to start your career in oral health therapy with confidence.
Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.
What jobs can the Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) lead to?
Careers
- Oral health therapist
Industries
- General and specialist private dental practices
- Government school dental clinics
What you’ll learn
- provide appropriate patient care and dental health education by applying sound clinical principles and behaviour management techniques conducive to good oral health
- use problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills in the management of oral disease in individuals and the community
- identify oral disease, gather and interpret data and synthesise information to develop appropriate preventive and treatment approaches as part of the overall needs of individuals
- communicate effectively with other health professionals, patients and various target groups
- use new and existing technologies relevant to dental practice in a responsible and effective manner
- utilise lifelong learning skills to help foster ongoing personal and professional development
- promote the oral health and general health of individuals and the community by working collaboratively, sharing knowledge and considering different perspectives
- demonstrate cultural awareness and understanding in the provision of patient care
- practice in a professional and ethical manner as part of the dental team and critically reflect on care provided.
Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) application requirements
If you’re looking to apply for our Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy), please refer to our admission requirements before completing your application.
Things to know before you apply
- Selection is based on academic performance.
- As in most dentally related courses contact hours are high and additional clinical hours are required during inter-semester breaks.
- Curtin requires you to be screened for and vaccinated against, a number of communicable diseases before commencing fieldwork. There is an onus on individual students to be aware of their immunity or carrier status in relation to communicable diseases. Depending on the status of any communicable disease there is the possibility that you may not be able to complete the clinical placement requirements of the course. Students who are carriers of blood-borne viruses are not permitted to perform some procedures on patients. Serological testing must, therefore, be completed prior to or during the first semester of study in the course and the results communicated to the area Administrative Assistant.
- Students are required to practice techniques on one another before being permitted to move into patient care.
- You must complete a Senior First Aid Certificate course before you proceed to your second semester.
- There is some travel involved with different aspects of the program delivered on the Perth campus, at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (Nedlands) and at Dental Health Services (Mt Henry).
You can read more about the requirements by downloading the Inherent Requirements PDF.
Non-registrable overseas dentists
A maximum of 2 non-registrable overseas dentists whose qualifications entitle them to entry to Curtin will be considered for the Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) intake. Non-registrable overseas dentists may wish to consider sitting the current examination for registration as a practising dentist or applying for admission to the School of Dentistry at UWA.
Back to Oral Health Therapy
- Minimum ATAR: 83 (This figure refers to the ATAR level below which an application will not be considered. This is not a guarantee of admission)
- Location: Bentley or Nedlands (This course may not be offered at all locations every year).
- Study method: Full-time
- Study mode: On-campus
- Intake: February
- Duration 3 years full-time
Promote oral health in the community and provide a range of clinical dental services, including fillings and simple extractions for children, dental radiography, and scaling and cleaning.
The course starts with a study of preventive dentistry and oral health therapy techniques, together with relevant health, research and communication units that form part of your interprofessional first year.
In your second and third years, you will further develop your knowledge and your studies will combine theory, practical sessions and clinical practice. Clinical practice starts in your second year and continues throughout your third year.
Places in this program are limited. Selection is based on a combination of academic performance and interview. Interviews can be completed by distance if required and are normally held in December and early January.
Professional recognition:
Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as an oral health therapist with the Dental Board of Australia.
Credit for previous study:
If you have previously worked or studied in this field, you are encouraged to contact the Faculty of Health Sciences to discuss eligibility for credit for recognised learning.
Career opportunities:
This course can help you become a:
– Dental Therapist
– Dental Hygienist
This course can help you become a Dental Therapist or Dental Hygienist.
Possible careers:
Oral Health Therapist.
Oral health therapists perform a range of clinical dental procedures and have an important role in the prevention of oral disease through community engagement and interaction with patients on a one-to-one basis.
Upon graduation oral health therapists may find employment in areas such as government, private and specialist dental practices. There is a strong demand for these professionals in rural and regional areas.
They use a range of specialised dental equipment to look inside the mouth, clean teeth, perform fillings and take impressions.
Ideal skills include*:
– good hand-eye coordination
– manual dexterity
– good communication skills
– the ability to work as part of a team.
Why Oral Health Therapy?
– This course is the only one of its kind in Western Australia
– You can study in dedicated facilities in the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia
– You can gain experience in a variety of settings such as the Department of Dental Hygiene and Therapy’s clinic, Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, community clinics, private dental practices and the Dental Health Services’ clinic.
