2010 International Undergraduate Prospectus nts. u.au

40
Did you know?
Our strong research base
enables you to have access
to the latest knowledge
and expertise such as the
revolutionary remineralisation
product Recaldent TM .
You will undertake clinical work
at the Royal Dental Hospital of
Melbourne and in the final year,
clinical rotations are undertaken
at Community Clinics in city and
rural locations.
Bachelor of Oral Health students
develop health professional team
skills through shared teaching
with Dental Science students.
Bachelor of Oral Health
Duration
3 years full-time
Fees
See page 104
Campus
Parkville Campus
Entry requirements
See pages 119–127
About the Bachelor of
Oral Health
The Bachelor of Oral Health is a fixed
course with a dual (combined) vocational
outcome – therapy and hygiene – and is the
premier dental auxiliary course in Victoria
providing training for dental therapists and
dental hygienists.
The strong research base at the Melbourne
Dental School ensures you have access
to the latest knowledge and expertise. For
example, the revolutionary remineralisation
product Recaldent, which replaces
minerals in damaged teeth, was invented at
the School by Professor Eric Reynolds and
his research team.
The School is at the forefront of oral
health science research, with state-ofthe-art
technologies and international
collaborations. In recent years, the School
has attracted more research funding than
any other dental school in Australia and has
an enviable international research reputation
ranking alongside Harvard and Toronto.
You will be supported by friendly and helpful
staff and have access to a wide range of
student resources to help you in your
studies and in developing new friendship
networks:
>>Small-group learning and tutorials, which
bring together local students, overseas
students and tutors to work on problems
and to share their ideas and knowledge
>>Student societies, which provide valuable
networks through social activities and
peer support
>>The Brownless Biomedical Library, a
major specialist library with electronic
facilities and an extensive print-based
collection
>>Extensive scientific laboratories and
museums of anatomy and pathology, and
medical and dental history.
Careers
Students in the Bachelor of Oral Health
will develop all the technical skills required
for practice as either a dental hygienist
or dental therapist. These include:
communication and interpersonal skills;
evaluation and advocacy skills; analytical
and problem-solving skills; critical thinking
skills; respect for intellectual integrity
and scientific truth; planning and timemanagement
skills; self-directed learning
skills; leadership skills; appreciation of, and
sensitivity to, cultural diversity.
Bachelor of Oral Health graduates provide
dental care in a collaborative and referral
relationship with a dentist and work as
dental therapists and hygienists in both
the public and private sectors, general
and specialist practice and oral health
promotion and teaching. Specifically
dental therapists: provide dental care for
children and adolescents; examine oral and
dental conditions, restore and conserve
permanent and deciduous teeth and
perform extractions of deciduous teeth and
remove calculus. Dental hygienists: provide
dental care for all age groups; examine and
record the nature and severity of periodontal
conditions and clean, scale and rootplane
teeth. Both therapists and hygienists
undertake dental health promotion, a range
of orthodontic and preventive procedures,
including impressions, topical fluoride
applications and fissure sealants and take
and interpret radiographs.
Bachelor of Oral Health graduates typically
find employment as dental therapists
or dental hygienists in private practice,
public hospitals and the health services.
Employment prospects are excellent as
there is an ongoing demand for dental
therapists or dental hygienists.
Professional and international
degree recognition
The Bachelor of Oral Health is recognised
throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Graduates are eligible for membership
of the Therapists’ and Hygienists’
Associations. International applicants
are advised to check with the registering
authorities in their home countries whether
this degree is an acceptable qualification
to practise as a dental therapist or dental
hygienist.
Bachelor of Oral Health graduates typically
find employment as dental hygienists or
dental therapists in private practice, public
hospitals and the health services.
Knowledge transfer
Connecting with other students,
industry and the community
Second- and final-year Bachelor of Oral
Health students are rostered to the Royal
Dental Hospital of Melbourne, other major
hospitals in Melbourne, some urban
community clinics and the Goulburn Valley
Health and Rumbalara Aboriginal Health
clinics in rural Victoria.