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 Oral Health Therapy lead to?
Careers
- Oral health therapist
Industries
- General and specialist private dental practices
- Government school dental clinics
What you'll learn
- identify oral disease and synthesise information to develop appropriate preventive and treatment plans to support the oral health needs of individuals, including special care
- apply problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills in the management of oral disease in individuals and the community, utilising contemporary technologies relevant to dental practice in a responsible and effective manner
- identify oral disease and synthesise information to develop appropriate preventive and treatment plans to support the oral health needs of individuals, including special care
- provide appropriate patient care and oral health education by applying evidence-based clinical principles and behaviour management techniques, and apply contemporary technologies relevant to dental practice in a responsible and effective manner
- communicate effectively with patients, key stake holders and other health professionals
- utilise lifelong learning skills promoting ongoing personal and professional development to offer the best possible care to individuals and the community
- promote oral health and general health of individuals and the community by working collaboratively and considering cultural differences
- demonstrate cultural awareness and promote equal access to preventive oral health care for the community
- practice in a professional and ethical manner as part of the dental team and critically reflect on care provided
