Degree Programme in Dental Hygiene: PSUUNS15

Descriptions

PROGRAMME
Dental Hygienist

DEGREE
Dental Hygienist

EXTENT OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
The total extent of the degree programme is 210 credits and this equals 3.5 years of full-time studies.

STUDY OBJECTIVES
The education focuses on oral health examinations, the promotion and maintenance of oral health, the prevention and care of oral diseases, and certain specialised dentistry services, such as orthodontic therapy. Dental hygienists work in health care organisations and as self-employed entrepreneurs. Job opportunities include oral health care specialist jobs in fields such as marketing, management, research and development.

STRUCTURE OF STUDIES AND STUDY CONTENTS
The studies consist of basic and professional studies, practical training to promote professional skills, a Bachelor’s thesis with a related maturity test and elective studies. The studies are based on modules. A module provides a level of competence that requires more than one course to achieve.

Basic studies (30 cr) provide students with the capacity to fully exploit the opportunities offered by a multidisciplinary higher education community. A further goal of basic studies is to achieve the required knowledge of languages as laid down in the Finnish Polytechnics Decree (352/2003, section 8).

The knowledge achieved through professional studies (70 cr) ensures that students master the theory of oral health care and become qualified professionals with the competence to work as dental hygiene specialists. A further goal is to provide students with adequate skills to run a business of their own, participate in the improvement of the work community and work as immediate supervisors. The studies include courses taught in a foreign language (15 cr) and participation in RDI (research, development and innovation) projects.

During the practical training periods (75 cr), students integrate the knowledge acquired through professionals studies into their own work. Students attend practical training each semester in a simulation environment and various social services and health care units. Studies in the school’s own learning environment are project-oriented.

In the Bachelor’s thesis (20 cr), students demonstrate their capacity for independent work and their ability to use research-based information with a critical perspective. Bachelor’s theses are written as part of job-oriented research and development projects. The maturity test is a demonstration of competence in the field of the student’s Bachelor’s thesis. Students demonstrate their knowledge of the field of study and their communicative skills.

Students choose 15 credits worth of elective studies. The purpose of elective studies is to expand or deepen students’ competence in oral health care and support their professional development.

Studies provided through the Open University of Applied Sciences are specified each year and recorded in the implementation plans.

The innovation competencies specified by Turku University of Applied Sciences for individual, community and network levels, including their applications, are a central component of studies. The education focuses on the acquisition of an extensive and advanced level of knowledge in the field of study, with an in-depth understanding of the theory of oral health care and the most important methods.

Dental hygienists must be capable of making decisions in different and unexpected operating environments. “Good communicative skills” refer to the use of a foreign language and communication to the public.

A dental hygienist’s professional competence consists of the following components:

health promotion
oral health care work
safety in oral health care work and the environment
developmentand leadership of oral health care
Dental hygienists promote health by coaching a customer or groups of customers in the self-management of oral hygiene as part of one’s general health. In addition, they develop methods and procedures for the promotion of oral health and act as experts in their field.

The central elements of oral health care work include the observation of customers’ oral health by health examinations, the development of care plans and the provision and assessment of care. Competence related to the safety of the work and working environment particularly involves identifying technological and other physical, psychological and social stress factors and responding to these challenges through the means of oral health care.

The management and development of oral health care work involve activities related to a customer-driven approach of social and health care services and to operating models and quality assurance. Entrepreneurship is also included in these activities.

The studies are based on the multidisciplinary innovation paedagogics specified in the strategy of Turku University of Applied Sciences. This includes innovative teaching methods, various social learning environments, optional ways of taking courses, flexible curricula, international activity and an entrepreneurship-oriented approach. The studies include contact teaching and instruction, independent work and work placements. Electronic learning environments are exploited in the studies, as well as simulated environments and online learning platforms.

Research activities are stressed in the curricula; students are offered the opportunity to earn credits in RDI projects. Working in such projects gives them confidence to accept more and more challenging assignments.

EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK
The assessment of students is based on the competence requirements specified for the degree programme. The assessment is based on competence and its improvement. The elements being assessed include the learning process and, in many modules, the output of the student or a group of students. Assessment is based on a numeric scale or a pass/fail principle. Interactive methods are used for the assessment, including self-assessment, peer assessment and assessment by the teacher/instructor.Continuous assessment supports students’ own goal-setting and self-assessment, as well as the identification of one’s strengths and areas that need improvement. The implementation plans include a description of course-specific application.

During the studies, feedback is collected from students on learning and the realisation of the curriculum. In addition to module-specific feedback, general feedback is collected once in each term.Turku University of Applied Sciences implements all of its processes in accordance with its process descriptions and quality management model.

INTERNATIONALIZATION
The goal of international activity is to broaden students’ view of the world, so that they learn to understand different cultures and can work in a multicultural operating environment. International activities include taking courses taught in a foreign language, studying abroad, tutoring exchange students and participating in various seminars and projects. Students earn credits from studies and work placements abroad, and these credits are included in the Finnish degree.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
You will graduate as a dental hygienist. Employment rate at social- and health care sector is rather good. You can start working as an independent expert of dental health care and preventer of mouth's infections. During the education your skills for immediate superior tasks and research and development tasks will be improved. After graduation you may be working at health centres, hospitals, private dentist'spractices or as an entrepreneurer.

POSSIBLE JOBTITLES AFTER GRADUATION
Dental Hygienist.

POSTGRADUATE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
The bachelor degree provides opportunity to continue studies in the Master degree of University of Applied Science or Master degree in the University. In the Turku University of Applied Sciences it is possible to continue studies in the following master programmes:

Management and Leadership
Health Promotion