Dental Hygiene
The dental hygienist works closely with other dental team members and healthcare professionals. Patients must first be examined by a dentist who will then indicate the treatment to be carried out by the dental hygienist.
| Award Name | Minor Diploma (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Minor |
| Awarding Body | University of Dublin |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Diploma (Level 7 NFQ) | Minor | University of Dublin | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
2 years full-time
Specific Subjects or course requirements
This is a restricted entry course
Applications must be submitted by 1 February 2024.
Applicants will receive a questionnaire in April to be completed and returned to the Academic Registry. No additional points are allocated for its completion, but if it is not returned, a place will not be offered Queries should be sent to academic.registry@tcd.ie.
Leaving Certificate
Applicants are required to present six subjects including:
English, mathematics, and one of physics, chemistry, biology, agricultural science or physics/chemistry.
Of the six subjects presented, two must be of a standard of at least grade 4 on higher Leaving Certificate papers. The remaining four subjects must be presented to a standard of at least grade 6 on ordinary Leaving Certificate papers.
All offers of admission to this course are made subject to health screening.
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
These modules are accepted for scoring purposes only and are awarded the following points: Distinction 66, Merit 46, Pass 28.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
There is an entry route to a number of degree programmes in Trinity for applicants presenting appropriate QQI/FET Level 5 or 6 Major Awards. Applicants presenting distinctions in five modules can be considered for admission.
Full information on courses with QQI entry routes, requirements etc., can be found at the link below.
QQI FET General Information Link
Careers / Further progression
Graduate skills and career opportunities
After qualifying as a dental hygienist, you will be able to:
› Describe the role of the dental hygienist and function within a dental team in oral health promotion and the provision of primary health care
› Plan, implement and evaluate oral educational activities for groups and individuals
› Carry out procedures to measure and assess the levels of oral health and oral hygiene
› De-bride and polish the teeth
› Place fissure sealants
› Apply fluoride-containing preparations and desensitising agents to the teeth
› Recognise abnormalities in the mouth and inform the dentist
› Take dental radiographs
› Administer local anaesthetic for dental hygiene procedures
› Place temporary dressings and re-cement crowns temporarily
The Diploma in Dental Hygiene conferred by Trinity entitles graduates to register immediately after graduation as a dental hygienist on the Register of the Irish Dental Council. This registration is mandatory for working as a dental hygienist in Ireland.
Most dental hygienists will work in general dental practices or within the public health service. The opportunity exists to teach or become involved in research. The opportunity to work abroad also exists but may require you to sit some local examinations in the country of choice. Further courses of study are available to dental hygienists, including the Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy.
Further information
EU Mature Students
Applications may also be considered from mature applicants who do not satisfy the academic entry requirements but can demonstrate appropriate experience relevant to the course.
All offers of admission to this course are made subject to health screening.
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
Please Refer to: http://www.tcd.ie/study/eu/undergraduate/
Places 2023: 8
Entry 2024 - Restricted Course
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.
Restricted Courses
Applying for a restricted course – you must have applied to CAO by 1 February 2024 at 5pm if you wish to apply for a restricted course. The restricted course must be included on your course choices list by that date, or added to your application using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm.
Restricted courses normally require additional assessment procedures, for example, the submission of a portfolio, an oral assessment or interview, or a written assessment. Restricted courses are identified in the handbook by the words “(Restricted - see page 3)" on the same line as the restricted course’s title. Please make sure to acquaint yourself with the additional requirements, if any, of the restricted course(s) that you have applied for and go to page 24 of the 2024 CAO Handbook for more information about interviews and assessments.
Exception: If a restricted course shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1 February 2024, you may be permitted to introduce it on a Change of Mind. You should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2024 at 5pm, and include course choices by that date or add them using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature
Supplementary Admission Routes
Applying for DARE and/or HEAR – to be considered for DARE and/or HEAR, applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1 February 2024 at 5pm. To apply to DARE, you must answer YES to Question 1 ('Do you wish to be considered for DARE?) on Section A of the fully completed Supplementary Information Form (SIF) by 5pm on 1 March 2024.
To apply to HEAR, you must indicate on your CAO application that you wish to apply for HEAR and fully and correctly complete all elements of the online HEAR form by 5pm on 1 March 2024.
Supporting documents for DARE and/or HEAR applicants must be sent to CAO offices before 15 March 2024 at 5pm
What is a Dental hygienist?
The dental hygienist works closely with other dental team members and healthcare professionals. Patients must first be examined by a dentist who will then indicate the treatment to be carried out by the dental hygienist. The dental hygienist focuses on preventative oral care for both children and adults, including those with special needs. Dental hygienists treat patients in the clinical setting to prevent or control periodontal (gum) disease and dental decay. They also engage in oral health promotional activities with individuals, targeted groups and other health care teams, providing advice and counseling in relation to diet and lifestyle habits such as smoking.
Dental Hygiene: The course for you
If you have an interest in working in oral health, and particularly preventative oral health, then this course is right for you. You will need to be able to develop good patient care skills, so an empathic personality is crucial for high standard service to the people in your care. You need to be a good team player and show initiative to achieve the best for people in your care.
Your diploma and what you’ll study
This two-year course is based in the Dublin Dental University Hospital at Trinity. It has academic, project-based and clinical components which are carried out in the Dublin Dental University Hospital, Health Services Executive and general hospital settings. Emphasis is on small-group interactive learning, health promotion projects, evidence-based learning, and clinical practice. You will be integrated with undergraduate dental science students and dental nursing students for some elements of the programme.
First year
Modules covered include:
› Introduction to Applied Clinical Science
› Introduction to Clinical Practice
› Clinical Practice and Health Promotion
Second year
Modules covered include:
› Health Promotion
› Evidence-Based Practice
› Clinical Practice
Assessment is by a combination of written assessments and examinations, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), a community-based health education project, competence tests in various clinical procedures, completion of various logbooks, clinical credits demonstrating a reasonable level of patient care, and a final written and clinical examination.
www.tcd.ie/dental
E natalie.mcgettigan@dental.tcd.ie