Advocate for oral health  

Oral health is an essential component of a healthy life. Complex dental work contributes to this, but proper care and prevention are just as important.

While dentists perform specialised treatments, oral health therapists have broad expertise in general oral health care and education.

What will you do?

Our Bachelor of Oral Health is an evidence-based degree that prepares you for providing general oral health care and health promotion. You will:     

• learn in Australia’s newest dental teaching hospital, in the state-of-the-art Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences building
• study within a close-knit oral health learning community
• benefit from early clinical exposure and extensive placements
• practise using equipment in our Dental Simulation Clinic
• tackle real-life case scenarios in teams
• improve lives through community outreach programs.

Where could it take you?

You will be part of providing high quality clinical care for all ages. You might develop hygiene maintenance programs for people managing chronic gum pain. You could advise on public health policy or design and implement educational campaigns. Perhaps you’ll open an oral health clinic with a team of oral health therapists and dentists you’re yet to meet at the University of Adelaide. 


Note:
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required.  if you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.

The curriculum of the Bachelor of Oral Health has an overall educational approach centred on case-based learning, small group learning and self-directed learning. The emphasis on learning relevant scientific information throughout the degree occurs concurrently with the development of clinical skills. Case-based scenarios aim to provide a realistic context for student learning and have been designed to integrate with material presented in the four focus areas in a coordinated approach.

Students are introduced to dental scenarios from day one and have hands-on experience of many aspects of clinical dentistry during the  first semester of first year. This learning approach develops problem solving strategies, a disciplinary knowledge base and professional skills. Students play an active role as a problem solver confronted with an issue/patient scenario, which mirrors a real-world situation. In many examples, the students study real-life cases.

From first year, students will undertake compulsory clinical placements in a range of settings, including community dental clinics located in metropolitan Adelaide and rural South Australia.

There are four focus areas in the Bachelor of Oral Health that continue throughout the three year degree:

• Dental and Health Science
• Human Biology
• Clinical Practice
• Professional Studies

An Oral Health research project is undertaken by students in third year and provides the opportunity to focus on a major area of interest that will enhance a student’s role as an oral health professional.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Example Study Plan

Below is an indicative study plan for the Bachelor of Oral Health.

Career Readiness

It is envisaged that most graduates of the degree will work as an oral health therapist, providing prevention, basic dentistry and periodontal maintenance. Graduates form a vital part of the dental team and provide preventive and general dental care for the population in both public and private sectors.

Potential career paths include:
> oral health therapy
> dental therapy, dental hygiene
> health promotion
> early childhood to geriatric dentistry
> health administration
> Indigenous studies
> special needs
> dental health research
> postgraduate studies.

In order to be able to register as an oral health therapist with the Dental Board of Australia, all applicants must be able to demonstrate English language skills at IELTS academic level 7 or the equivalent.  Learn more  

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.

1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
3. Teamwork and communication skills
4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
5. Intercultural and ethical competency
6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
7. Digital capabilities
8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Industry Placement

From first year, students undertake compulsory clinical placements in a range of metropolitan and rural settings. These compulsory placements can extend beyond the academic year and can include after-hours and weekend work.

Professional Accreditation

The Bachelor of Oral Health is accredited by the Dental Board of Australia.

Graduate Registration

To be eligible to work in Australia, Bachelor of Oral Health graduates are required to register with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on the completion of the degree. To gain professional registration through AHPRA and register as an oral health therapist with the Dental Board of Australia, all applicants must comply with the English language skills requirements as determined by AHPRA. For further details, visit ahpra.gov.au/Registration.aspx 

Graduates are also eligible for membership of the Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association and the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia.

International applicants should note that successful completion of this degree may not qualify them to practise/register in their home country. Students will have to contact the relevant health registration bodies of their home country for further information.

 

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Dental Therapist;  Oral Health Therapist;  Health Promotion Professional;  Dental Hygienist

Successful completion of an Australian year 12 qualification with a minimum pass in an accepted English language subject

IELTS: Overall band score of 7.0 and Band score of 7.0 in all bands; TOEFL total score of 94 with a minimum of 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Reading and Listening; Pearson Test of English (Academic) overall score of 65 and Skills profile of 65 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening; and Cambridge English-Advanced (CAE): Overall score of 185 and Individual score of 185 in Writing and Speaking, Reading and Listening.