Dental hygienists perform a valuable role looking after the oral health of patients and in providing non-surgical periodontal therapy and health promotion. Some wish to increase the scope of restorative tasks that they can perform. To help them do this, The Greater Manchester School for Dental Care Professionals is providing the next course due to commence in January 2012.

Course outline
The course will be for three days per week and will run for 36 weeks spread over a full year to enable hygienists to continue their current employment. Some of the course is by self-directed learning which can be undertaken when convenient for the student.

Course Content
The course will provide extensive hands-on components and will prepare candidates for the Diploma in Dental Therapy of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. On registration, in addition to the duties they perform as registered dental hygienists, they will be able to work in any branch of dentistry and will be able to:

• Recognise caries
• Take dental radiographs
• Whiten teeth
• Prepare and place restorations in primary and permanent teeth
• Pulp treat primary teeth
• Place pre-formed metal crowns on primary teeth
• Replace temporary crowns and fillings
• Take impressions

They will also be prepared to perform other duties permitted by the General Dental Council.

The course has a initial Clinical Skills Course which lasts for thirteen weeks. During this time there will be lectures, seminars, practical work on phantom heads and self-directed study. Following satisfactory completion, the student will then progress to provide care for patients at Community Dental Clinics within Salford and the School’s purpose built clinical centre in Eccles.

Entry requirements
A prospective student must have: -

• Current registration with the GDC as a Dental Hygienist
• Evidence of recent [within 5 years] academic/professional study – the course is academically challenging.  It is vital that all students are able to demonstrate their ability to meet these challenges.  This is best done by providing evidence of recent in-depth study of some kind.
• Dental radiography certificate
• Evidence of continued CPD

Assessment
The course will be assessed by direct observation of practice and oral questioning, together with a witnessed and signed off clinical skills log. The final examination will comprise written, practical and clinical elements. Each student will give a presentation about the treatment they have provided for a selection of patients for whom they have provided care.

How to apply
To add your details to the database for the next available course, either contact the school via the online enquiry system or telephone the school office.

Finance
To be advised on request.