Oral Health - Course 2, 12 credits

University Diploma in Dental Hygiene equivalent to 120 credits.

Students who have failed in the clinical placement or the equivalent as a consequence of demonstrating serious deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitude, that the patient's safety or confidence in healthcare have been at risk is qualified for new placement only when the individual action plan has been completed.

Pedodontics 4.5 credits
After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Carry out medical check-ups and treatment of children and adolescents
• Independently investigate, motivate and carry out basic and additional prophylactic measures at individual and societal group levels for children and youths.
• Independently carry out preventive programmes including oral hygiene, nutrition, fluorides and anti-bacterial substances for children and youths.

Geriatric dentistry, 3 credits
After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Give an account of the state of health and its related factors and be able to assess the nursing need and carry out nursing care planning of older patients
• Carry out an oral care assessment and suggest measures for older patients, as well as make an assessment of prognosis
• Reflect on the older patient's oral health from a holistic perspective and evaluate ethical issues and socio-economic conditions
• Cooperate with other disciplines concerning the older patient and give an account of the importance of this cooperation

Cariology 1.5 credits
After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Give an account of anti-bacterial treatment of the caries disease
• Describe advanced diagnostic methods for caries

Periodontology 3 credits
After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Give an account of evidence-based research about risk factors for periodontal disease
• Reflect on patient cases in collaboration with dental students

The aim of the course is to broaden and deepen the student's knowledge in pedodontics, geriatric dentistry, cariology and periodontology and proficiencies in pedodontics.

This module includes theoretical teaching of prevention and treatment methods and clinical training in how to investigate, motivate and carry out preventive measures on children and adolescents.

This module includes oral and dental care for both the healthy and sick elderly individual, and of the organisation of the care. The topic-specific contents treat the disease panorama, use of drugs and professional nursing of the elderly. Focus is on maintaining an optimal oral health under different conditions and in collaboration with other care disciplines, as well as to encourage the individual to self-care.

This module includes anti-bacterial treatments of the caries disease and advanced methods of diagnosing caries for monitoring preventive treatment of caries.

This module focuses on evidence-based treatments related to assessment of risk and prognosis of patients with periodontitis. It also includes cooperation with dental students and discussions of patient cases based on the treatment plan and treatment.

The teaching methods are lectures, seminars, demonstrations, clinical observation, group work, clinical proficiency training and self-study.

Seminars, demonstrations, clinical observation, exercises and clinical proficiency training are compulsory.

Pedodontics 4.5 credits
Seminar with presentation of patient case. Clinical examination

Geriatric dentistry 3 credits
Written examination Presentation of patient case at seminar.

Cariology 1.5 credits
Presentation of scientific article and oral presentation of given written questions.

Periodontology 3 credits
Seminar with presentation of evidence-based research. Individually written assignment

To pass the course, attendance at compulsory course elements is also required.

To receive a grade of pass with distinction for the whole course, a pass with distinction is required for the modules Pedodontics and Geriatric dentistry and a pass grade for the modules Cariology and Periodontology.

Students who do not pass a regular examination are entitled to re-sit the examination on five more occasions. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination is given.

The examiner may, with immediate effect, interrupt a student's clinical placement (or equivalent) if the student demonstrates such serious deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitude that patient safety or patient confidence in healthcare is at risk. If a clinical placement is interrupted in this way the student is deemed to have failed that element and to have used up one clinical placement opportunity. In such cases, an individual action plan should be set up stating which activities and tests are required before the student is qualified for a new clinical placement on the course. The number of tests in the action plan is limited to three.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

The course will be offered for the last time in the autumn semester of 2022 and will then be cancelled. Examination will be provided until the autumn of 2023 for students who have not completed the course.