Oral Health - Course 3, 6 credits

University Diploma in Dental Hygiene equivalent to 120 credits. For admission to the course, at least 20 credits from semester 1 must be completed.

Students who fail a clinical placement (or equivalent) as a result of demonstrating such a serious lack of knowledge, skills or attitude that patient safety or the patients' confidence in medical care is at risk, will only be qualified for a new clinical placement once the individual action plan has been carried out.

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Show knowledge of behavioural science and understanding of the preventive work with the oral health and the general health
• Discuss risk factors for cariologic and periodontal diseases in relation to the general health and the influence of the general condition on the oral health based on evidence-based methods

Skills and ability

• Independently and in collaboration with a dental practitioner plan and carry out complicated patient treatment with caries and periodontitis based on evidence-based methods
• Independently plan and carry out patient treatment on children and adolescents
• Cooperate with other professions

Values and approach

• Evaluate and justify choice as well as take consider ethical aspects at individual patient treatment
• Reflect on oral health related measures from a social perspective.

The course consists of two modules:

This module includes theoretical aspects regarding effect of oral illness on systemic diseases, risk patients' special needs at preventive care and treatment as well as the importance of a holistic perspective on patients. Current research in the fields is discussed during the course.

This module includes clinical treatment of patients with serious periodontal and cariologic diseases as well as treatment of children and adolescents. Cooperation with other professions is also included.

Lectures, seminars, group work, clinical observation, clinical proficiency training, participation in external information activity and individual studies.

Seminars, group work, clinical observation and clinical proficiency training are compulsory.

The course coordinator decides whether, and if so how, absence can be made up. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the course coordinator. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Oral health, theory, 2 credits
Individually written assignment as well as oral presentation in seminar.

Late submission of the written assignment means that the student cannot get the grade Pass with Distinction. A failed written assignment may be supplemented to obtain a pass grade.
 
Oral health, clinical studies, 4 credits
1. Oral presentation in seminar.
2. Structured clinical observation tests (SCOT).
3. Continuous assessment of the student's clinical patient activity during the course.

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

The grade Pass with Distinction for the entire course requires the grade Pass with Distinction for the module Oral health, theory and grade Pass for the module Oral health, clinical studies.

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. Each occasion the student participates in the same examination counts as an examination. Submission of a blank exam paper is regarded as an examination occasion. In case a student is registered for an examination but does not attend, this is not regarded as an examination. If the student has not passed after three examination, it is recommended that the student re-takes the course at the next regular course date.

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 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.

The course will be offered for the last time in the spring semester of 2023 and will then be cancelled. Examination will be provided until the spring of 2024 for students who have not completed the course.