Outline
Outline
Promote oral health in the community and provide a range of clinical services, including dental examinations, preventative treatments, scaling and cleaning, the management of gum disease, fillings, simple extractions for children, dental radiography, taking dental impressions and a range of orthodontic duties.
This course starts with a study of preventive dentistry and oral health therapy techniques, together with relevant health, research and communication units that form part of your interprofessional first year.
In your second and third years your studies will combine theory, practical sessions and clinical practice.
You will undertake more than 750 hours of clinical training during the course in a variety of settings such as the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, community clinics, private dental practices and the Dental Health Services’ clinic.
When you graduate you will have the practical industry skills and experience you need to start your career in oral health therapy with confidence.
Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.
What jobs can the Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) lead to?
Careers
- Oral health therapist
Industries
- General and specialist private dental practices
- Government school dental clinics
What you’ll learn
- provide appropriate patient care and dental health education by applying sound clinical principles and behaviour management techniques conducive to good oral health
- use problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills in the management of oral disease in individuals and the community
- identify oral disease, gather and interpret data and synthesise information to develop appropriate preventive and treatment approaches as part of the overall needs of individuals
- communicate effectively with other health professionals, patients and various target groups
- use new and existing technologies relevant to dental practice in a responsible and effective manner
- utilise lifelong learning skills to help foster ongoing personal and professional development
- promote the oral health and general health of individuals and the community by working collaboratively, sharing knowledge and considering different perspectives
- demonstrate cultural awareness and understanding in the provision of patient care
- practice in a professional and ethical manner as part of the dental team and critically reflect on care provided.
Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) application requirements
If you’re looking to apply for our Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy), please refer to our admission requirements before completing your application.
Things to know before you apply
- Selection is based on academic performance.
- As in most dentally related courses contact hours are high and additional clinical hours are required during inter-semester breaks.
- Curtin requires you to be screened for and vaccinated against, a number of communicable diseases before commencing fieldwork. There is an onus on individual students to be aware of their immunity or carrier status in relation to communicable diseases. Depending on the status of any communicable disease there is the possibility that you may not be able to complete the clinical placement requirements of the course. Students who are carriers of blood-borne viruses are not permitted to perform some procedures on patients. Serological testing must, therefore, be completed prior to or during the first semester of study in the course and the results communicated to the area Administrative Assistant.
- Students are required to practice techniques on one another before being permitted to move into patient care.
- You must complete a Senior First Aid Certificate course before you proceed to your second semester.
- There is some travel involved with different aspects of the program delivered on the Perth campus, at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (Nedlands) and at Dental Health Services (Mt Henry).
You can read more about the requirements by downloading the Inherent Requirements PDF.
Non-registrable overseas dentists
A maximum of 2 non-registrable overseas dentists whose qualifications entitle them to entry to Curtin will be considered for the Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) intake. Non-registrable overseas dentists may wish to consider sitting the current examination for registration as a practising dentist or applying for admission to the School of Dentistry at UWA.
Back to Oral Health Therapy
Curtin University
is an innovative, global university known for its high impact research, strong
industry partnerships and commitment to preparing you for the jobs of the
future.
Rankings
Our international expansion and strong research focus have
seen us rise rapidly up the international rankings in recent years, maintaining
our place in the top 1% of universities globally (ARWU 2021).
We are ranked 194 th in the QS World University
Rankings 2022, and have achieved a QS Five Stars Plus rating, the highest
available for a tertiary institution. We are recognised for the quality of our
programs, ranking 2nd in the world for mineral and mining engineering and 50th
for Earth and Marine Sciences in the QSWUR by Subject 2021.
We are Western Australia’s top public university for
graduate and postgraduate employment, according to the Good Universities Guide
2021.
Research
As a university with an established reputation for innovation, Curtin excels in a diverse range of research areas that aim to make tomorrow better for people all over the world.
We are involved with more than 70 research centres and collaborations – including the high-profile Space Science and Technology Centre, the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, the Centre for Crop and Disease Management, and the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.
In the most recent national research assessment, Excellence in Research for Australia, we performed strongly, with 95 per cent of our research areas assessed ‘at or above world-class level’.
Explore your global opportunities
Curtin’s
campuses are thriving places of community and innovation. You’ll be
connected with a diverse student community and benefit from a global
perspective.
Our largest campus, Curtin Perth, is based in Western
Australia, and we have additional campuses in Western Australia, Malaysia,
Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius.
As a Curtin student, you’ll have the opportunity to study at
another Curtin campus or at one of our many partner universities in Africa,
Asia, Europe, North America or South America. You’ll get to experience other
cultures and build an international network that will prove invaluable both
personally and professionally.
Curtin Exchange
Exchange is Curtin University’s first dedicated industry-connected innovation precinct. Located at the northern end of Curtin’s Perth Campus, it is home to our new School of Design and the Built Environment, two new student accommodation buildings: St Catherine’s College and UniLodge Twin Dolphin Hall, a hotel and residential apartments in addition to industry and retail space and recreational areas.
Benefit from immersive learning
Our undergraduate
and postgraduate degrees are designed in close collaboration with industry
experts to ensure you graduate with the skills and knowledge employers are
looking for. Throughout your study, you’ll be introduced to professional
settings through work integrated learning and internships.
At Curtin, you’ll hone your skills in learning environments that
simulate real workplaces, so you can step into your chosen career with
confidence.
Courses
Our degrees provide opportunities to choose from a range of subjects,
giving you the freedom to study towards your dream career and pursue personal study
interests at the same time.
Study Areas
Agriculture, environment and sustainability
Find out how we manage, preserve and protect the living
world, and turn your ideas into innovative solutions that address global
warming, food production and risks to flora and fauna.
Architecture and construction
Can you see the detail and beauty in structures and
buildings, both inside and out? Our courses help you create quality
environments in which people can live, work and play.
Arts, culture and creative industries
Lead with your imagination and hone your creative skills in
our excellent facilities. You can learn how to turn your creativity into a viable
business and make your mark on the world.
Business, management and law
Inspire others through leadership, grow your capabilities as
a manager, or pursue a career in law. Our courses are practical and applied,
offering direct input from industry leaders.
Culture, society and Indigenous
Learn the dynamics of different societies and cultures, study the written word and its applications and explore and discuss contemporary issues in today’s society.
Education
Teachers pass on knowledge, confidence and learning – both in
the classroom and beyond. Would you like to help others fulfil their potential?
Engineering, mining and surveying
Develop your problem-solving skills and learn to design,
construct and test machines, systems, structures, materials and processes.
Health
Our health degrees give you plenty of hands-on experience –
through fieldwork and placements in our clinics and research centres, and with
our industry partners.
Information technology
Grow your knowledge in programming computers, administering networks,
designing software and multimedia, and use artificial intelligence in real-life
situations.
Physical sciences, geoscience and mathematics
Learn in facilities where research and discovery abound, and
develop your expertise in future growth areas such as biochemistry, industrial modelling
or physics.
- Minimum ATAR: 83 (This figure refers to the ATAR level below which an application will not be considered. This is not a guarantee of admission)
- Location: Bentley or Nedlands (This course may not be offered at all locations every year).
- Study method: Full-time
- Study mode: On-campus
- Intake: February
- Duration 3 years full-time
Promote oral health in the community and provide a range of clinical dental services, including fillings and simple extractions for children, dental radiography, and scaling and cleaning.
The course starts with a study of preventive dentistry and oral health therapy techniques, together with relevant health, research and communication units that form part of your interprofessional first year.
In your second and third years, you will further develop your knowledge and your studies will combine theory, practical sessions and clinical practice. Clinical practice starts in your second year and continues throughout your third year.
Places in this program are limited. Selection is based on a combination of academic performance and interview. Interviews can be completed by distance if required and are normally held in December and early January.
Professional recognition:
Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as an oral health therapist with the Dental Board of Australia.
Credit for previous study:
If you have previously worked or studied in this field, you are encouraged to contact the Faculty of Health Sciences to discuss eligibility for credit for recognised learning.
Career opportunities:
This course can help you become a:
– Dental Therapist
– Dental Hygienist
This course can help you become a Dental Therapist or Dental Hygienist.
Possible careers:
Oral Health Therapist.
Oral health therapists perform a range of clinical dental procedures and have an important role in the prevention of oral disease through community engagement and interaction with patients on a one-to-one basis.
Upon graduation oral health therapists may find employment in areas such as government, private and specialist dental practices. There is a strong demand for these professionals in rural and regional areas.
They use a range of specialised dental equipment to look inside the mouth, clean teeth, perform fillings and take impressions.
Ideal skills include*:
– good hand-eye coordination
– manual dexterity
– good communication skills
– the ability to work as part of a team.
Why Oral Health Therapy?
– This course is the only one of its kind in Western Australia
– You can study in dedicated facilities in the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia
– You can gain experience in a variety of settings such as the Department of Dental Hygiene and Therapy’s clinic, Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, community clinics, private dental practices and the Dental Health Services’ clinic.
