Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy BSc

Course overview

Our BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy course integrates clinical dentistry, science and professional development. You will graduate from Leeds as a highly qualified, well-equipped and insightful professional who can think critically and work independently. You will be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to practice as a General Dental Council defined Safe Practitioner Dental Hygienist and Therapist.

You will engage in clinical learning from an early stage so you can apply your academic knowledge to the clinical environment. You will develop your skills in clinical reasoning, communication and leadership, as well as your ability to work as part of a dental team. Clinical skills are developed using the latest simulation technology; following this, you will gain experience with real patients in a range of clinical environments.

Your learning will integrate key cultural and societal themes such as equality, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. You will learn about how to be a socially accountable practitioner with an understanding of population needs, including inequalities in the provision of dental care. You will be able to explore how research and service development advance our understanding of dental science and the improvement of patient care by undertaking a Capstone Project in your final year.

Becoming an effective and ethical professional is a key part of your experience on the course. You will learn to become resilient and adaptable, and identify your ongoing development needs. As a dental hygiene and dental therapy student you will be expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professional behaviours that will continue into your career.

Completing the course will demonstrate you have developed the skills needed to fulfil the role of a dental hygienist and dental therapist, in a range of settings within the dental profession.

Course highlights

The School of Dentistry, in partnership with Leeds Dental Institute, is one of only a few dental schools in the UK where the whole dental team (dentists, dental therapists, hygienists, technicians and dental nurses) is educated together.

The first two years of the course are co-taught with the first two years of the BChD Dental Surgery course. This encourages a community of learning and will prepare you to work as a member of the dental team, sharing experiences and sharing the care of patients.

You will benefit from early clinical experiences in your first year. Throughout your course you will have access to our recently refurbished School of Dentistry Clinical Skills Classroom and our Dental Haptic Simulator Classroom.

We use the latest digital scanning and printing technology to give you high-fidelity simulated learning experiences. You’ll also be able to experience the School’s Medical Emergency simulation room. This allows you to learn (with video feedback) and be assessed on the management of simulated dental emergencies.

We combine our simulated clinical skills teaching with your experience in the real patient environment. You will learn to manage the comprehensive dental care of child and adult patients in a range of environments, both within our central Dental Institute and at our outreach centres. You will have access to a diversity of patient populations with varied dental care needs.

We work in partnership with the University of Leeds Interdisciplinary Ethics Applied Centre to engage you in key professionalism and ethical issues. You will be challenged to think critically, and to understand how to apply the standards expected of all dental professionals in your everyday practice. This teaching is integrated alongside your growing clinical experiences.

The School is also at the forefront of scientific and clinical research, which directly benefit our patients and informs our research-led teaching. We are active in oral biological science, dental public health, digital dentistry and translational clinical science, as well as educational research. Students are encouraged to explore their areas of interest, and work with leading researchers and clinicians in the School as part of their Capstone project.

We feel it is important that all our students feel a sense of belonging in our School. We are especially proud of the School’s friendly and supportive atmosphere and our active, effective student-staff partnership work. We encourage students to give regular feedback on the course and to contribute to its development; there are multiple opportunities – both formal and informal – to do this.

As a Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy student, you will have the opportunity to be a member of the Leeds University Dental Student Society (DentSoc). This organises social and sports events, visits and talks throughout the year.

We are committed to supporting our students throughout the course. We have dedicated DenStudy and Student Support Teams who provide study and academic skills advice and pastoral care to our Dentistry students. These dedicated teams are able to give tailored support, and are easily accessible to our students.

All students have an academic personal tutor to guide and support them through the course. There is also a student-led support network that we call the ‘dental family’ approach. We want all our students to fulfil their potential, to thrive and to be successful.

Facilities

Throughout your course, you will have access to our recently refurbished School of Dentistry Clinical Skills Classroom and Dental Haptic Simulator Classroom. We use the latest digital scanning and printing technology to give you high-fidelity simulated learning experiences. You’ll also be able to experience the School’s Medical Emergency simulation room, where you will learn (with video feedback) and be assessed on the management of simulated dental emergencies.

A student common room, a faith room and a café are all situated within the Dental School for the benefit of our students.

The University of Leeds Health Science library is in the same building as the School of Dentistry, giving easy access to a range of learning resources and study spaces.

The course is accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC).

The GDC is the regulatory body for dental professionals in the UK. All dental professionals must be registered with the GDC to practice in the UK.

Successful completion of the course allows graduates to apply for GDC registration as a dental hygienist and dental therapist.

The GDC quality assures all courses which lead to registration as a dental professional. All graduates must have demonstrated they have met all GDC Safe Practitioner learning outcomes and behaviours. This includes all academic and clinical experience requirements. In addition, the GDC must be assured that all graduates are Fit to Practise in relation to health and professional conduct.

Our School has processes to ensure all graduates have met these requirements through academic and clinical assessments, as well as the continual monitoring of professional behaviours and conduct.

Code of Professional Conduct

Our School has a Code of Professional Conduct which it expects all students to sign-up to each year. It is important that students have awareness of the standards expected by the School and the General Dental Council. For example, there are standards expected in engagement with learning and attendance, as well as the use of social media. The General Dental Council has published guidance on professionalism (“Student Fitness to Practise” and “Standards for Dental Professionals”) which you can find on the GDC website.

Dress and Personal Appearance

The School of Dentistry has a dress policy to promote a clinical and professional appearance within our School and clinical placement facilities. Your dress and personal appearance must meet public expectations of a professional person and there are clinical dress requirements which must be followed.

Course details

The Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy course is structured around curriculum themes. You will study these throughout the course in a series of sequential modules.

We integrate learning across themes. For example, when you are learning about environmental sustainability, you will consider how this area relates to your everyday clinical practice, the ethical principles underpinning it, and the latest scientific research – as well as the wider responsibilities you will have as a dental professional.

The curriculum themes are:

Clinical Skills and Practice

This theme will focus on the development of your clinical knowledge, skills and behaviours. You will gain early exposure to the clinical environment, and learn how to apply the latest evidence-based knowledge, operative skills and professional behaviours to patient care. Later, you will have the opportunity to provide comprehensive care of your own patients, demonstrating the skills required of a Safe Practitioner.

Your clinical operative skills will be developed throughout this theme. You will start with sessions delivered in clinical skills classrooms with the latest dental haptic simulator facilities, using high-fidelity simulation techniques. You will gain clinical reasoning capabilities; these allow you to assess the dental needs of both adult and child patients, helping you create detailed dental care plans for dental therapist and dental hygienist treatment.

You will develop your understanding of the importance of patient education and preventive care. You will also experience the management of patients across a range of clinical areas (including restorative dentistry, children’s dentistry and oral radiography & radiology) and in a range of clinical settings including outreach placements.

The practice of professional behaviours is integral to this theme. You will be expected to communicate with patients and work within the dental team effectively in the clinical environment. You will also develop your cultural competence, learning from a diverse population of patients.

You will consider how the everyday practice of dentistry has an environmental and sustainability impact, and link this with your learning across the other themes. You will develop your skills as a reflective practitioner, and you will be able to demonstrate insight into your own capabilities and development needs.

Dental and Biomedical Science

This theme will focus on developing your understanding of the underpinning science and health factors which will inform your clinical dental practice. You will be taught by scientists who specialise in oral biology, pathology and dental materials, as well as specialist clinicians.

You will learn about underlying oral and systemic health and disease, including how the health of the mouth and body are inter-related. This will range from the molecular level to the entire organism, including topics such as cell biology, genetics, microbiology, infection and immunity. Your understanding will develop as you progress through this curriculum theme.

You will be exposed to the latest scientific findings, which are informing developments in areas such as disease mechanisms, antimicrobial resistance and dental materials science.

Personal and Professional Development

This theme will focus on your development as an accountable professional, who is able to understand the behaviours expected of a safe practitioner. It aims to expand your abilities as an insightful and effective learner, not only as a student but throughout the rest of your career. You will explore active learning approaches, reflecting on your experiences and taking ownership of your ongoing development.

You will improve your self-management skills; these include organising your time and managing your resilience through wellbeing techniques, and knowing when to seek support. Being an effective and supportive member of the dental team also means focusing on your leadership and followership skills.

You will develop your understanding of the standards expected of a dental professional, learning about the ethical principles that these standards are built on. You will have the opportunity to engage in discussion of scenarios with both teacher clinicians and ethicists within the University, who will encourage you to challenge your assumptions and thinking.

Ethical principles encompass key societal and cultural transformation issues such as equality, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. You will consider how these issues inform your practice as a dental professional.

This theme will culminate in your preparation for the next stage of your professional development following University, and for registration with the General Dental Council as a Safe Practitioner.

Enquire

This theme will develop your ability to explore the wider population and societal aspects of dentistry, giving you the opportunity to develop your enquiry and research skills.

You will develop an understanding of your role and responsibilities as a dental professional in society, gaining insight into population-scale dental health and the inequalities that exist locally, nationally, and internationally. You will explore the areas of psychology and sociology, patient behaviours, and the other factors which ensure effective health improvement.

You will develop your enquiry and research skills – being able to search for and identify high quality evidence – while producing your own evidence through a Capstone project in the final stages of this theme. Through this experience you will explore how research and service improvement advance our understanding of dental science and improve patient care.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Clinical Skills & Practice 1 (20 credits) - In this first module of the Clinical Skills & Practice theme, you will be introduced to evidence-based clinical knowledge, basic clinical skills such as oral hygiene instruction, and professional behaviours which will to equip you to learn safely and effectively within the clinical environment. Key experiences include clinical observations, classroom sessions, haptic simulation and small-group activities. You will also be encouraged to develop your reflective skills, which you will use as you progress within this theme.

Dental & Biomedical Sciences 1 (60 credits) - In this first module of the dental and biomedical science theme, you will gain an introduction to the scientific knowledge required to support your understanding of health and disease. You will learn about the structure and function of cells, tissue and organs of the mouth and body, the basic principles of microbial infection and our immune defences against them, the introductory science of dental materials and mineralised tissues and the appropriate use of oral diagnostic tools.

Personal and Professional Development 1 (20 credits) - In this first module of the PPD theme you will be introduced to key topics, which will develop your understanding of expected professional behaviours and the standards expected of dental professionals. You’ll be introduced to active learning skills, which will equip you for your studies on the course.

Enquire 1 (20 credits) - In this first module of the Enquire theme, you will be introduced to the basic principles of population health. You will explore the foundations of psychology and sociology, which allow us to understand how best to deliver health gain. You’ll be introduced to key enquiry skills as you advance through this theme.

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Clinical Skills & Practice 2 BSc (40 credits) - This module will develop your understanding of common dental diseases and be able to apply this to holistic clinical management. Within a simulated environment you will develop the communication skills, operative skills and techniques to both help prevent and manage dental caries and periodontal disease in adult and child patients. You will gain clinical experience observing, assisting and delivering dental hygiene care for patients from a wide range of backgrounds with a broad range of needs. You will also be involved in the delivery of direct patient care under close supervision, where your professional behaviours and reflective learning practices will be applied.

Dental & Biomedical Sciences 2 (40 credits) - In this module, you will develop your scientific knowledge of the mouth and consider this in the context of the whole body. You will learn about the structure, function and development of tissues in the mouth and face, pathology related to dentistry and systemic disease, the genetic basis of disease, advanced principles of microbial contamination and infection, and immune defences related to oral disease.

Personal and Professional Development 2 (20 credits) - Here, you will focus on exploring and understanding key ethical concepts while developing your self-management and teamworking skills. You will focus on developing your interpersonal communication skills to support your development of working collaboratively within the dental team. You will also develop your understanding of equality, inclusion and diversity.

Enquire 2 (20 credits) - You will have the opportunity during this module to develop your understanding of health and illness at both an individual and population level. You will explore epidemiological health trends and apply the psychological, sociological and public health principles taught in your first year. You will continue to develop your enquiry skills and understand how research principles support the development of evidence-based practice.

Year 3

Clinical Skills & Practice 3 BSc (60 credits) - In this final module in the Clinical Skills and Practice theme, you will provide comprehensive dental hygiene and dental therapy care for adults and children within the Leeds Dental Institute and outreach centres. You will develop your confidence in the clinical environment, as well as a more comprehensive level of clinical practice. Applying evidence-based knowledge will help you take greater ownership of clinical decisions and responsibility for patient care.

You will continue to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to safely practice clinical dentistry, in readiness for being a qualified dental professional.

Personal and Professional Development 3 BSc (20 credits) - In this final module of the Personal and Professional Development theme, you will complete your preparation for registration with the General Dental Council as a Safe Practitioner. You will reflect on your capabilities as a self-led practitioner and further develop your responsibilities as a leader. You will also better understand how you are accountable to patients, the General Dental Council and the law, the dental team, and the wider community. You will discuss emerging ethical topics in dentistry and explore how to debate constructively.

Enquire 3 BSc: Capstone (40 credits) - In this final Enquire module, you will apply the principles of psychology, sociology and population health by exploring the theories of health behaviour. You will also examine interventions that have real-world applications. You will reach a key stage in the Enquire theme where you will complete your own Capstone project, and put into practice the enquiry skills you have learned. This project can be based on an area of your own interest. It can take a number of forms including a science-based research study, a clinical audit project or the development of a patient education resource.

Learning and teaching

The School of Dentistry uses a range of learning and teaching methods; these are designed to be student-centred, active, engaging and inclusive. We encourage you to take ownership of your learning, and to learn as part of a community of learners across the School. We strive to be inclusive in our learning and teaching approaches, so that all students feel a sense of belonging in the School.

We have a hybrid approach to teaching methods, so that the most appropriate method is chosen to align with the content or subject being taught. We use face-to-face large-group lectures which are recorded, as well as online live and pre-recorded lectures. There are opportunities for discussion and exploration of topics in smaller group face-to-face seminars and tutorial discussions with tutors and fellow students. Our lecture theatre is designed to facilitate engaging and interactive learning sessions, with lecture capture technology and a pod-style seating arrangement.

We use a digital learning platform, which will give you easy access to learning resources and to help guide you through your learning. Each module has its own area, and you will be able to access lecture presentations, engage in discussions and communicate with staff and other students.

Clinical learning takes place in the clinical skills classrooms; we use both haptic simulation technology and traditional phantom head operative activities. Our clinical skills classrooms have been recently refurbished and are equipped with the latest technology and dental handpieces. We will introduce you to clinics and the management of real patients gradually, ensuring that you have developed and demonstrated the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours at each stage.

Sector-leading digital 3D printed teeth and arches of teeth – developed within the School – make simulation sessions more relatable to the real patient situation. You will engage in communication skills teaching with simulated patients, where you can practise your skills and gain feedback from other students, tutors and highly trained simulated patients.

Your own academic personal tutor will help guide and support you through the course. A dedicated online personal development tool will be used to encourage you to engage in reflective learning and action planning.

You will undertake clinical sessions – supervised by qualified dental educators – and treat patients in the Leeds Dental Hospital and outreach centres across the region. This will expose you to a diverse range of patients and clinical needs, which will prepare you well for your future career.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

The course uses a variety of different academic, clinical and professional assessments which are designed to ensure students can demonstrate they have met the General Dental Council learning outcomes and behaviours required for registration as a dental hygienist and therapist. Our assessments are relevant and authentic to the work of your future career as a practising dental hygienist and therapist.

Assessments are designed to test your knowledge, understanding, application and critical thinking. You will experience a variety of selected response formats such as multiple-choice type questions, and open response formats such as short answer questions and assignments. We also encourage teamwork between students by assessing group work, for example, group presentations. Where applicable, practice or formative assessments will be provided.

Clinical assessments test and monitor your clinical reasoning, clinical operative skills, communication skills and professional behaviours throughout your clinical education. We use clinical scenarios, clinical skills gateway operative assessments, real patient case presentations and oral assessments.

We continually monitor and record your clinical progress through the course using our electronic Clinical Assessment and Feedback System (CAFS). This is a web-based system used to record your clinical experience, receive written feedback from clinical tutors and record your own reflections on your progress.

We encourage student reflection as a key skill throughout the course and you will be asked to demonstrate your reflective skills in assessments. Our School of Dentistry Clinical Progress Committee monitors individual students’ clinical activity and progress throughout the course.

Assessments are designed to be inclusive and fair. We take great care to ensure that examination questions are clear and we explain our marking approach and the use of marking descriptors to ensure that the required standards are maintained. Any approved disability allowances are taken into account in assessments.

By the end of the course, you will need to demonstrate competence to practice independently (within the scope of practice of a dental hygienist and dental therapist) at the level of a GDC defined safe practitioner.

Entry requirements

A-level: ABB B in Biology, excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking. You must achieve a pass in the practical element of any science A-levels.

GCSE: A minimum of 5 GCSEs, at Grade 4/C or higher including Chemistry and Biology (or Dual Science) plus English and Maths.

Other course specific tests:

Health and disclosure barring screening

All successful applicants will also need to pass health and disclosure and barringscreening.

The University has a policy statement on students with criminal records. For the vast majority of students who are resident in the UK the record will be checked via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The DBS check can only include background checks on your time in the UK. A criminal record check from other countries in addition to the UK DBS check may be required. Abroad this may be referred to as a "Certificate of Good Conduct" (CoGC), but the name varies.

To ensure a safe and professional environment for patients, you’ll also need to meet other requirements, including screening for communicable diseases. Read ‘Professional requirements’ section.

Occupational health

Any offer of a place to study Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy is conditional upon a satisfactory confidential occupational health assessment, which will include a health questionnaire, and if necessary further telephone consultation and/or an appointment with an occupational health clinician. Screening for serious communicable disease, (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and a review of immunisation status and needs, which includes COVID-19, will also be arranged before beginning your studies.

Alternative qualification

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Access to Leeds Submission

In order for us to give your application due consideration, we'll need you to submit your Access to Leeds (A2L) application at the same time as you submit your UCAS application.

Typical Access to Leeds offer

BSc – A level: BBC (B in Biology)

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 7.5 in listening and speaking, plus not less than 6.0 in writing and reading.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Detail of additional costs

Students will incur a direct cost for the following items:

Sensible shoes (for use in clinical skills labs and clinics)

• Approximately £40 - These should be plain, non-slip, low heeled, wipeable and soft soled with enclosed toes and heels.
• Wipeable dark leather trainers are acceptable. Non-wipeable trainers, canvas shoes, open backed or open toed footwear, crocs, ‘ballet’-type slippers are not permitted.

DentSoc (School of Dentistry's social society)

• Approximatley £50 (3 year membership) for Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy (optional)

Travel expenses for external placements

• Students in Year 3 will be paid £50 as a contribution towards their travel expenses.
• The School’s travel policy provides further details.

Exam resits

• There will be a charge if you need to resit any examinations. Please see the additional costs webpage on the University website for more details.

Uniforms

• You may incur additional costs cleaning your uniforms as they will need to be washed at a higher temperature and separately to other items.
• If you lose or damage an item of uniform, or require additional items, you will be charged for a replacement, £10 per item.

School Funding Information

The School will fund the following:

• Four sets of uniforms for clinical use
• A name badge
• Disclosure & Barring Service Checks in year 1
• Locker padlock
• USB encrypted memory stick
• Full Library access
• Occupational health clearance (for entry to your course)
• Disability services support throughout your course if needed

Please note, whilst the School strives to be as inclusive as possible, there may be some medical conditions or disabilities that preclude study of a clinical dental course.

Handbooks

Currently, School, course and module information is provided online. Clinical skills handbooks are provided individually to students.

Students may incur costs for the following items:

Locker padlock
-You will not be charged for a padlock but if you lose it or fail to return at the end of your course then you will be charged £25.

USB Encrypted Memory Stick (Year 2 onwards)
-You will not be charged for a USB stick but if you lose it or fail to return at the end of your course then you will be charged £25.

Student name badges
-If you lose your name badge you will be charged £5 for a replacement.

Occupational Health Checks
-Non-attendance at an occupational health appointment - £50 per missed appointment

Loss or damage to clinical skills models
-Costs will vary, students will be informed of replacement costs for any items damaged through negligence or lost.

Clinical skills locker key
-You will not be charged for a key but if you fail to return the key to the clinical skills department you will be charged £15.

Disclosure and Barring Service
-You will be charged if you lose your DBS certificate and you require a replacement.

Costs are subject to change throughout the course. However, you will be informed if this is the case.

There may be additional costs related to your course or course of study or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

The application closing date for Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy is 29 January 2025. The School of Dentistry will not accept applications after the UCAS closing date. We do not typically participate in the UCAS Extra scheme or in Clearing.

Read more about applying or contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team for further information.

Deferred entry

You’re welcome to postpone your start date by 12 months if you want to. This won’t affect how we judge your application, but you do need to tell us in advance, in your UCAS application, if you don’t do this, but ask for a deferral later, we may not agree to it.

Equal opportunities

The School of Dentistry operates an equal opportunities policy and supports widening participation. Whilst some health conditions and disabilities may prevent admission, the university takes a positive view and tries to meet the needs of all students. You can find University equality policies on the Equality Service website.

Values-based recruitment

Values-based recruitment is carried out across our vocational programmes. Candidates who apply to more than one vocational course in the School of Dentistry will only be considered for one course. Candidates therefore cannot apply to the Dental Surgery and Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy programme in the same application cycle. Where possible, candidates who apply for both programmes within the School of Dentistry will be informed that they must choose one course only.

Please note that if a candidate demonstrates motivation and insight for another non-School of Dentistry vocational course (eg Medicine or Nursing), they will be rejected without further consideration.

Selection process

The main stages in our selection process are:

• Evaluation of academic qualifications

• Assessment of application, taking into account academic and non-academic criteria

• Multiple mini interview (MMI)

• Offer

Interviews

Interviews are typically scheduled in February. We cannot facilitate interviews outside of this period, so if you apply, you must make sure you are free to attend in this timeframe.

If you’re unable to attend your allocated interview, you should contact us as we may be able to change your appointment to another day or time during the interview period, but this is not guaranteed. We would only agree to this for exceptional circumstances, for example, you cannot attend our interview because you have previously agreed to an interview elsewhere at the same time.

We interview using MMIs instead of traditional panel interviews. In MMIs you move around a series of interview stations. At each station, you undertake a task or answer a few short questions, for which you are scored. The scores at each station are independent of the other scores. Afterwards your scores are computed to give us your overall score and ranking.

The MMIs help us to assess your attitudes, communication skills, empathy, analytic skills and ethical reasoning, attributes that are in accordance with the NHS Constitution values-based recruitment. Some stations may be held in clinics, so you also see our working environment. Most applicants tell us they find the multiple mini interviews a positive experience.

Admissions policy

School of Dentistry Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Dentistry

Contact us

School of Dentistry Student Education Office

Email: denadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

Workforce planning reports have predicted that demand for dental hygienists and therapists is expected to rise and significantly exceed supply. The GDC in 2013 removed the barrier preventing patients from having direct access to selected groups of DCP including dental hygienists and dental therapists.

Dental hygienists and dental therapists are now permitted to provide dental treatment within their scope of practice without a prescription from a dentist. These changes have helped to ensure employability for dental hygienists and dental therapist in the future, extending scope of practice and providing long term job satisfaction.

Most starting dental therapy posts in hospital or community dental services are advertised at Band 6 salary level on the NHS pay scale. New graduates who take up positions within a general dental practice can usually expect to earn salaries equal to Band 6 or up to 30-50% higher.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Study abroad and work placements

You will engage in a range of placement opportunities, to develop your clinical experience. Clinical placements take place in the Leeds Dental Institute within the same building as the School of Dentistry and at outreach centres in Leeds and further afield across the region.

You will undertake the clinical management of a wide diversity of patients and patient needs across these centres. This range of experience will prepare you for your future professional career as a safe practitioner.

Professional requirements

Hepatitis B and health screening

Entry to the course depends on satisfactory health screening.

It is a Department of Health requirement that all healthcare workers who come into contact with patients should not be infectious carriers of Hepatitis B, C or HIV viruses and should accept vaccination against Hepatitis B.

We advise all candidates to seek vaccination with their medical practitioner against Hepatitis B viruses before starting the course because they will have early contact with patients.

The School will organise an immunisation schedule for students who have not already completed a successful course of vaccination before enrolment.

Applicants who have been immunised by their medical practitioner will be required to provide documentary proof of immunisation on registration. Simple blood tests will be required to confirm that students are not a carrier of the Hepatitis B or C viruses.

The General Dental Council (GDC)

The course is accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC). The GDC is the regulatory body for dental professionals in the UK. All dental hygienists and therapists must be registered with the GDC to work in the UK. Successful completion of the course allows graduates to apply for GDC registration.

The GDC quality assures all courses which lead to registration as a dental professional. All graduates must have demonstrated they have met all GDC Preparing for Practice learning outcomes, including all academic and clinical experience requirements.

In addition, the GDC must be assured that all graduates are Fit to Practise in relation to health and professional conduct. Our School has processes to ensure all graduates have met these requirements through academic and clinical assessments, as well as the continual monitoring of professionalism and conduct.

Code of Professional Conduct

Our School has a Code of Professional Conduct which it expects all students to sign-up to each year. It is important that students have awareness of the standards expected by the School and the General Dental Council. The General Dental Council has published guidance on professionalism (“Student Fitness to Practise” and “Standards for Dental Professionals”) which you can find on the GDC website.

Dress and personal appearance

The School of Dentistry has a dress policy to promote a clinical and professional appearance within our School and clinical placement facilities. Your dress and personal appearance must meet public expectations of a professional person and there are clinical dress requirements which must be followed.