Dental Therapy and Hygiene

Dental therapy and dental hygiene are complementary clinical roles at the heart of modern oral healthcare. Dental therapists carry out a range of direct patient care tasks, including restorative work and extractions, while dental hygienists focus on preventing and treating gum disease and educating patients in oral health. Together, these roles help make dental services more accessible and efficient, allowing dentists to focus on more complex procedures while highly trained therapists and hygienists deliver a wide range of care independently.

At the University of Plymouth, this three-year full-time programme gives you the foundational knowledge in biomedical and clinical sciences that underpins safe, effective dental practice. You will study the principles of human disease prevention, the safe use of ionising radiation in dental imaging, and the properties and appropriate use of dental biomaterials. Clinical learning is integrated from an early stage, building your competence in patient assessment, treatment planning, and the delivery of both preventive and restorative care.

You will develop the technical skills and the clinical judgement needed to work safely and independently across a range of patient groups. The typical entry tariff is 152 UCAS points.

Graduates of dental therapy and hygiene programmes are qualified to register with the General Dental Council and work across the full range of dental settings, including NHS practices, private clinics, community dental services, and hospital environments. The qualification allows you to work as a dual-qualified dental therapist and hygienist, which is increasingly the norm in modern dental teams and broadens your scope of practice considerably. Many graduates build long careers in clinical practice, while others pursue further study, move into education and training, or take on leadership roles within dental health services.

The profession offers genuine variety, strong employment prospects, and the satisfaction of making a direct difference to patients' health and confidence.