Oral Health Sciences
Oral health sciences is a clinical degree that trains you to work as a dental hygienist and therapist, a registered healthcare professional who plays a vital role in the dental team. Dental hygienists and therapists are responsible for delivering preventative, periodontal, and restorative dental care to adults and children, including oral health education, scaling and root planing, tooth whitening within prescription, and, for those completing the therapy element, tooth restoration and extraction of primary teeth. They are central to tackling some of the most prevalent and preventable health conditions in the UK, including gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.
At Glasgow Caledonian University this three-year full-time programme prepares you to be a highly skilled dental hygienist and therapist, developing both clinical competence and the oral health education skills needed to support patients in developing better self-care. Clinical placements are a central component of the degree, giving you supervised practice experience in real dental settings throughout your studies. You will develop expertise in clinical oral health treatment and education across the full scope of practice of the hygienist and therapist role, alongside the scientific knowledge of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pharmacology that underpins safe and effective clinical practice.
Graduation from a General Dental Council-approved programme leads to eligibility for registration as a dental hygienist and/or therapist, opening careers in NHS and private dental practices, community dental services, hospital dental departments, and specialist settings such as orthodontics and periodontology. The scope of practice for dental hygienists and therapists has been expanding in recent years, and the profession offers opportunities for specialisation, clinical development, and, for some, progression to dental therapy or related advanced practice. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study or professional development in periodontology, dental public health, or oral health promotion.