Oral Health Sciences

Oral health sciences is a professional degree that prepares you for a career as a dental therapist, a regulated oral health professional who works as part of the dental team to prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide direct treatment for conditions affecting the gums and teeth. Dental therapists carry out a range of clinical procedures including scaling and root surface debridement for gum disease, placing restorations to treat dental decay, and delivering preventive advice and education to patients of all ages. They work under the prescription of a dentist and play an increasingly important role in extending the capacity of dental services in the UK.

At the University of Dundee this three-year full-time programme prepares you to become a skilled and confident dental therapy professional. You will develop the clinical skills needed for dental therapy practice through supervised patient contact alongside the scientific and theoretical knowledge that underpins safe and effective oral health care. Dundee's dental school has a strong reputation for clinical training and research, and the programme gives you access to experienced clinical educators and a breadth of patient contact that prepares you for independent professional practice.

Graduates from oral health sciences programmes register with the General Dental Council and work as dental therapists in NHS and private dental practices, community dental services, and specialist dental settings. The role is well established in the UK dental workforce and offers opportunities for career development, including scope to extend your skills into areas such as orthodontic therapy or to take on leadership and education roles within dental teams. Many dental therapists pursue further qualifications or transition into dental hygiene practice.

Postgraduate study in oral health or public health dentistry is another route for those interested in research or advanced practice.