Bachelor of Oral Health

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Campus North Terrace Campus

Degree Type Bachelor

Duration 3 years full-time or part-time equiv.

SATAC Code 314701

2009
ATAR 70

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Program Outline

The practice of oral health deals with the control and prevention of oral disease through treatment and education of clients. Oral health graduates from Adelaide will have the knowledge, skills and attributes to enable them to practice at the highest level. Our graduates will strive through their advocacy and clinical practice to empower individuals and communities to maintain optimum oral health throughout their lives.

The Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) focuses on the development of competence in clinical examination and diagnosis of dental disease; the formulation of individual treatment plans for clients; control and prevention of dental diseases by clinical treatment and preventative procedures; and education of clients and the community towards patterns of behaviour conducive to good oral health.

Graduates will have the necessary education to work as dental therapists and dental hygienists under the supervision of a dentist. Dental therapists provide dentistry including fillings for children and adolescents. Dental hygienists treat patients of all ages with an emphasis on cleaning and preventative dental treatments. Graduates from the BOH form an integral part of the dental team working with dentists, dental technicians and assistants.
Program Structure

There are four streams in each year which continue through the program. The dental and health science stream includes topics on communication, dental public health, developmental psychology, diagnosis and the treatment of disease, health promotion, nutrition, radiographic anatomy and sociology of health. Human biology contains body chemistry, cell structure and function, anatomy and oral anatomy. Topics on the principles of clinical examinations, x-rays, orthodontics, periodontal disease and restorative dentistry introduced in clinical practice and general studies include basic science, bio-statistics and computing. The program is delivered in a team context with dental surgery and dental hygiene students. The dynamic curriculum is delivered within a problem based learning approach. The emphasis of contextual learning of relevant scientific information throughout the program occurs concurrently with the development of clinical skills.
Related Programs
- Bachelor of Dentistry
- Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Dentistry

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.
I am a:

domestic applicant
international applicant
international applicant applying with Australian year 12 results

Domestic applicants

Not a domestic applicant?

SATAC Code	314701
2009 CSP ATAR	70
2009 CSP IB	25
Annual tuition fees	Commonwealth-supported place: $8,859
Mid-year entry?	No
Enquiries	University Contact Centre

Selection Criteria

Year 12 applicants

You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent (48 units) university study. A Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) of 70 or above must be achieved. You must sit the Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) and top UMAT performers must also attend a structured oral assessment. Applications will be ranked on the basis of all 3 components: the UMAT, oral assessment and TER.

Alternative entry pathways

Higher Education applicants
You must have completed at least half a year full time equivalent higher education study, achieving at least a pass average (a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 or more). You must sit the Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) and top UMAT performers must also attend a structured oral assessment. Applications will be ranked on the basis of all 3 components: the UMAT, oral assessment and GPA.
VET applicants
You must have completed an AQF Diploma or above. You must sit the Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) and top UMAT performers must also attend a structured oral assessment. Applications will be ranked on the basis of all 3 components: the UMAT, oral assessment and level of VET qualification.
Special Entry applicants
You must be 18 years or over before February 1st of the year that you will be studying. If you have studied a higher education program within the last two years, you must not have studied more than 2 years full-time equivalent in that program and you must not hold a completed higher education level award. If you meet this criteria, you will be eligible to compete using your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. Personal Competencies (PC) and Employment Experience (EE) statements are not considered. You must also sit the Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) and top UMAT performers must also attend a structured oral assessment. Applications will be ranked on the basis of all 3 components: the UMAT, oral assessment and STAT. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Scheme. See Wilto Yerlo for further information.
Without formal qualifications?
You may be eligible for our special access schemes.

Additional Entry Requirements

All applicants must obtain a copy of the booklet Faculty of Health Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Guide 2010 from the Student Centre, telephone (08) 8303 7335 or 1800 061 459 (country and interstate callers) or via the Faculty of Health Sciences web site (www.health.adelaide.edu.au/ugprograms/). This booklet sets out the eligibility requirements and the selection process in detail. Failure to read the booklet will not be grounds for special consideration. There are two distinct parts to the application process. The first is an application to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT). The second is the SATAC application. Applicants who have not already registered with UMAT at the time of reading this Guide will be ineligible for consideration since applications to sit UMAT closed in June 2009. Applicants who have registered with UMAT must lodge their SATAC application by 31 August 2009. Students studying year 12 in 2009 will be asked to enter their UMAT identification number when they lodge their application on SATAC's UniWeb. Selection will be based on three components: performance in the UMAT; performance in a structured oral assessment; and achievement of a tertiary entrance rank (TER) of 70 or above for appropriate year 12 studies, or a pass average for tertiary studies (preference may be given to applicants with science-based tertiary studies) or a completed TAFE Diploma or higher, or satisfactory STAT rank. All new students must provide evidence of their antibody and antigen status for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS to the Dean of the School of Dentistry. When the immunological status indicates that the prospective student may be infected they will not be admitted to clinic practice and hence will not be enrolled. Annual review of status will also be required.

Note: for 2011 entry the UMAT will NOT be considered for entry to the Bachelor of Oral Health.

How to Apply

SATAC Code: 314701

Apply through SATAC SATAC application dates Application and Admission

International applicants

Not an international applicant?

International ATAR	70
IB	24
IELTS Overall	6.5 [more info]
Annual tuition fees	International student place: $44,280
Mid-year entry?	No
Enquiries	University Contact Centre

Selection Criteria

Equivalent Scores

International ATAR	70
IB	24
IELTS Overall Reading Listening Speaking Writing	6.5 6 6 6 6

Additional Entry Requirements

Additional entry requirements include performance in the Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) and, if selected, a Structure Oral Assessment. Refer to the International Selection Document for more information.

How to Apply

Application information for international students

Important application deadlines for international students

International applicants applying with Australian year 12 results

Not an international applicant applying with Australian year 12 results?

International ATAR	70
Annual tuition fees	International student place: $44,280
Mid-year entry?	No
Enquiries	University Contact Centre

Selection Criteria

Areas of Specialisation
There are four streams in each year of the BOH:
- The Dental and Health Science stream includes topics on communication, dental public health, diagnosis and the treatment of disease, health promotion and nutrition.
- Human Biology includes body chemistry, cell structure and function, anatomy and oral anatomy.
- Clinical Practice includes topics on the principles of clinical examinations, x-rays, orthodontics, periodontal disease and restorative dentistry.
- General Studies includes basic science, biostatistics and computing.
The program is delivered in a team context with Bachelor of Dental Surgery and TAFE Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Hygiene) students.
Career Opportunities

It is envisaged that employment prospects will be excellent as there is expected to be a shortage of both therapists and hygienists in Australia over the next decade. Graduates are automatically eligible to register as a dental hygienist and dental therapist (where required) anywhere in Australia.

Potential careers

Dental Therapist, Oral Health Therapist, Dental Hygienist
Graduate Attributes
On successful completion of the Bachelor of Oral Health, the graduates will have received education and training in the theory and practice of dental therapy and dental hygiene, to enable them to work in both private and government oral health services, in accordance with the legal and legislative limitations governing each Australian state.

Each graduate will have developed the skills which will enable them to:
- work as an integral part of the dental team providing holistic oral health care on an individual and community level
- recognise dental diseases and formulate strategies that address the treatment and preventive needs of each individual
- effectively manage patient care by integrating and applying basic, clinical, behavioural, and social sciences concepts to inform practice
- actively promote the importance of general and oral health to individuals in dental and community health settings
- work effectively with other allied health professionals to foster optimum oral health practices within the community
- use highly effective interpersonal skills to enable empathetic and effective communication with various groups, e.g. professional, policy-making bodies, community and patients.
- communicate effectively and provide education to people within a multicultural society that will encourage patterns of behaviour which favour effective oral health
- maintain the highest level of ethics and professionalism in the practice of dental hygiene and dental therapy
- display the highest levels of integrity in all aspects of professional life
- utilise the principles of self evaluation that will contribute to the continuous development of skills within their field of practice
- embrace the principles of lifelong learning that will enhance the practice of dental therapy and dental hygiene
- engage in self-directed lifelong learning by using reflection and critical self-assessment and be committed to ongoing professional development.
Program Rules

Bachelor of Oral Health Program Rules
Further Information
School of Dentistry on 8303 5256 or email dentistry.reception@adelaide.edu.au. Information session Thursday 11 December 2008 in the Napier Building (Rooms G03 and G04), North Terrace Campus, 4-6pm.
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Last updated: Monday, 25 Jul 2011

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