Bachelor of Oral Hygiene
Health Sciences and Social Services - Promotive Health and Developmental Services
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification in Oral Hygiene
Purpose:
The qualification aims to equip learners with knowledge, skills, and values to promote oral health and overall well-being in individuals, families, and communities. The focus is on preventative and promotive oral health care in line with local and international best practices. Oral hygienists will also provide interceptive and therapeutic care, particularly in primary and secondary care settings, while advocating for a multidisciplinary approach to improve health. The diverse needs of patients and public health in South Africa will be considered throughout.
Rationale:
As per the national strategy for human resources in health, oral hygienists are vital in encouraging healthy dental practices to reduce the disease burden. Their interventions span promotion, prevention, and treatment of oral health issues in individuals and communities. This allows oral hygienists to address oral health needs in various settings, both rural and urban. Better oral health contributes to overall wellness, fulfilling a fundamental human need.
The overlap between Oral Hygiene and Dental Therapy qualifications in prevention and promotion is essential for holistic patient care. However, Oral Hygiene relies more heavily on the social sciences for its theoretical framework, focusing on prevention and promotion. Dental Therapy, on the other hand, involves curative and surgical procedures, emphasizing clinical sciences in its theoretical foundation. The scopes of practice for each profession reflect these distinctions, with oral hygienists emphasizing education, promotion, and public health, while dental therapists focus on clinical procedures. The scope of overlap between the two professions is less than 40%, reflecting the unique theoretical and practical aspects of each field.
Outcomes
- Function legally, ethically in the oral healthcare environment within the proper scope of practice.
- Apply management skills and universal precautions to maintain standards of health and safety in the oral healthcare environment. Promote oral health ad prevent oral diseases following the proper scope of practice.
- Apply the processes of assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation in all aspects of oral hygiene practice.
- Explain and demonstrate the educational, preventive, therapeutic and cosmetic interventions expected in terms of the relevant scope of practice.
- Actively participate in research development that would contribute to the body of evidence of the discipline of oral hygiene.
- On successful completion of this qualification, the learner will be eligible for registration with the Professional Board for Dental Assisting, Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene.
Assessment Criteria
The following Associated Assessment Criteria applies across all Exit Level Outcomes:
- Apply communication and consultation skills with relevant stakeholders within the community, health environment and other sectors to bring about change and improvement in the oral health and well-being of the community.
- Explain and utilise health promotion and communication skills when interacting with individuals and communities.
- Carry out risk assessments of individuals/groups which includes assessment of their knowledge, practices and attitudes, environmental and other risks impacting on oral health to inform appropriate health promotion strategies.
- Deliver various dental treatment modalities within the scope of practice of an oral hygienist.
- Conduct a comprehensive clinical examination followed by an oral hygiene diagnosis and the generation of a patient-specific oral health care plan based on current scientific information.
- Identify pain and anxiety and apply appropriate behaviour management strategies.
- Identify and explain symptoms of dysfunction of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and various courses of connection.
- Provide preventive care to maintain the current oral health status and prevent the onset of oral disease.
- Maintain cleanliness of the oral clinical facility through adequate hygiene practices, management of professional equipment and instruments.
- Oversee sterilisation of instruments to ensure the efficacy of the process and integrity of instruments.
- Describe, perform and interpret digital and analogue radiography within the scope of practice of an oral hygienist.
- Assess, analyse, describe and promote oral health and wellness as it pertains to the health of individuals, families and communities.
- Identify, describe, apply and critically evaluate oral health promotion strategies in a variety of settings to address oral diseases and conditions and promote health-related quality of life.
- Use epidemiological statistics to determine the oral health status of the target community.
- Explain, evaluate and apply ethical and legal responsibilities about oral health care practice during all interactions with patients, colleagues and the community.
- Render all treatment in terms of the Bill of Rights and Patient Charter and maintain patient confidentiality throughout.
- Explain and apply the legal requirements governing the operation of private practice by the relevant legislation.
- Take impressions for orthodontic study casts, cast pouring.
- Explain with examples the preventive, therapeutic and assisting roles of the oral hygienist in general dental practice, dental therapist and dental specialist practices.
- Educate and inform patients about various treatment options in different speciality areas.
- Carry out prescriptions for advanced clinical procedures from dentists or dental therapists following the terms of the scope of practice of the oral hygienist.
Integrated Assessment: Formative and Summative Assessment strategies are used throughout the qualification to meet all outcomes.
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Formative Assessment may include:
- Tests.
- Written and practical assignments.
- Practical assessments in clinical/patient examination, health promotion.
- Literature reviews.
- Case Studies.
- Class presentations.
- Seminars.
- Peer evaluations.
- Simulations in structured learning environments.
- Learning portfolios.
- Problem-based cases.
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Summative Assessment may include:
- Written examinations.
- Oral examinations.
- Practical examinations.
- Supervisor reports on clinical cases.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 360
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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