In some countries once you graduate you can get automatic recognition and immediately start practice as an oral health professional. For others you may be required to sit a state registration examination.
We asked our students what is it they would like to have known before they became OHP students. The questions they provided are interesting and diverse. From these questions we have created the "it's good to know" series of information leaflets that we hope it will help future students make more informed decisions around studying OHPs.
Its good to know Leaflets Series
| N1 Thinking about studying Dentistry, Dental Hygiene |
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| N2 Thinking about studying Dentistry |
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| N2a Thinking about studying Dental Hygiene |
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| N3 Oral Health Professional Team |
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| N4 Clinical Environment |
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| N5 International student mobility |
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FAQs
We have also compiled some frequently asked questions identified by current oral health professional students. FAQs are organized into subcategories, why not explore this by clicking in the tabs below.
This varies from country to country. The Dental and Medicine programs can in some places have shared learning components, particularly in the early years. However, as you progress in most cases they are viewed as two separate distinct programs and professions. In some location it is possible to be dual qualified but this will usually require additional study and professional registration.
Being an oral health professional requires you to work with your hands in an enclosed oral cavity. This needs precision, patience and confidence all of which you acquire as part of your study. You will developed these skills through varied simulation activities, before reproduce the treatment on the patient.
The short answer is yes you can. However many Oral Health students find the programme to be very full and involve evening and weekend work so it can be challenging to balance a part time job also.
This can vary from institution to institution and country to country. You should check out the websites of the programme you plan on studying as this information will be made clear there. You can normally expect to be in study term from September to June, but some schools may require you to study or attend clinical sessions over the summer months also.
This depends on a number of factors including what profession you wish to join. To become a dentist you will usually study for 5 to 6 years, to become a dental hygienist its normally 1.5 to 3 years. This depends on the national country requirements, the level of qualification being obtained and if you require to have post qualification study prior to registration.
