Degree Programme in Oral Hygiene
- Degree
- Bachelor of Social Services and Health Care
- Credits
- 210 ects
Specific admission requirements
No spesific admission requirements. General admission requirements are applied.
Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Students have the right to apply for recognitation of prior learning. The recognition is based on the skills of the student regardless of the ways the fore mentioned expertise has been acquired. The student has the responsibility to demonstrate the skills required in the study objectives and provide the required information and documentation based on which the decision for approval will be made.
Qualification requirements and regulations
Legalization of health care professionals
The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira grants the right to practice as a licensed health care professional, an oral hygienist.
Profile of the programme
The learning conception of oral hygiene degree programme verifies in expansive, collaborative learning approach rewarded by Higher Education Evaluation Council.
Education is realized as a collaborative development with different actors and organizations in metropolitan area. The core of the education is closeness with working life and the objective is common knowledge-creation and development of working life.
In daily operating learning network is co-operating the Dental Education of University of Helsinki, Oral Health Care of Health Care Centre of Helsinki and Degree Programme of Oral Hygiene. Oral hygienist students and dentistry students learn the oral health care work including treatment of gingival and periodontal diseases, either independently or as a professional teamwork in Metropolia oral health care teaching clinic and the university clinic of health care centre of Helsinki.
Key learning outcomes
Oral hygienist's expertise consist of health promotion, clinical and rehabilitative oral health care as well as national and international cooperation.
The health promotion work of oral hygienist can be either promotive or preventative.
In promotive health promotion oral hygienist prepares clients, groups or health professionals in oral self-care management as part of the general health. In addition s/he develops oral health promotion methods and functions. In preventative health promotion the emphasis is on the recognition of patient's symptoms of oral disease, prevention of risk factors and treatment of disease.
The clinical oral health care of oral hygienist consist of preventive and restorative care of oral and dental diseases. Clinical oral health care is based on the patient's oral health examination and the treatment plan done together with the patient. Amongst other things this includes individual health coaching, caries prevention, prophylactic filling and treatment of gingival and periodontal diseases. In a clinical oral health care the emphasis is on encountering the client, interaction skills and technical mastery of treatment procedures .
The rehabilitative oral health care consist of oral health promotion, prevention of diseases and oral care in home care, institutions and hospitals. Rehabilitative oral health care clients includes the elderly, the mentally disabled and patients of special health care. In rehabilitative oral health care the oral hygienist also guides and consults the personnel of social and health care, families and clients about oral health care.
First-line managing of oral hygienist is proactive. In first-line managing focus is in collaborative and network-type work. The work requires ability to recognize need to develop oral health care and to foresee future. To encourage and motivate the staff oral hygienist needs interpersonal and communication skills. S/he needs also meeting and negotiating skills. Daily first-line managing includes human and financial planning, organization of work, leadership and the development in a multi-professional team. Working as an entrepreneur s/he needs management skills. Futhermore in work highlights economical and marketing know-how and working with interest groups.
An oral hygienist participates in oral health care work in international and multicultural environment and has impact on its development in cooperation with national and international partners. The work requires an adequate language skills and readiness to participate in counseling and treatment of people with varios cultural backgrounds.
Occupational profiles of graduates with examples
Graduates of the department become eligible to be a dental hygienist in primary care such as health centers or private dental clinics in which he or she can also act as supervisory positions. S/He can also act as a self-employed or an entrepreneur.
Access to further studies
Oral Hygienist can apply for further studies to University of Applied Sciences or in University
Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Assessment principles are described in the evaluation matrix of Degree Programme of Oral Hygiene.
The evaluation complies with the guidelines of the Metropolia
Graduation requirements
A student is required to successfully complete the designated program of courses meet a minimum of 210 ECTS credit requirement.
Mode of study
Full-time studies
Programme director
Head of Department
Päivi Haarala
paivi.haarala(at)metropolia.fi
Level of qualification
Bachelor's Degree (First Cycle)
Workplacement(s) and Work-based Learning
In the beginning of her/his radiography studies the student familiarizes with working life during short period and practices basic plain imaging in a simulated environment in a radiography imaging class room. After being at more advanced level in her/his studies she/he practices radiography and radiotherapy in different health care imaging-, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine clinical placements. Amount of learning in clinical placements is 75 ECTS.
Obligatory or Optional Mobility
International studies are part of the learning path of each learner in the form of international exchange, practice placement or international studies within home institution, such as common core requirement studies in English or Finnish degree programmes or open studies in international network learning environments.
Degree Programme in Oral Hygiene
Timing plan:
Degree Programme in Oral Hygiene
Timing plan: