Course Structure and Curriculum
Course structure
The Bachelor of Arts in Dental Hygiene (BA) programme lasts three years, including exams, divided into six semesters. It has a total of 180 ECTS and is divided into three stages of study of 2 semesters each.
1st and 2nd semester: Theoretical stage of study
The theoretical stage of study to acquire the prescribed dental and scientific skills.
The aim is to develop specialist knowledge in the professional field of dental hygiene/prevention as well as interdisciplinary topics. The knowledge required to cope with exemplary situations is acquired and applied and students learn to transfer this knowledge to difficult, complex situations.
3rd and 4th semester: Preclinical and clinical stage of study
The pre-clinical and clinical stage of study serves to acquire and practice the prescribed competencies in the field of dental hygiene. The pre-clinical and clinical training addresses theory, care and treatment concepts, problems and difficult situations as well as case studies. The acquired knowledge is immediately put into practice. The focus is on the independent transfer to individual patient situations, whereby the clinical complexity gradually increases.
The pre-clinical training enhances the required safety in the use of instruments in order to exclude any harm to patients and students. For this purpose, DPU has a total of 74 state-of-the-art phantom workstations from DENTSPLY SIRONA.
During the clinical training, the students treat patients as dental assistants under professional instruction, guidance and direct supervision according to a catalogue of services to be fulfilled. The students are made aware of effective, efficient and cost-conscious treatment methods.
5th and 6th semester: Final internship
The final year of study consists of three parts:
1. a final internship in one of the teaching practices
2. project work
3. an exam
The internship serves to deepen and expand the prescribed competences in the field of dental hygiene.
During the final internship, students consolidate and expand their knowledge and skills while working as a dental assistant/specialist dental assistant (ZMF) in order to further develop their acquired competencies. DPU conducts supplementary and in-depth courses in the form of tutorials in order to reflect on theoretical and practical questions from dental practice (teaching practice) and to develop joint solutions. The aim of the final internship is to safely cope with everyday working life within the framework of time and conceptual specifications.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Arts in Dental Hygiene (BA) at DPU consists of five topic blocks:
- Medical subjects
- Central subjects
- Behavioural sciences and supporting sciences
- Internships and clinical patient treatment
- Final internship, exams, project work
The following tables list the subjects assigned to the individual topic blocks, including ECTS points.
Topic block 1 | ECTS | |
A | Medical subjects | 30 |
A1 | Anatomy and histology | 5 |
A2 | General and special pathology, histopathology | 5 |
A3 | Medical and dental terminology | 2 |
A4 | Oral physiology and functional theory | 3 |
A5 | General dentistry | 3 |
A6 | General medicine | 3 |
A7 | Dental radiology | 2 |
A8 | Pharmacology (in dentistry) | 3 |
A9 | Dietetics | 4 |
Topic block 2 | ECTS | |
B | Central subjects | 52 |
B1 | Dental hygiene I/II | 12 |
B2 | Dental instruments | 3 |
B3 | Dental materials | 3 |
B4 | Introduction to the dental hygiene phantom course | 5 |
B5 | Periodontics | 5 |
B6 | Preventive dentistry | 4 |
B7 | Implantology | 2 |
B8 | Conservative dentistry, cariology, endodontics | 2 |
B9 | Dental prosthetics | 2 |
B10 | Orthodontics | 2 |
B11 | Paediatric dentistry | 2 |
B12 | Geriatric dentistry | 2 |
B13 | Anaesthesiology in dentistry | 3 |
B14 | Dental radiology | 2 |
B15 | First aid – emergency prevention | 3 |
Topic block 3 | ECTS | |
C | Behavioural and supporting sciences | 27 |
C1 | Chemistry | 2 |
C2 | Biology and cytology | 2 |
C3 | Biochemistry | 3 |
C4 | Physiology | 2 |
C5 | Medical microbiology and hygiene | 3 |
C6 | Scientific work | 3 |
C7 | Psychology and developmental psychology | 3 |
C8 | Communication and consultation | 6 |
C9 | Medical psychology and sociology | 3 |
Topic block 4 | ECTS | |
D | Internships and inpatient treatment | 23 |
D1 | Clinical dental hygiene | 1 |
D2 | Work ergonomics | 1 |
D3 | Documentation | 1 |
D4 | Dental hygiene phantom course with seminar | 5 |
D5 | External internship in a public institution with seminar | 5 |
D6 | Dental hygiene clinical treatment course with seminar | 10 |
Topic block 5 | ECTS | |
E | Final internship, exams, project work | 48 |
E1 | Final internship | 42 |
E2 | Tutorials | 2 |
E3 | Project work | 4 |