Dental hygiene

What is the objective of the course? What is it?
What does it train you for?

The specific training objectives of the course are to educate professionals capable of using the methodologies and technologies specific to the dental technical-assistance profession, pursuant to the Ministerial Decree of the Ministry of Health of 15 March 1999, no. 137 and subsequent amendments, and to perform such activities with full professional autonomy, pursuant to Law no. 251 of 10 August 2000, art. 3, paragraph

1. The general cultural profile requires that graduates in Dental Hygiene possess adequate preparation in the basic disciplines, enabling them to fully understand the most relevant elements underlying oral and dental diseases across developmental, adult and geriatric age, which represent the focus of their intervention to improve oral health (through primary prevention, secondary prevention or support to therapeutic interventions).

The training objectives are pursued through theoretical and practical learning activities, which also include the acquisition of behavioural competences and take place within the specific work settings of each professional profile, thereby ensuring, at the end of the programme, full command of all necessary skills and their immediate applicability in the workplace.

What do you learn?

The main expected learning outcomes are as follows: an adequate preparation in the basic disciplines, enabling graduates to achieve the best possible understanding of the most relevant factors underlying pathological processes arising in developmental, adult and geriatric age, which are the focus of their diagnostic activity; knowledge of the epidemiological features, prevention and treatment of diseases affecting the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity in developmental, adult and geriatric age, as well as in medically compromised patients or in those with special health care needs, together with familiarity with the main preventive and therapeutic procedures pertaining to this professional profile (e.g. primary and secondary prevention of periodontal diseases, recording of periodontal biometric parameters and completion of the periodontal clinical chart, promotion of healthy lifestyles, oral health education and oral hygiene instruction); knowledge of the principles of the communication process and of the main techniques of effective communication to be applied in clinical practice and in peer interactions; knowledge and appropriate use of the specific terminology of Dental Hygiene Sciences; ability to use at least one language of the European Union, in addition to Italian, within the specific field of competence and for the exchange of general information.

What can you do with it?

The employment of the Dental Hygienist may take place, either as an employee or as a self-employed professional, in several settings: in the private sector, within dental clinics, where they ensure access to high-quality care; in the public sector, within public facilities (local health authorities, hospital trusts, university hospital trusts), where they work in services dedicated to prevention as well as in scientific research; in the social sector, within community settings, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, centres for people with disabilities, and school services.

In all these contexts, the activity of the dental hygienist improves the cost–benefit ratio of dental care, thanks to the strong preventive component of this professional role.

Finally, graduates holding a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene may continue their education by enrolling in the Master’s Degree Programme in Health Professions of Technical-Assistance Sciences (LM/SNT3), which, in addition to the technical competences already described, also offers the opportunity, with this further qualification, to access the role of Coordinator of the Health Professions, with higher managerial and organisational responsibilities.