Program Overview

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Dental Hygiene

Course Fact File

• Code: dipdh
• Duration: 2 Years
• Teaching Mode: Full-time
• Qualifications: DipDHyg
• NFQ Level: Level 7
• Fees: See Fees and Costs for full details.
• CAO Points: NA
• Closing Date: 28 February 2025

Course Outline

Dental hygienists form an important complementary branch of the dental profession. Working under the supervision of a dentist, the dental hygienist helps patients maintain their oral health by preventing and treating gum disease and promoting good oral health behaviour. Dental Hygienists are permitted to carry out the following procedures:

• Give advice in relation to oral health, including dietary advice
• Scaling, polishing and debridement of teeth
• Taking and processing radiographs
• Administer local infiltration and inferior block anaesthesia
• Apply fissure sealants
• Apply desensitising agents

A career in dental hygiene will appeal to students who have empathy for people, who are interested in their welfare, and who like carrying out precision work with their hands and have a professional approach.

Year 1 is spent between the university campus and the Cork University Dental School and Hospital studying basic medical sciences and introductory elements of dental hygiene. Year 2 is spent in the Cork University Dental School & Hospital and at other local clinical placements.

Students benefit from small class numbers and from intense patient contact during the latter stages of training. This is a Full-time programme with clinics, teaching and assessments scheduled throughout the week.

Modules

The Dental Hygiene programme is an undergraduate programme delivered over two years as follows:

Year 1

• AN1004 The Anatomical Basis of Dental Hygiene (15 credits)
• PL1011 Basic Science for Dental Hygiene (15 credits)
• RD1004 Clinical Dental Hygiene I (5 credits)
• RD1005 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (10 credits)
• RD1006 Theoretical Dental Hygiene I (5 credits)
• RD1007 Theoretical Dental Hygiene II (10 credits)

Year 2

• OH2001 Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health (10 credits)
• RD2001 Periodontology (15 credits)
• RD2003 Clinical Dental Hygiene (20 credits)
• RD2008 Clinical Prevention (10 credits)
• RD2009 Dental Hygiene Project (5 credits)

Written exams typically take place before Christmas and in May. Not all our modules will have formal examinations and many modules use other types of assessment.

Why Choose This Course

Our Diploma in Dental Hygiene is designed to meet the needs of the dental community. It leads to a highly rewarding career that provides a valuable health service and establishes relationships with patients. Training at Cork University Dental School and Hospital (CUDSH) is provided by highly experienced staff in an environment with access to a wide range of patients. On successful completion of the programme you can apply for registration as a Dental Hygienist with the Dental Council of Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

The dental hygienist may work under the supervision of a dentist in general practice, in the Health Service Executive, or in a dental hospital, or may consider undertaking further study to work as an instructor. Graduates may undertake additional training that falls within the Dental Council of Ireland's scope of practice for Dental Hygienists.

Requirements

Please note: We only accept applications from students who have completed secondary school leaving exams i.e. the Leaving Certificate must be complete prior to application. Entry to the programme is highly competitive and satisfying the entry requirements does not guarantee an offer of a place.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by October 15th in the year of proposed entry to the programme, and must hold a Leaving Certificate or equivalent at the time of application or be applying on the basis of mature years.

Leaving Certificate requirements

• Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. Subjects must include Irish (unless exempt), English, another language, Mathematics and Biology.

Mature Students

Mature applicants should be 23 years old on or before 1st January of the year of application and provide evidence of Leaving Certificate Biology (or equivalent).

Fitness to Practise

This programme is subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy.

Fees and Costs

For course fees please refer to the 2025/2026 EU Undergraduate Fees Schedule for this programme.

The HEA will pay the Tuition Fees for those who are eligible under the Free Fees Initiative. If you already hold a Level 7 Qualification, the HEA will not fund a second Level 7 Programme irrespective of whether the initial Programme was funded/self-fund, full-time/part-time. The total fee is payable each year.

If you qualify for the Free Fees Initiative, the fees due will be the Student Contribution Fee of €3,000.00 and the Capitation Fee of €207 in 2025/26.